Homebrew PCBs

Has anyone tried using one of those cheap office paper guillotines to 
cut 1.6mm FR4 ?  I've seen them on ebay and various office supplies 
fairly cheap. I don't care if it gets blunt and no longer cuts paper, it 
only has to cut PCB material.

Adam

I use an X-Acto paper cutter to cut some of my FR4, but it's difficult
to do with the 0.8mm sheets much less 1.6.  I use it on the 8 mil
(0.2mm) and 16 mil (0.4mm) sheets only now, and use a scroll saw for
the thicker stuff.

I don't think it's up to it...

I use an old fashioned wooden guillotine with a 1/4" thick carbon steel blade..

I managed to get it second hand as it doesn't comply with health and safety regulations..

it works a treat ..  I swapped it for one of the newer type and haven't looked back..

Chris  (-=Spiyda=-)

--- In Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com, Adam Seychell <a_seychell@...> wrote:

>
> 
> Has anyone tried using one of those cheap office paper guillotines to 
> cut 1.6mm FR4 ?  I've seen them on ebay and various office supplies 
> fairly cheap. I don't care if it gets blunt and no longer cuts paper, it 
> only has to cut PCB material.
> 
> Adam
>

DJ Delorie wrote:
>  
> 
> 
> I use an X-Acto paper cutter to cut some of my FR4, but it's difficult
> to do with the 0.8mm sheets much less 1.6. I use it on the 8 mil
> (0.2mm) and 16 mil (0.4mm) sheets only now, and use a scroll saw for
> the thicker stuff.

is it one of these ?
http://www.jerrysartarama.com/discount-art-supplies/Mat-and-Paper-Cutters/X-ACTO-Paper-Cutters.htm

Looks like they have a cutting blade fastened to a thicker steel arm. 
Are you saying you need to put excessive force to cut through 1.6mm FR4, 
causing the top and bottom blades to shift apart, especially as it gets 
close to the handle end.

Similar, but mine is all plastic, aside from the blades of course.
The problem is, if I put enough pressure on to cut, it's too difficult
to hold the pcb in place.  There just isn't enough leverage on the
handle, and the physics of the device don't lend themselves to keeping
the pcb from moving.

DJ Delorie wrote:
>  
> 
> 
> Similar, but mine is all plastic, aside from the blades of course.
> The problem is, if I put enough pressure on to cut, it's too difficult
> to hold the pcb in place. There just isn't enough leverage on the
> handle, and the physics of the device don't lend themselves to keeping
> the pcb from moving.


Thanks, I think I know what you mean. Probably needs some clamp or 
adjustable edge stop to prevent the PCB moving when the cut is made. 
Seems 2nd hand paper guillotines pop up eBay frequently so I'll give one 
a try without worrying about wasted money.