Homebrew PCBs

Does anyone have any experience with Electronic Goldmine's mini drill press?  Do you think this would be useful for board drilling?

http://www.goldmine-elec-products.com/prodinfo.asp?number=G17382

I have a similar one made by Craftsman I got at a flea market.
It works fine, in fact i just finished a bazz fuss pcb.

Although I wish I had one of those 2 axis movable vises, i forget what
their called. Lining up holes for drilling by hand is a pain.
You might want to check into that.

--- In Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com, "Jeff" <jeff.heiss@...> wrote:
>
> Does anyone have any experience with Electronic Goldmine's mini drill press?  Do you think this would be useful for board drilling?
> 
> http://www.goldmine-elec-products.com/prodinfo.asp?number=G17382
>

I was going to purchase one of those but I read some reviews that they were terrible. Also the shop I was trying to buy it from kept dicking around and seemed not to want to sell it to me.

In the end I bought a Proxxon rotary tool and drill stand, and I am very happy! It cost a bit more but you can get faster speeds (up to 20k RPM) instead of the 8.6k RPM or so that these drill presses do.

Hi rocko

do you mean before or after etching its a problem lining up.
I etch my boards first and the etching makes a tiny hole in the copper where the hole will be, this I find locates the drill bit perfectly making hole drilling very easy.
Before etching would be a pain I am sure....

Greetings from

Andy Mathison

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

After etching.
How do you get the etch to make a hole?

--- In Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com, rocko <sunblaster5@...> wrote:
>
> After etching.
> How do you get the etch to make a hole?
>

Most all of the PCB Layout software programs has a center in the pad that you size to match the hole size you need for your component lead.  So when etched it etches the copper from the center of the pad.

Ben

To expand a bit -- I am only familiar with KiCad, but would guess the others provide a similar option:

KiCad allows you to choose either an exact hole size or just a pin-point. The latter helps to avoid over-etching the hole, but still leaves a little point in the copper that will guide the drill bit.

--- In Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com, "Ben L" <bhleavi@...> wrote:

>
> 
> 
> --- In Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com, rocko <sunblaster5@> wrote:
> >
> > After etching.
> > How do you get the etch to make a hole?
> >
> 
> Most all of the PCB Layout software programs has a center in the pad that you size to match the hole size you need for your component lead.  So when etched it etches the copper from the center of the pad.
> 
> Ben
>

This might sound a little naive, but I have big bit centering problems too.  I do etch the hole in the center of the pad, but when a carbide bit at 30K RPM hits the board it eats away everything in its way, no matter whether there a center hole or not.  Or you mean stopping the bit after every hole you drill?  Would work, but sounds a little unpractical.  Could anyone please explain?  

Thanks,
Fabio

--- In Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com, "Andrew" <a_wake@...> wrote:

>
> To expand a bit -- I am only familiar with KiCad, but would guess the others provide a similar option:
> 
> KiCad allows you to choose either an exact hole size or just a pin-point. The latter helps to avoid over-etching the hole, but still leaves a little point in the copper that will guide the drill bit.
> 
> --- In Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com, "Ben L" <bhleavi@> wrote:
> >
> > 
> > 
> > --- In Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com, rocko <sunblaster5@> wrote:
> > >
> > > After etching.
> > > How do you get the etch to make a hole?
> > >
> > 
> > Most all of the PCB Layout software programs has a center in the pad that you size to match the hole size you need for your component lead.  So when etched it etches the copper from the center of the pad.
> > 
> > Ben
> >
>

The center hole trick works with flexible regular drill bits.
With high speed carbide they really do not significantly flex.  If doing
high speed CNC drilling the center hole is unwanted since it can put slight
sideways load on the drill bit and it is much better to hit a clean copper
surface.
==============================================
From Fabio Sent: Thursday, December 23, 2010 03:57
This might sound a little naive, but I have big bit centering problems too.
I do etch the hole in the center of the pad, but when a carbide bit at 30K
RPM hits the board it eats away everything in its way, no matter whether
there a center hole or not. Or you mean stopping the bit after every hole
you drill? Would work, but sounds a little unpractical. Could anyone please
explain? 
Thanks,
Fabio

--- In Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com, "Andrew" <a_wake@...> wrote:
>
> To expand a bit -- I am only familiar with KiCad, but would guess the
others provide a similar option:
> 
> KiCad allows you to choose either an exact hole size or just a pin-point.
The latter helps to avoid over-etching the hole, but still leaves a little
point in the copper that will guide the drill bit.