Homebrew PCBs

I wonder if anyone can recommend a dremel bit for cutting panelized
PCB.  What's better, a routing bit or the cutting wheel?

----- Original Message ----- 

From: "ggindele" <ggindele@...>
To: <Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Friday, April 02, 2004 7:12 PM
Subject: [Homebrew_PCBs] Dremel bits for cutting panelized PCB?


> I wonder if anyone can recommend a dremel bit for cutting panelized
> PCB.  What's better, a routing bit or the cutting wheel?

I use a Stanley knife to score the board on both sides, then snap it and
clean it up with a file. Much quicker than cutting it and the results are
quite neat.

Leon

Hello,

I'd suggest the routing bit. The best type for pcb material looks 
like it has elongated diamond shaped facets as cutting edges...

Ballendo

--- In Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com, "ggindele" <ggindele@y...> 
wrote:
> I wonder if anyone can recommend a dremel bit for cutting panelized
> PCB.  What's better, a routing bit or the cutting wheel?

I use a shear.  Very clean and fast.  It makes a complete mess of 
phenolic but FR4 is very clean.  I dont use phenolic except in 
emergencies so it doesn't matter.

I've used a dremel and agree on the routing bit but that makes a 
nasty little mess.

--- In Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com, "Leon Heller" 
<leon_heller@h...> wrote:
> 
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "ggindele" <ggindele@y...>
> To: <Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com>
> Sent: Friday, April 02, 2004 7:12 PM
> Subject: [Homebrew_PCBs] Dremel bits for cutting panelized PCB?
> 
> 
> > I wonder if anyone can recommend a dremel bit for cutting 
panelized
> > PCB.  What's better, a routing bit or the cutting wheel?
> 
> I use a Stanley knife to score the board on both sides, then snap 
it and
> clean it up with a file. Much quicker than cutting it and the 
results are

> quite neat.
> 
> Leon

carbide blade in tablesaw --> great.
edges like polished, and straight..

or a shear, but the handheld sheetmetal shear bends the board slightly....

ST

On Fri, 02 Apr 2004 20:15:21 -0000, Phil <phil1960us@...> wrote:

> I use a shear.  Very clean and fast.  It makes a complete mess of
> phenolic but FR4 is very clean.  I dont use phenolic except in
> emergencies so it doesn't matter.
>
> I've used a dremel and agree on the routing bit but that makes a
> nasty little mess.
>
> --- In Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com, "Leon Heller"
> <leon_heller@h...> wrote:
>>
>> ----- Original Message -----
>> From: "ggindele" <ggindele@y...>
>> To: <Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com>
>> Sent: Friday, April 02, 2004 7:12 PM
>> Subject: [Homebrew_PCBs] Dremel bits for cutting panelized PCB?
>>
>>
>> > I wonder if anyone can recommend a dremel bit for cutting
> panelized
>> > PCB.  What's better, a routing bit or the cutting wheel?
>>
>> I use a Stanley knife to score the board on both sides, then snap
> it and
>> clean it up with a file. Much quicker than cutting it and the
> results are
>> quite neat.
>>
>> Leon
>
>
>
> Be sure to visit the group home and check for new Bookmarks and files:
> http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Homebrew_PCBs
> Yahoo! Groups Links
>
>
>
>
>

--- In Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com, Stefan Trethan 
<stefan_trethan@g...> wrote:
> or a shear, but the handheld sheetmetal shear bends the board 
slightly....


Agreed, I use a floor mounted 30" sheet metal sheer.  flat bed, 
straight cut.  definitely overkill but I have it for other things as 
well.

Dremel = ++dust
I have used a paper shear, but its a bit of a strain.  A metal shear is 
just the ticket.  You might be able to use one at a local sheetmetal 
shop, hight-school, hospital shop, etc. 
David

ggindele wrote:

>I wonder if anyone can recommend a dremel bit for cutting panelized
>PCB.  What's better, a routing bit or the cutting wheel?
>
>
>
>Be sure to visit the group home and check for new Bookmarks and files:
>http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Homebrew_PCBs 
>Yahoo! Groups Links
>
>
>
> 
>
>
>  
>

--- In Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com, "ggindele" <ggindele@y...> 
wrote:
> I wonder if anyone can recommend a dremel bit for cutting panelized
> PCB.  What's better, a routing bit or the cutting wheel?

I use a cutter that looks like a milling cutter.  It cuts so clean 
that the edges of the boards I cut yestarday are identicle to the 
factory edge.

I need to cut odd shapes in boards and notches for things like 
elongated holes for power connectors or reliefs for getting around 
mounting holes or standoffs.

On some projects, you can use a Vee shaped tool and etch a grouve, 
then snap the board on the grouve.

Dave

Dave,

This is for the bakelite (white) or phenolic(light to medium brown, 
as sold by radio shack) boards, correct?

Because the epoxy based boards will make short work of destroying a 
regular milling bit...

Ballendo

--- In Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com, "Dave Mucha" <dave_mucha@y...> 
wrote:
> --- In Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com, "ggindele" <ggindele@y...> 
> wrote:
> > I wonder if anyone can recommend a dremel bit for cutting 
panelized

> > PCB.  What's better, a routing bit or the cutting wheel?
> 
> I use a cutter that looks like a milling cutter.  It cuts so clean 
> that the edges of the boards I cut yestarday are identicle to the 
> factory edge.
> 
> I need to cut odd shapes in boards and notches for things like 
> elongated holes for power connectors or reliefs for getting around 
> mounting holes or standoffs.
> 
> On some projects, you can use a Vee shaped tool and etch a grouve, 
> then snap the board on the grouve.
> 
> Dave

--- In Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com, "ballendo" <ballendo@y...> 
wrote:
> Dave,
> 
> This is for the bakelite (white) or phenolic(light to medium brown, 
> as sold by radio shack) boards, correct?
> 
> Because the epoxy based boards will make short work of destroying a 
> regular milling bit...
> 
> Ballendo

Both.

I like the bakelite boards because I can peal the large areas, but am 
now down to FR-4.  

(anyone know a good source for bakelite at low prices?)

The routing bits I have been using are regrinds, the 50 for $15.00 
variety and the edges are very good.

On the boards I cut yestarday, I did a final inspection to see if I 
made any errors. I could not determine which were my cut edges and 
which were factory edges.  It just doens't get any better than that.

Of course the bits will wear out, but getting 15 bits in the box is 
not too bad.  Some are 50 mil. some 62 and some 90 something.

Dave





> 
> --- In Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com, "Dave Mucha" 
<dave_mucha@y...> 
> wrote:
> > --- In Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com, "ggindele" <ggindele@y...> 
> > wrote:
> > > I wonder if anyone can recommend a dremel bit for cutting 
> panelized
> > > PCB.  What's better, a routing bit or the cutting wheel?
> > 
> > I use a cutter that looks like a milling cutter.  It cuts so 
clean 
> > that the edges of the boards I cut yestarday are identicle to the 
> > factory edge.
> > 
> > I need to cut odd shapes in boards and notches for things like 
> > elongated holes for power connectors or reliefs for getting 
around 
> > mounting holes or standoffs.
> > 
> > On some projects, you can use a Vee shaped tool and etch a 
grouve, 

> > then snap the board on the grouve.
> > 
> > Dave

I ran across a nice little 4" PCB shear a couple of months back, but 
unfortunately I can't find the link.

Does anyone know of a small, inexpensive PCB shear?  The Kepro is 
gorgeous, but it's also $550.

Enco has this 6" plate shear on sale for $60, but it's Chinese, so 
the quality of the tool is not likely to be good:

http://www.use-enco.com/CGI/INSRIT?PMAKA=130-
5710&PMPXNO=951819&PARTPG=INLMK3


--- In Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com, David P Harris <dpharris@t...> 
wrote:
> Dremel = ++dust
> I have used a paper shear, but its a bit of a strain.  A metal 
shear is 
> just the ticket.