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| Thread ID: 120317 | 2011-09-03 09:52:00 | PCB routing\milling bits | Agent_24 (57) | PC World Chat |
| Post ID | Timestamp | Content | User | ||
| 1228487 | 2011-09-16 12:05:00 | OK - was worth the try :) | Zippity (58) | ||
| 1228488 | 2011-09-26 00:29:00 | Got my order today :) I opted for the 50pc box (over 10pc packs), for future expansion and to allow for keeping everything in one easy place. I've attached a photo. Pink are the routers, and the rest are just drills. Will report back on how they perform. The box itself was inside a larger cardboard box with good packaging. Interestingly enough the invoice says "SparkTech Inc." from www.sparktechinc.com |
Agent_24 (57) | ||
| 1228489 | 2011-09-26 06:12:00 | Very nice Andrew. They look like quality bits. Do you mind my asking how much $$$? | braindead (1685) | ||
| 1228490 | 2011-09-26 06:27:00 | The router bits were a good deal, 10 of them for 10 USD (1.5mm Chipbreaker) Drill bits were 1 - 1.5 USD each depending on size. Shipping (Airmail) was $13.95 including the $2 extra for the 50pc box If you don't want the 50pc box you can get it sent priority mail for the same price. Worked out cheaper than Dill Bit City (actually around the same price I was prepared to pay, but I got a lot more stuff for the same price) Didn't know my name was Andrew :lol: |
Agent_24 (57) | ||
| 1228491 | 2011-09-26 06:42:00 | Ooops - my brain musta gone dead Not-Andrew :) | braindead (1685) | ||
| 1228492 | 2011-09-28 05:59:00 | Did a test cut today, it worked quite nicely. Not a super smooth cut (compared to how I can finish the edges off with a file) but much, much better and quicker than anything you'll get with score-and-snap! Photos show the router bit vs score\snap (actually guillotine or such probably, since it was from DSE, but you get the idea) Probably would have been easier if I had a larger table and fence etc, with the standard drill stand it was a bit fiddly (but works if you're careful) - got to hold it tightly, don't let it vibrate. The router wastes 1.5mm of material, but this is probably no more than score-and-snap does anyway, once you clean it all up and get rid of the horrible edges. A saw would probably be even easier to use but this is certainly an improvement over the previous method I used, and was low cost, so I'm happy. |
Agent_24 (57) | ||
| 1228493 | 2011-09-28 06:15:00 | That's good news Agent_24. I saw in various tutorials that solidly mounting the work to be routed is important. When one sees the tiny diameter of the bit it makes sense and probably prevents a lot of snapped bits. I don't know if I mentioned to you about this versatile and probably relatively affordable FireBall V90 CNC Router (www.probotix.com) kitset. BTW, do you happen to know a good source of double-sided fibreglass copper laminate? |
braindead (1685) | ||
| 1228494 | 2011-09-28 06:31:00 | Yes, you would need to solidly mount the work on a CNC machine. Of course on my method the drill stays still and you move the board but you must do so smoothly. That FireBall machine looks quite nice (no you didn't tell me before), although I wouldn't buy it just for cutting PCBs (Unless you were doing a lot!) One might be nice for MDF and plastic as well though, but I don't really need it right now. Ponoko will probably do me fine for now at the volume I need. If you want to do double-sided boards you may find the UV exposure method to be cheaper. Personally I don't like the isolation routing method of making PCBs, although it does work OK. Best for prototypes and one-offs I think, at larger levels you'll have a lot of fun clearing crap out of the channels and preventing shorts from little pieces of copper scrap. As for the copper-clad - I don't make a lot of boards, so I've done fine so far with some old stocks from Dick-Smith and some stuff I bought off Trademe recently. I've bought some stuff from this guy: www.trademe.co.nz and he seems like a very good seller. Not sure how good the prices are though. They were pretty cheap when I got some stuff a while back but maybe a bit higher now. eBay is likely the cheapest way to get the material. |
Agent_24 (57) | ||
| 1228495 | 2011-09-28 06:40:00 | Ok...I was thinking more of building enclosures for projects from PCB, like here (aa7ee.wordpress.com) I love this stuff, although probably it would be way cheaper to buy a JayCar box :) |
braindead (1685) | ||
| 1228496 | 2011-09-28 06:55:00 | Aah, I've seen that idea before, but flagged it as being too expensive\waste of copper-clad :lol: Looks nice though. Acrylic can make some pretty nice boxes too (think Ice Tube Clock, although that is a rather basic example I guess) I do quite like the appearance of the 'Manhattan style' circuit construction style too. It's like a modernized version of the old valve-era tag-strip wiring (and a lot neater!) - never tried it though, PCBs seem easier. Jaycar project boxes can be nice, if you make a laser cut\etched front panel you can make some pretty nice work. I did that with my capacitance meter. |
Agent_24 (57) | ||
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