[Noisebridge-discuss] We can make fine PCB with CNC machine in NB now

[Hao]

Hi Jake,

Everything you need to know to make PCB with CNC is in the fist mail.

However, it's impossible to cut "just the copper" if using a v-bit, because
that would leave a lot shorts on the PCB. However, with PCB probing (if
anybody still interested), you can do pretty good thin track with a
flat-head milling bit (but you lose the ability to cut thin isolation. The
isolation width I did is about 0.2 mm, and it can be thinner with pcb
probing).

We can surely do the party thing sometime.

On Tue, Jul 3, 2012 at 2:08 PM, Jake <jake at spaz.org> wrote:

> Hao,
>
> this is excellent!  Although I think it will be better if it can be done
> without cutting into the fiberglass.  I know that it is possible to cut
> away only the copper, which makes less noise and importantly, does not
> dull the blade nearly as fast.  The fiberglass is very hard on the cutting
> blade.
>
> I think that we should have an event where we make circuitboards using
> both your method and my method (laser printer and etching) and have people
> video-documenting both processes the entire time, like a party.
>
> Afterward, we can build the two boards using two different methods, such
> as soldering parts by hand and heating the board up on the hotplate.
>
> For the hotplate method, that person Boz should help with creating a
> stencil using the laser etcher.
>
> Once again, great work!
>
> what method did you use to create the paths for the machine to cut?
> Is it listed in your previous post?
>
> -jake
>
> Hao wrote:
> If you can't see the attached picture (which I shouldn't send as an
> attachment, I'm aware now), there's the link to it.
>
> https://plus.google.com/photos/107551270196060330293/albums/5760692588554622657
>
> The reason why I want you guys to see the original pic is that so you can
> check out the details in each isolation track.
>
> have fun.
>
> On Mon, Jul 2, 2012 at 12:24 PM, Hao <hao at dorabot.com> wrote:
>
> > Checkout this PCB I  made last night, without height probing. Second
> try.
> >  It's only one side, but it's good enough for me. So I might just stop
> > digging here. People who're interested can surely dig deeper, say double
> > side, or with height probing.
> >
> > What you need on your computer:
> >
> >
> >    -  Any CAD tool that can output Gerber file. (I use and recommend
> >    KiCad)
> >    - pcb2gcode software, a POST software that takes in Gerber and
> outputs
> >    Gcode.
> >
> >  How you do that:
> >
> > Generate Gerber file from CAD tool.
> >
> > copy millproject file from pcb2gcode's path to your gerber file's path.
> >
> > Modify the millproject file as you need, set z mill to 0.001 inch or
> 0.002
> > inch. Test for yourself.
> >
> > run pcb2gcode under the gerber file's path, generate gcode.
> >
> > Copy gcode file to CNC control PC. Load it with LinuxCNC (EMC2)
> software.
> >
> > you're good to go! Remember homing 3 axis before you mill, and remember:
> > get z axis 0.05 inches above copper board before your final homing of z
> > axis. Because the homing of z on the Control PC is going to set z axis
> to
> > 0.05 inches above copper, not 0 inch.
> >
> > Always use protection beneath copper board. *Read Wiki about
> MAXNC<https://noisebridge.net/wiki/MaxNCMill>before doing anything with
> it.
> > *
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > --
> > DORA = DORA Opensource Robotic Assistant
> > dorabot.com
> >
> >
> >
>
> _______________________________________________
> Noisebridge-discuss mailing list
> Noisebridge-discuss at lists.noisebridge.net
> https://www.noisebridge.net/mailman/listinfo/noisebridge-discuss
>



-- 
DORA = DORA Opensource Robotic Assistant
dorabot.com
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://lists.noisebridge.net/pipermail/noisebridge-discuss/attachments/20120703/792ecc1c/attachment-0003.html>