Steve,
In most software you can set the width of the milled
area or Isolation. When using a plotter, there will be less
drag if the point is fine.
Hey Steve! Thanks for this conference! I am having fun!
John
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--- In Homebrew_PCBs@y..., Steve Greenfield <alienrelics@y...> wrote:
This might be a wierd idea, just say so if it is-
How about a pointed bit used in your PCB milling machine, with the
laquer coating and a bath in the etchant after? That guarantees a
wider swath but with less cutting.
I'm thinking of a guy who sells pictures etched into stone. His
bits are just carbide shafts ground to a slightly faceted point.
The idea being that this gives you a wider path through the copper,
and you can resharpen the bits. It does require the CNC milling
machine and etching afterwards, though, so perhaps complexity would
outweigh any cost savings.
I've gotta try your scratch and etch idea.
Steve Greenfield
--- crankorgan <john@k...> wrote:
Hi Denny,
The acid will also stay strong because there
is less copper etched when doing isolation. I use the
Think and Tinker bits. They only last a little while
longer if you hit just the copper. I did all kinds
of tests trying to reduce my costs so I could see
circuit boards to the public. Hopefully someone
gives the Scratch and Etch a real test!
John
--- In Homebrew_PCBs@y..., milwiron@t... wrote:
I'm finding John's idea pretty intriguing.
Just to take the brainstorming another step:
One big problem with PCB routers is tool life and their cost.
But using a CNC router with a cutter to just cut through the
surface of the
resist and a thou or two in to the copper would prolong the
life of
a
carbide tool immensely... and produce a board that should etch
quickly and
cleanly.
Yes it would be better do away with etching all together but a
marriage of
the two technologies for some applications could be useful.
Denny
At 02:35 PM 04/05/2002 -0000, you wrote:
Hi,
Nobody liked my light on a plotter idea. I was told the
light source would have to move too slow. The board would take
way to long. Ok, I use Mechanical Etching bits myself. But
what
if you coated the whole board with resist. Then you put a
sharp
point in the plotter. Have the plotter do isolation paths.
Then
the board goes to the acid.
John
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