Hoffman Amplifiers Tube Amplifier Forum

Other Stuff => Your other hobbies => Topic started by: DummyLoad on August 10, 2017, 02:12:06 pm

Title: Cool PCB CNC
Post by: DummyLoad on August 10, 2017, 02:12:06 pm

should make prototyping a lot easier - not fond of all those developer chemicals and lamps.

https://www.eeweb.com/project/arduino-pcb-ink-plotter-cnc-machine (https://www.eeweb.com/project/arduino-pcb-ink-plotter-cnc-machine)


 :thumbsup:



--pete

Title: Re: Cool PCB CNC
Post by: pompeiisneaks on August 10, 2017, 02:19:03 pm

I have also seen some CNC's used to cut through solid copper boards so that they leave behind the traces as needed, and if you do this on top and bottom correctly, you can do some pretty wicked stuff too.

Here's a link to an example:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I9SwoUCcFVU (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I9SwoUCcFVU)

~Phil

Title: Re: Cool PCB CNC
Post by: EL34 on August 13, 2017, 12:27:00 pm

I have done the above method, but removing all that copper is a pain in the ass and takes forever
The method I ended up using just removes copper around the traces and leaves all the rest in place


Like this

Title: Re: Cool PCB CNC
Post by: pompeiisneaks on August 14, 2017, 12:32:18 pm

Oh nice, and I guess as a side effect you get a lot more current handling :)

I'm going to have to give that style a try when I get mine!

~Phil

Title: Re: Cool PCB CNC
Post by: EL34 on August 14, 2017, 12:35:27 pm

I am isolating the traces and they are still the same size

The material not being removed can be thought of as a ground plane

Title: Re: Cool PCB CNC
Post by: pompeiisneaks on August 14, 2017, 06:24:11 pm

Oh ok, they're just a lot closer together.  I'd guess for the LED's that's not a big deal, for audio purposes, though, it may not be as great an idea... but smart routing may be  the solution to that.