Hey all, just looking at CNC router options for my small company that builds custom musical instrument amps. Wondering if it is worth it. Here is what I would like to do with the machine:

(1) drill PCB holes repeatability of .008"
(2) possibly mill PCBs
(3) router logos
(4) cut 3/4" pine and baltic birch for cases (approx 3' x 3')
(5) router cut .080 5052 aluminum for the electronics cases

I have research, and see that the fireball would be great for (1), (2) and (3) and cost about $1k

I have also looked at the mech mate and and pretty sure it will handle (4) and possibly (5). For about $4k

I also looked at mike beck and buildyourowncnc, but unsure if I can get the accuracy required for the PCBs.

Any suggestions of other machines? Are my expectations out to lunch?

thanks!

Depends what your actual budget is and if you want to build your own or buy one?

It will probably be advantageous to build two machines like you pointed out. To get the accuracy needed on a 3'x3' machine for milling PCB's could prove expensive.

Hey thanks Gir. Yeah, seems like size * accuracy = price in the DIY CNC world. Here are some others I am looking at - any comments w.r.t. my application?

Data Cut
http://www.data-cut.com/Index.html

Solsylva
http://www.solsylva.com/

Machine Tool Camp
http://www.machinetoolcamp.com/

Joescnc
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/joescnc/

Dear analogman,

Gir is, IMVHO, absolutely right.

The PCB stuff is quite different from the metal and wood machining.

There are a whole load of companies that will make your PCBs at very low cost.

From personal experience, I would humbly suggest that it is , now, impossible to produce a two layer board with silkscreens and solder-resists in-house at an economical cost compared to the on-line prototype people. That goes even for a single prototype board. Those people are really good, and as fast as you are prepared to pay for.

Best wishes,

Martin