I'm after a cheap CNC machine to layout and drill circuit boards for me (only small things, maybe 4x6" max). I found this CNC machine (http://www.milinst.com/robotics/robotics.htm#axis) which is very cheap, but doesnt seem to have the accuracy I am after after talking to one of its previous owners.

Are there any alternatives available in the UK that don't cost £1000's? I would like to build my own, but I am very limited in existing equipment to build one with.

hey: checkout john **********s cranky site. sure he is a bit nuts, however his machine design is very simple and can be built easily, and true or not, he claims it can make circuit boards.

www.**********.com

cheers

hey: checkout john **********s cranky site. sure he is a bit nuts, however his machine design is very simple and can be built easily, and true or not, he claims it can make circuit boards.

www.**********.com

cheers

Why the *'s in the URL?

Because he doesn't buy advertising on the site..

Silly isn't it?

Garry

try www.crank organ.com (remove the space). I think the admin and John had a fallout so now his name is filtered ;)

He won't sell his plans to anybody outside of the US or Canada. How much travel, accuracy, and money (total) are you looking at?

I'm looking at something accurate enough to layout a small PCB, 4x6" (any bigger is a bonus). I was looking at at £300 max ($550) for something already assembled (or in parts), but after looking around it seems unlikely to get something that cheap.

you can build one for about 200-250 or so , use drawer slides, hobby cnc board, HP laserjet stepper motors (can get them free or dirt cheap from copier/printer repair place. i even have 5 extra from when i got mine i got 3 for 15 dollars. I might use in another machine.

then just build it out of wood/mdf and use an old computer you may have.
then a dremel and your all set.

Heres an example of what can be done.

http://www.cnczone.com/gallery/showphoto.php/photo/607/sort/1/size/medium/cat/500/page/