Milling a singled-sided SMD circuit

[Jay C]

Man I love having this capability. I've already milled several small helper circuits (opto interrupters used for home switches).

YouTube - Milling a SMD Circuit

YouTube - Milling a SMD Circuit

[jagdishmehta]

i seen your video....actually i also working on something exactly like this at home......

i was trying to generate g-code for such PCB....

how do u generated g-code for your PCB.....

if u can share your views.....will be appreciated....

hope to hear from u .....

[Jay C]

Originally Posted by jagdishmehta i seen your video....actually i also working on something exactly like this at home...... i was trying to generate g-code for such PCB.... how do u generated g-code for your PCB..... if u can share your views.....will be appreciated.... hope to hear from u .....

I use Eagle Cad Lite to design the schematic and board layout. Then I use PCB-Gcode that works with Eagle to generate the GCode. I then run that GCode through an optimizer I helped write to remove a lot of air moves.

MillPCBs has some great information of getting started with Eagle and PCB_Gcode.

Jay

[samco]

Isn't it awesome?! I don't ever want to etch again. I do need a smaller - faster machine - but other than that..

I also use eagle. I have been very impressed at what it can do - I am also using the free version. It has a learning curve but once you get it - it is really easy to use. Eagle will run on windows and linux also which I do a lot.

I have also used pcb-gcode - it works great. Now I use a script that was created by a couple of the emc2 developers.. It adds the cool stuff automagically like tool length touchoff.

http://unpy.net/cgi-bin/viewcvs.cgi/eagle/ulp/

It only runs in linux version of eagle at the moment - but I am sure it could be modified. (it seems to be a file path issue)

[Jay C]

Yes I agree, having this ability means I can draw, mill, and build a circuit in a night. My latest "toy" was the miniPOVv3 from ladyada.net. Next up is a matrix sign

Jay

[Jay C]

Here is what I did with the MiniPOV3 circuit I milled

YouTube - happy new year 2009

YouTube - happy new year 2009

[kn6za]

Jac C.

Nice video! You are making nice quality boards with your machine, did you make the machine?

Samco,

Cool boards! The script you are using is way cool.

It is so nice not having to mess with the chemicals, or hand drilling the holes. I will never go back to prototyping my boards with the etching process.

Andrew
www.drewtronics.net

[Jay C]

Andrew. No, it's made by Widgitmaster. More information is here is for are interested.

I'm using the 60-degree bits I bought from you ... I'm thinking of trying some 30-degree ones to see how fine a trace I can achieve. I routed a test 64-pin TQFP last night ... turned out well, but I can do better

Jay

[kn6za]

Jay


Cool, I did not realize the tool in the video was one of the tools I produce.

64 pin tqfp - Challenging project, It will be cool to see a board like that. I enjoy making surface mount boards, fewer holes to drill.

I am using a vacuum chuck to hold my boards while I mill them. I can drill holes, but prefer not to as it adds another step to the process, that I dont have to worry about otherwise.

Happy milling,

Andrew
www.drewtronics.net