PCB mills...I'm slow on the uptake!

[HankMcSpank]

Ok, to carry out isolation routing on copper clad PCB, I'm gonna need some bits.

I hear the word s "chip breaker" banded about a lot - what's that all about?! (eg ...what on earth does this doe over & above a normal end mill? http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/CNC-PCB-Router...3A1%7C294%3A50 )

Also I see V bits mentioned, but nobody in the Uk seems to sell them (is this such a niche area)

In short I'm puzzled.

i have some 1mm, 2mm & 3mm flat endmills...which I gues could channel around the tracks...but for those really fine lines I'm figuring I need one of those carbide pointed bits? Perhaps I just don't know where to look...but certainly as a Brit, it doesn't seem like I have many domestoc purchasing options!

[Kipper]

Hi Hank, I was at Freud today collecting some cutters for my router...got the catalogue and it has lots of bit's suitable for routing PCB's....Chipbreakers are for deep penetration...not quite for 0.2mm DOC stuff

Have a word with your local "router bit" supplier (not favouring any particular supplier I just happen to have their HQ near me in Leeds)

Oh and be expecting a package next week

[TDA]

Chip-breaker routers are not made for trace isolation. They are made to de-panel/pocket PCBs. The chip-breaker design is a 5 flute grinding type geometry and not something you want to use for trace isolation. This does however give good life in a fairly nasty material (anticipated life: 3,000 linear inches in FR4 epoxy glass).

Here is one of our 1mm chip-breaker router bits under our inspection scope.


What you want is either a stub endmill, or a V-tip style mechanical etching tool. Our mechanical etching tools are a V-tip cutter with a .005" tip. These are by far the most popular tools we sell for PCB work.

Heres a few pictures of our 60° trace isolation tool under our inspection scope.

Tip


Cutting edge


If you have anymore questions please let me know.

[samco]

Hey John! I use your bits for prototyping. they work awesome. (even on my crappy machind)

http://www.electronicsam.com/images/...imit/right.JPG

sam

[TDA]

Originally Posted by samco Hey John! I use your bits for prototyping. they work awesome. (even on my crappy machind) http://www.electronicsam.com/images/...imit/right.JPG sam

Glad to hear it (well not the part about you having a crappy machine ). It's always nice to have feedback.

That is one huge cap. What is that for if you don't mind me asking (I'm guessing something to do with servo startup from the link)? Also, is that 2oz Copperclad?

[samco]

yes - it is a dumb servo amp. (simple current limited h-bridge) so far tested to 22a 180v. (no smoke so far and - yes 2oz coper)

I could see really doing some fine board when I get a decent small circuit board mill running. (on the to-do list)

I use both your isolation and 1/16" clearing mills.
one if the previous versions (forgot to take picutures of the bare board of the latest version)
http://www.electronicsam.com/images/...tlimit/top.JPG

my trials and tribulations.
http://cnczone.com/forums/showthread.php?t=25929

sam