Re: [CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO] Double sided milling WAS Re: SuperCam & PCB Trace Milling Software

Dennis,
I haven't had much to say on this list, still larnin'.
You may want to try Johnson Plastics. http://www.johnsonplastics.com
They sell a large collection of cutters for engravers in HSS and carbide.
I engrave metal all day long, but PC board stuff may be rough on it.
They bought out Western, BTW.
Rich D.
Dennis Bohlke wrote:

>
> Good thought.
>
> I know that is done at some of the printed circuit board house shops to
> maintain
> registration for silk-screening the component legend.
>
> I have seen very high quality double sided circuit boards that were produced
> by the engraving method. It definitely works.
>
> I have found making a machine to engrave high density circuitry
> requires a high level of precision, the devil is in the detail. If the
> surface of the
> table is more than a few thousands out of flat it will show up in the
> engraving.
> If either the X or Y axis are not perfectly parallel and perpendicular to
> the
> surface of the table it will show up in the engravings. A human hair under
> a clad board to be engraved can change the results.
>
> If the raw copper clad stock is held by squeezing from the side it will bow,
> which
> will show in the engraving.
>
> I think using vacuum to hold down a board to be engraved has a lot of
> advantages,
> at least until the holes are drilled.
>
> I am looking for a source of engraving cutters that can be used to engrave
> circuit boards. If you know of any websites that sell them I'd sure like to
> check them
> out.
>
> There are pictures of a machine I learned some of my lessons on at
> http://www.super-tech.com/root/minirobo.htm Even with a low tolerance
> machine it
> is possible to make circuit boards with traces down to .015 width. I think
> you would
> have to be real finicky to make a machine that would permit traces between
> the hole on
> a DIP chip. The cutting kerf of the tool would have to be in the .010 inch
> range.
>
> Dennis
>