Re: [CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO] Leadscrews, PCB router experiment

Alan Marconett KM6VV wrote:

> Hi Jon,
>
> I have a 3/8" slab of aluminum, that might have to do for my base. I
> want to do more then drilling, I want to be able to mill traces as
> well. I'm planing on using a dremel tool.

We've gone around with this a few times. I don't think the standard
Dremel moto-tool spindle is good enough for PC board drilling.
The problem is that you have to hit the 'target' quite accurately, or the
hole will cut through the side of the pad, rather than through the
middle, leaving a complete ring of copper around the hole. I even
have problems on my system, with the air bearing spindle motor,
high precision ground ballscrews, encoders delivering resolution
of .00005" (yes that's 50 uInches) and the physical stability of a
Bridgeport. If you mill the board, then the holes should at least
line up with the copper, but you still have to deal with alignment on
the other side, if you do 2-sided boards.

Jon