Re: [CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO]floating z axis

Jim:

I have attempted to mill my own printed circuit boards in the past
with a floating Z head that I built from scratch. I utlimately
decided that I needed to tune up my mill to have a lot less
backlash to pull the whole thing off. (My mill had a backlash
.025"; i.e. lousy.) So, the whole project is kind of on hold
until I get some time to figure out where all the slop is
coming from and figure out a way to remove/compenstate for
it. Anyhow, if you follow the following URL:


<http://web.gramlich.net/projects/mill_lathe/index.html#The_Floating_Z_Head>

A picture of my original design at a floating Z head is at
the beginning of the page and did not work at all (over .1"
of slop in X and Y.) Do not use that design at all.

If I were going to do it again, I would probably design a
rack and pinion system for raising and lowering a circular
foot that surrounds the mechanical etching bit.

Later

-Wayne

--- In CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO@y..., "Jim Avey" <jimavey@a...> wrote:
> A couple of years ago I started this pcb milling machine project and
last
> week I pulled the box with all the pieces out and started working on
it
> again.
>
> I remember something about modifying the z axis so it could float up
and
> down - perhaps with some sort of "shoe" around the end mill/dremel
so the
> mill depth would stay constant - even if the pc board was not flat.
(This is
> important because there is lots of surplus and cheap "warped" pc
board stock
> available. I use this warped pcboard on some chemically etched
boards I
> make.
>
> Does this jog anyone's memory? I searched the archives - no luck.
>
>
> Jim Avey
>
> www.aveyincubator.com
> jimavey@a...