Re: [CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO]floating z axis

Hi Reed,

I've drooled over LPKF's for quite a while! I'd LOVE to see a few close
up pix of that "donut", and it's action.

How much PCB cutting can you get with a mill bit (engraver bit)? I've
heard that bits may not last long (maybe that's just in hobbyist
setups).

Alan KM6VV
P.S. You link came out fine. Just click on the URL entry box (in
netscape), and you will get something like this:

http://www.lpkfusa.com/products/product/rapidpcbpro/index.htm

For those not familiar with including URL's in emails, PLEASE include
the complete "http://www." header, then your readers can just "click" on
the link, and go there! For links that get split up by the "mail", If
you click on the first one, and "copy and paste" the remaining pieces
in, you can usually get there.


reed_irion wrote:

>
> I am a frequent operator of a professionally built LPKF PCB milling
> machine. Scotch tape is quite sufficient to hold the PWB down while
> milling. The LPKF system also uses two pins to align the PWB. The
> cutter is surrounded by an annular ring (a "donut") that provides a
> stop. The ring can be adjusted up or down to control the cutter
> depth. The z-axis is driven to the stop (contacting the PWB) by a
> solenoid on the cheaper models and pnuematics on the high end
> models. You can see examples at: http://www.lpkfusa.com/ (<---
> perhaps someone can tell me how to make this a link)
>
> The system works quite well. In the hands of a skilled user a
> tapered cutter can produce PWB traces reliably to +/- .5mil
>
> You would think that the annular 'foot' rubbing on the board would
> cause probems, but if it is smooth it works very well.
>
> Hope this helps