PCBs - desktop CNC - Hi from salisbury

[HankMcSpank]

if you're going down the route of a router to drill and maybe machine the boards, an added option would be to have pick and place facilities on the same machine.

Ooooooops, sorry Jesse, I didn't read your post fully.

Whilst rolling you're own is interesting (indeed, a rite of passage around these parts!) & you'll certainly end up with the most suitable machine, it'll likely consume you (as it tends to do with everyone else), I now look at owning a CNC machine as a means to an end (not a 'lifestyle'), so I won't be building anymore machines! (frankly, my engineering skills suck too!)

If I knew what I know now before I decided on what to do (for milling pcbs) ...I'd look out for something like a simple/small a sable 2015 secondhand (or import one new Sable-2015 CNC ROUTER / ENGRAVER-mill,PCB's,engraving(complete kits) | eBay ), but then upgrade the driving gear to ballscrews (as opposed to the bog standard M10 rod it comes with) ...the sable is actually incredibly well made.

I've got a 2015 machine ..I was going to upgrade it with ballscrews but then a proper grown up used 3020 fixed gantry (moving table) appeared on the scene & I snagged it....

http://img.alibaba.com/photo/7350997...ry_RS_3020.jpg

...but frankly, now that it's here with me, it seems way overkill to mill 1.6mm pcbs!

Alas, when it comes to pre-made machines, ballscrews don't seem to appear as standard until you get up to 3020 size machines (& even then, just the higher end ones)

Oh yeah.... you might want to consider ponying up for CNC-USB software (vs Mach3) as it has auto-levelling built in - and when it comes to milling pcb, a level copper clad board is what you want, what you really really want.

re using a CNC machine for pick n' place ...of course it can be done & on the face of it, it seems a fantastic idea...but check out youtube & watch videos of those who have turned their CNC machine into a pick & place machines.... talk about slow...... it's akin to owning a truck & expecting it to be as nimble & adept as a stunt motorcycle.