Thinking of buying/building machine for PCB milling

[njh]

To my less 'learned' eyes, it looks a mighty fine machine....but surely, if you're only after a cnc machine to mill pcbs, it's a little bit 'hammer to crack a nut' - no?

Yes, pretty sure it is overkill for PCBs but once I have to all up and running, would be very interested in trying other materials. Not seen many other UK kits of parts out there...

[HankMcSpank]

Yes, pretty sure it is overkill for PCBs but once I have to all up and running, would be very interested in trying other materials. Not seen many other UK kits of parts out there...

One of the last things I learned about procuring CNC machines (I'm slow on the uptake) is to build/buy it to the spec of the main intended purpose. Just about all people asking about buying a CNCs machine say...I'd like to mill a bit of acrylic, but maybe aluminium too. Or I'd like mill pcbs & the odd bit of mild steel(!), etc.

IMHO, you'll get the best results (satisfaction) by buying for the main intended purpose - extreme example to underline the point - you wouldn't buy the missus a juggernaut to go to Tescos etc.

I'd say if you want to mill pcbs, then IMHO you want a *fast* & quite compact machine (less vibrations) ...by fast I mean zippy rapids, (else it gets dreary waiting yonks for all the tracks to mill), but by bulking it up to say, start thinking about milling Ali, then you lose the attributes that your machine needs for the intended purpose.

[njh]

I'd say if you want to mill pcbs, then IMHO you want a *fast* & quite compact machine (less vibrations) ...by fast I mean zippy rapids, (else it gets dreary waiting yonks for all the tracks to mill), but by bulking it up to say, start thinking about milling Ali, then you lose the attributes that your machine needs for the intended purpose.

Bit overwhelmed by some people saying it is too big and solid and others saying it is small and weak.
The "CNCDudez New 2012 Desktop Mini Muscle" (catchy name) is a small machine - the working area is only 310mm, 310mm, 90mm

HankMcSpank: What would you recommend for milling PCBs?

[HankMcSpank]

HankMcSpank: What would you recommend for milling PCBs?

A moving table design (i.e. fixed gantry)...this is style of machine is problematic to source because most CNC offerings are moving gantry.
No larger than 30cm in either X or Y plane (to keep associated frame/table vibrations lower)
Ballscrews - absolutely essential
Homing switches - virtually essential.

I could only find one manufacturer where I could buy to the above spec new (vs building my own)...

2013 new design desktop cnc router machine RS-3020 for aluminum, View desktop cnc router machine, Redsail Product Details from Jinan Redsail Tech Co., Ltd. on Alibaba.com (it costs about $1200 ...which is great value, but of course there'd be shipping & taxes on that)





(nb: my machine above is presently showing a standard 300W air cooled spindle, pending fitting a water cooled spindle over the coming days - hence all the black cables & tubing dangling in mid air near the spindle!!)

...it's the machine I ended up buying (& believe me...I went to the far end of a fart sourcing a machine that will mill pcbs well).

Sure, it's a Chinese machine but far superior to the standard Chinese CNC fayre ....it uses 3 individual decent stepper drivers (e.g. instead of a YooCnC '3 in 1' nasty driver pcb).... http://www.moonsindustries.com/Produ...t_E/SR4_drive/ The gantry uprights are 15mm thick aluminium (very solid), ballscrews...the machine is very very zippy. The machine comes fitted with homing switches (which most don't - ok, not a show stopper, but nicer to have them fitted at the factory)...water cooled spindle etc. it also has one of those cable tidy thingymajigs fitted to allow the cabling to move with the axises neatly)

You can maybe source in the UK from Redsail Cutting Plotter,Laser Cutting Machine,Laser Engraving Machine ...but I don't think they have that particular machine listed (& therefore presumably not in stock)

If your intended purpose is to mill pcbs, then I'd also say to buy CNC-USB vs. mach3 ...as the former has specific integrated features that make milling pcbs much less painful (auto Z levelling, camera point transformations to assist with double sided pcb registration etc)

[JAZZCNC]

Check your PM's

[Jonathan]

If you're not considering making one, then your options are evidently very limited. If I had to choose between the CNC3020 and the misleadingly named 'mini muscle' machine, I'd get the former as they'll both be pretty similar for PCBs and nothing special at anything else, so might as well save your money and get the cheapest one. When you need to start cutting other things, get a machine designed to do it, not just marketed for it.

Check your PM's

To be a fly on the wall...

[JAZZCNC]

To be a fly on the wall...

I'd swat you ya nosey b'~tard. . . . . . But if you must know then tuff. .

[HankMcSpank]

If you're not considering making one, then your options are evidently very limited

Exactly...so when are one of you knowledgeable CNC types going to help plug the gaping gap?!