Opinions sought on cheap desktop PCB milling machine

[leadinglights]

Look carefully at what you want it to do. If you want to do any production PCBs - even for very short runs, then pCB milling is a non starter. If you are doing prototypes and you can afford to wait a week or two, then again it isn't worth it. If you are doing prototyping at low speds it is better to use Veroboard or similar techinques.

Where PCB milling scores is where you need a prototype within hours, or perhaps days but the components are not available in non-SMT, or where you want to investigate high frequency layouts - such as switch mode PSUs, BLDC controllers etc..

[ksangeelee]

Look carefully at what you want it to do. If you want to do any production PCBs - even for very short runs, then pCB milling is a non starter. If you are doing prototypes and you can afford to wait a week or two, then again it isn't worth it. If you are doing prototyping at low speds it is better to use Veroboard or similar techinques.

I want to produce prototypes and one-off units for pilot installations. Thereafter, a fab shop will make the boards in larger quantities. Waiting even a week per iteration could easily become difficult to plan for. Leaving aside design-errors and oversights, even a change in the enclosure choice, or the fascia layout, could require moving PCB connectors or mounting holes.

The boards typically incorporate RF comms and ADCs, so breadboards/veroboard only go so far (though this is where I always begin).