3040T CNC Router Control box .. ..

[Musicmanager]

Yes, I liked the sound of my old dad, it was his left hand applied to my buttocks at speed I wasn't too keen on !

I came to the conclusion a while ago that an 'off the shelf' model was more wonga than I could justify .. .. so I've started to build one, based on the Sable machine but with some significant modifications. In order to achieve quality I reckoned on a 'bit at a time' approach and I've built the Y axis using a 30 x 30cm aluminium platen on linear bearings running up and down supported stainless linear rails on a heavy blockboard base. I've measured the horizontal and vertical run out and it's minimal. I need to design, get machined and then assemble the gantry next; it will be rigid fixed to the baseboard but at the moment, I'm thinking about how to maintain the parallel of the X axis.
Meanwhile, I wanted something to read, mark, learn and inwardly digest the art of Mach3, Lazycam, Autoleveller and produce some PCB's in the process; all whilst having some fun with it !

Thank you for all your advice, much appreciated .. .. .. you should relax when talking to me, you'll find pissing me off a real challenge !

Bientot

S

[Musicmanager]

Hi Jazz

Sorry, a question I meant to ask you and forgot .. .

Milling PCB's .. .. lubrication ? Necessary or not ? If so, what to use ?

Thanks

S

[JAZZCNC]

Hi Jazz

Sorry, a question I meant to ask you and forgot .. .

Milling PCB's .. .. lubrication ? Necessary or not ? If so, what to use ?

Thanks

S

Not my thing really but the little I've done I'd say just bit of Blown Air.!

[JAZZCNC]

you should relax when talking to me, you'll find pissing me off a real challenge !

Oh don't make it a Challenge please because by all accounts I'm naturally very talented at it.!! . . . Been Likened to a Vicious little Dog on a mission.

Sounds like you have made good start and have handle on things so why not stick a build thread up and then we can help you along the way with anything your struggling with. We'll also take the Piss has well mind but all done in good spirit and with genuine desire to help.

[Musicmanager]

why not stick a build thread up and then we can help you along the way with anything your struggling with. We'll also take the Piss

Yes, good idea .. .. I built the Y axis a while ago and it's in a box until the New Year or so whilst the budget fund recovers .. .. but when I get it out again I'll post it up .. ..

Back to the subject of reaction and over reaction, I have the most evil sense of humour which gets me into trouble regularly, so don't think you have a monopoly !

S

[to204]

I've used a Chinese 3020 milling machine for making double sided PCBs for a couple of years now and it works remarkably well. The key is to slow down the machine a little for more accuracy.

They are more than capable of making very tight PCBs ready for surface mount components.

I haven't used lubrication on the board, simply the vacuum cleaner removing the dust every now and then.

[Musicmanager]

Hi to204

Thank you for the response .. .. . the reason I asked about lubrication is that I read an article on the net recently advocating an oil to prevent copper burrs, but it looked awfully messy !

I would be interested to know what range of cutters you use for PCBs .. .. . I've no experience at all

S

[to204]

Copper burrs are not that big an issue if it happens, simply use a piece of green scotch pad on the board. If you're mill bit is reasonably sharp, no significant burrs will occur.

I use the mill bits from Crownhill:

http://www.crownhill.co.uk/02097.html

They are excellent bits and will give a lovely 0.2mm route around the tracks, which means SMD tracks are easily accompished. I've found that using them at about 6000 RPM will make them last a bit longer and give a nice clean cut.

[Musicmanager]

Great ! Thanks for that .. .. I'll order some for the big tryout.

I've got some cheap chinese bits ex Ebay to use for experiments, getting used to the machine and the software but I wanted to find something a bit better for when it matters.

The only issue I'll have is accurately setting spindle speed. The Control Box with the machine has a potentiometer on the panel to control speed but it is only marked with a series of white dots which get progressively larger - presumably meaning faster !
I've looked at the control boards inside and there are connections available for PWM which I could use to get Mach3 to control spindle speed but that's quite an experimental project to take on right now. I did see an article on the net a while ago, detailing how to do exactly that, but there was no outcome posted, so I don't know if it was successful or not.

I'm currently building a probe system to operate Autoleveller on my machine. I've made a nylon baseboard with a cutout the same size as the PCB blank, with a small clip on each corner which Gnd the copper cladding so that when the probe touches, it registers the exact height of the board.

Thanks for the support, very much appreciated .. ..

S