Homebrew PCBs

Stefan Trethan wrote:

>On Tue, 09 May 2006 03:30:34 +0200, Alan King <alan@...> wrote:
>
>  
>
>>http://www.superference.com/images/cnc/
>>    
>>
>
>
>Good idea.
>Are these boxes used for electrical installation like switches and stuff?
>They make them round here for that :-).
>
>Anyway, not too hard to find another kind of box or some other substitute.
>
>ST
>  
>
  Yes, but the costs will mount quickly if it's not the absolute 
cheapest thing..  I bought some of the deepest metal single boxes they 
had when I built this a few years ago, and they're about 3/4" less deep, 
too short for NEMA-23 or surrounding a Dremel.  Built over a year or two 
with many many trips to Lowes, so unlikely was an out of stock thing 
too.  Had several others of the same depth now, but the others had punch 
outs, much better to have without for making your own holes..  They also 
now have some wider square boxes, what the Z axis is mounted to, so will 
give it a wider base and make it a little more stable.


  I was looking at building these to sell, in the $250-300 range with 
motors and controllers, so everything had to be decent components but at 
bottom cost.  It's not that you can't find other parts etc, but 
generally price goes up several times on each part, because other items 
aren't so mass produced.  Not a big deal for an individual build, but 
for making more than a few it adds up fast..  I wouldn't even think of 
offering parts, except I know what the holes represent, since it's about 
half the work.  If not for that and the bulk cost making room for 
covering shipping etc, it'd be just as easy for everyone to get these at 
Lowes.  I may still not even offer it anyway, just something else to 
have to do, either way I'll give hole specs anyway.  But even with 
shipping to Euroland you'd be hard pressed to come out ahead on cost, 
not even considering the work after buying.  Not that terrible but is 
about half of building the mechanics just making those holes.

  Have most of the stuff on hand for a second unit, may just build new 
for the instructions.  Needs a few slight changes, and especially a 
second drive for the Y.  Carriage is wide enough that you can deflect 
the other side, a parallel drive will lock it in.  Didn't matter for 
drilling so I haven't put it on yet..

Alan