Homebrew PCBs

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Matthew Mucker" <matthew@...>
To: <homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Monday, December 29, 2008 1:11 AM
Subject: [Homebrew_PCBs] What size drill bits?


> All,
>
> I'm new to the DIY-PCB scene. I've just finished my first test etch and am
> just overjoyed at the results I was able to achieve my first time out of 
> the
> gate.
>
> I now need to look at drilling my boards.  Does anyone have any
> recommendations on what drill bit sizes I should get for general
> through-hole work?
>
> Given an Eagle .brd file, what can I do to get an idea of the drill bit
> sizes I'll need?   I ran the CAM processor and opened up the .dri file for
> one of my projects, which appears to be a good start... but how much
> tolerance should I allow? If the .dri calls for a .035, a .036, and a 
> .0394
> inch drill bit, I assume I can use a .0394 for all of them, right?  (I 
> mean,
> that's what... 4 and a half thousandths of an inch there.)
>
> What rules of thumb do you use? What drill bit sizes are your most 
> commonly
> used sizes?

I mostly use 0.7 mm, and 0.6 mm for vias.

Leon