Homebrew PCBs

> This discussion is immediately interesting. I'm at the stage where I
> need a drill press for PCBs. Because I'm already heavily invested in the
> Dremel system, I was about to buy the Dremel drill press to use with my
> XPR tool. I looked at the Proxxon system. It's nice and may be better,
> but I do NOT need (and can't afford) yet another tool system!
> 
>  
> 
> Can someone tell me more details of the problems alluded to with the
> Dremel? Can they be fixed with a little machining to tighten tolerances?
> (I did that with their routing table.) Would just taking extra care be a
> workaround? Or, is Dremel a totally lost cause for PCBs?


I have used the Dremel Drill Press both the older version and the newer Version, when I do boards I maybe drilling 4000+ holes.  Really need to get my CNC project going but that keeps getting put off.  Normally if I break a bit it is because I failed to hold the board good or tried to move the board before the bit cleared the board.  Don't really seem to have a problem with runout breaking the bits.  No Dremel tools are not the best, and the drill press not the best either but does work well for drilling PCB's.  I use .7mm (.0280") bits - 2mm (.0787") bits I might break 1 bit during a run of borads, guess 1 bit in 4000+ holes is not too bad, and that is normally due to getting in a hurry.

Get yourself a couple of good lights to light the work area from each side and a vac nozzle mounted to suck up the dust with a shop vac.  Mount the base of the drill press to your bench or a piece of plywood and some pads for your elbows to rest on.

So if you already have a Dremel go ahead and get the Dremel Drill Press.

Ben