Homebrew PCBs

--- In Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com, "Ben L" <bhleavi@...> wrote:
>
> 
> 
> > 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
>

I just looked at the Proxxon stuff, it looks nice and price doesn't seem too bad either.

How good is it? So far my drilling has been a hand-held pin-vise which while it works, is very very slow and painful, I definitely need a machine!

I don't need some elaborate $10,000 optical drill machine but I do want something that will work well and is of decent quality. Do these Proxxon drills and equipment fit the bill?

I don't want to (and can't really) make my own press etc. I just want to buy something that I know is going to just simply work.