Homebrew PCBs

Hello,

The kits sent to countries with 240V,50Hz mains would be set up for 
that voltage and frequency.

It's only a transformer change, after all...

Ballendo

--- In Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com, "Bill Maxwell" <wrmaxwell@b...> 
wrote:
> Hi Ballendo
> I'm interested too but is the power supply an area in which a 
slightly
> lesser kit might be considered. Australian AC mains supply is 240 
VAC. 50 Hz
> so a kit designed for 110 volts, 60 Hz would have some redundant 
pieces
> here, probably also in the UK?
> Bill
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "ballendo" <ballendo@y...>
> To: <Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com>
> Sent: Friday, March 26, 2004 8:12 PM
> Subject: [Homebrew_PCBs] Re: 500 buck CNC drill update
> 
> 
> > Brian,
> >
> > The kit will be complete, including structure, motors, drives, 
wiring
> > and software. (The only item in "debate" is whether I'll include a
> > drilling spindle or not.) IMO, The tech support issues from 
offering
> > incomplete kits are not worth the hassle and time for a product so
> > low-priced.
> >
> > There is NO difference between the 800 and 500 buck machines 
because
> > they are the same machine! (At this point, anyway. Explanation
> > follows.) Here's the issue...
> >
> > Even the least expensive cnc drill needs certain things. There is
> > a "base" cost for these things which cannot be made less. In this
> > case, to be called a CNC PCB drill, you need AT LEAST:
> >
> > 2 motors for XY drive,
> > 2 screws,belts, or other means of moving the axes
> > 2 drivers for the motors
> > 1 solenoid for actuating the drilling, and a driver for the 
solenoid.
> > rails and bearings for the xy and z axes
> > Support for the pcb
> > a spindle, or the attachment point for an easily available 
spindle.
> > The machine structure to put this all together, including 
hardware,
> > etc.
> > A power supply
> > Wiring and connectors
> > Software
> > Shipping packaging
> > A means for customer support and answers to customer questions
> >
> > Without ALL these things, you don't have a viable CNC drill.
> >
> > So you play with each category trying to get the best overall 
value,
> > within the 500 buck limit that you guys have set...
> >
> > And you find that if the machine is made just a bit 
bigger,stronger,
> > faster, then a LOT more can be done than JUST pdb drilling. But 
as I
> > wrote in a post a few days ago, you ALSO find that this "just a 
bit"
> > costs MORE than "just a bit" more...
> >
> > Start with this: A 5"x8"x1/2", moving table, XY stepper ,solenoid 
Z,
> > pcb DRILL only--(which means the guide rods/rails can be VERY 
light,
> > just look at what the Roland machines use!) In other words, the
> > barest minimum that could properly be called a CNC PCB drilling
> > machine. (This is what I had in mind originally for a 500buck cnc
> > drill.)
> >
> > Then, luckily for you guys, feature creep kicked in<G>
> >
> > Anyway, going from that to an 8"x10"x2", 3 stepper, full 3d 
capable,
> > STURDY 3/4" rails, acme drive, AB nuts(because a pcb drill(only)
> > doesn't need AB if the software always approaches the drilling 
point
> > from the same direction), A stiffer structure to accomodate the 
much
> > thicker items likely to be placed on the table to be cut(like
> > electronics enclosures, for cutouts/engraving), which requires an
> > increased throat that changes the moment loads and calcs
> > (geometrically)--not necessary if 1/16 pcb material is all you 
need
> > to accomodate, AND all the other related things that make the 
result
> > much MORE than a CNC pcb drill...
> >
> > In this case it all means a difference in selling price of about 
300
> > bucks. As I wrote, each "little" upgrade or improvement causes a
> > chain reaction to other parts of the design. But for me it's hard 
to
> > use 1/2" rods, when 3/4" will cost the same in volume... And to 
sell
> > a moving table, when I KNOW a fixed table is better for a wider
> > variety of things...
> >
> > Now what I have to decide, is whether I think I can make any 
profits
> > selling an 800 buck machine for 500. And whether simply providing 
the
> > 500 buck CNC PCB drill ONLY, is a better choice, business wise.
> >
> > Or whether the increased usefullness is worth the 300 bucks to my
> > potential customers?
> >
> > My current belief is that the bigger, better machine will be more
> > useful to more people. So I mentioned that what I'm thinking I 
will
> > do is to initially offer an 800 buck machine for 500. But to 
pretty
> > quickly increase the price to 800, and bring a new machine that is
> > pcb drill only to market for 500 bucks.
> >
> > I have no interest in providing a "partial" solution. So whether 
500,
> > or 800, or 1000, or 5000; my machines are complete. Just with
> > differing capabilities of size speed, and "duty cycle".
> >
> > Side note: I used to work for a copier company as a Service Tech. 
We
> > had a machine that was rated 5000 copies per month. Of course this
> > was based on a 20 day work month, so it was REALLY rated for 250
> > copies per day. I had a heck of a time getting this point across 
to
> > my customer who had monthly breakdowns due to running 2-5K month 
end
> > reports... "But they said it was good for 5000 copies per month!"
> > (that's what duty cycle means.)
> >
> > Hope this helps,
> >
> > Ballendo
> >
> > P.S. About the only "time consuming" step I "could" pass on is the
> > pcb assy. and wiring. Since this group obviously can do that, 
perhaps
> > that's something I'll consider...
> > But I have to stress that my experience with low-priced products
> > shows that customer support can kill profitability quicker than
> > almost anything else... So it all has to balance. Because I'm not
> > doing this for grins<G>
> >
> >
> > --- In Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com, Brian Schmalz <brian.s@l...>
> > wrote:
> > > Ballendo,
> > > I'm totally interested in the $500 machine. For me, $800 is
> > less
> > > interesting. What differences would there be between the two
> > machines?
> > >
> > > What software would you need to run it? I'm assuming the $500
> > includes no
> > > electronics, correct? I really like the idea of giving it the
> > flexibility
> > > that the user can modify it to do other (simple) things like 
pnp,
> > routing,
> > > front panel milling, etc.
> > >
> > > Are there time consuming steps in the assembly that you can let 
the
> > > user do (more of a kit) to save cost? I'm happy to spend 40 
hours
> > > putting together a kit if it will cut $100 from the cost. (Just
> > > cause it's fun to put together kits!)
> > >
> > > *Brian
> > >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > Be sure to visit the group home and check for new Bookmarks and 
files:
> > http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Homebrew_PCBs
> > Yahoo! Groups Links
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >