Homebrew PCBs

Hello all!

Been a while since I posted here, if I've ever posting here at all. I
have mainly been just reading the group, didn't really have much to
improve on anyone's ideas, until now.        

I want to mention the plans I bought for a PCB mill. I decided on the
Rockcliff CNC machine because it was scalable, and I don't need a HUGE
machine for making PCBs. I got them a while ago on ebay, but they've
recently been updated and improved a ton! Since I have yet to actually
build the machine, I emailed the guy I got the plans from and he gave
me the new version for free!  

Looking the plans over, the machine has been improved, and assembly
has been made easier to understand. There are even stepper motor
driver schematics and PCB files. (while not the best stepper driver, I
believe it'll do the job if you can't get a kit from xylotex or
hobbycnc.com)  Like I said, its easily scalable, so I plan on making a
desktop-sized one later.  I'm currently working on my own design and
software for a small mill.

Anyway, just wanted to let you guys know about it, also, when i bought
the plans, they were $40...  he dropped the price to $30, so if you
can get the plans, I highly suggest doing so. definitely worth it.

Let me know what you guys think,

Adam

--- In Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com, "adam" <email_adam@...> wrote:
>
> Hello all!
> 
> Been a while since I posted here, if I've ever posting here at all. I
> have mainly been just reading the group, didn't really have much to
> improve on anyone's ideas, until now.        
> 
> I want to mention the plans I bought for a PCB mill. I decided on the
> Rockcliff CNC machine because it was scalable, and I don't need a HUGE
> machine for making PCBs. I got them a while ago on ebay, but they've
> recently been updated and improved a ton! Since I have yet to actually
> build the machine, I emailed the guy I got the plans from and he gave
> me the new version for free!  
> 
> Looking the plans over, the machine has been improved, and assembly
> has been made easier to understand. There are even stepper motor
> driver schematics and PCB files. (while not the best stepper driver, I
> believe it'll do the job if you can't get a kit from xylotex or
> hobbycnc.com)  Like I said, its easily scalable, so I plan on making a
> desktop-sized one later.  I'm currently working on my own design and
> software for a small mill.
> 
> Anyway, just wanted to let you guys know about it, also, when i bought
> the plans, they were $40...  he dropped the price to $30, so if you
> can get the plans, I highly suggest doing so. definitely worth it.

Actually they dropped to $20.

http://www.stonehook.net/cnchome.htm

I was thinking about the whole MDF vs plywood thing. Mostly because I
was in the hardware store for something else and looked at plywood.
Yuck! No way to guarantee you won't end up with a wierd void at some
inconvenient spot in a sheet of plywood, except for the most expensive
stuff.

Steve Greenfield

On Thu, 2007-01-25 at 14:03 +0000, adam wrote:
> Hello all!
> 
> Been a while since I posted here, if I've ever posting here at all. I
> have mainly been just reading the group, didn't really have much to
> improve on anyone's ideas, until now. 

I'm working on developing a CNC drilling/milling kit, which will have
the stepper motors, the host communications, the calibration, user
interface etc all controlled from a single PIC.

Aim is to have a kit, with preprogrammed PIC, PC software and all parts
and instructions ready to ship for well south of USD$600.

Already got the PIC software working - just waiting on a mechanical
engineer friend (ex Air Force) to pull his finger out and get back to me
with his mechanical prototype and BOM.

Shall announce later when it's ready.

Cheers
David

> I want to mention the plans I bought for a PCB mill. I decided on the
> Rockcliff CNC machine because it was scalable, and I don't need a HUGE
> machine for making PCBs. I got them a while ago on ebay, but they've
> recently been updated and improved a ton! Since I have yet to actually
> build the machine, I emailed the guy I got the plans from and he gave
> me the new version for free! 
> 
> Looking the plans over, the machine has been improved, and assembly
> has been made easier to understand. There are even stepper motor
> driver schematics and PCB files. (while not the best stepper driver, I
> believe it'll do the job if you can't get a kit from xylotex or
> hobbycnc.com) Like I said, its easily scalable, so I plan on making a
> desktop-sized one later. I'm currently working on my own design and
> software for a small mill.
> 
> Anyway, just wanted to let you guys know about it, also, when i bought
> the plans, they were $40... he dropped the price to $30, so if you
> can get the plans, I highly suggest doing so. definitely worth it.
> 
> Let me know what you guys think,
> 
> Adam
> 
> 
> 
> 
>