PCB Manufacture - Revision history

Mirage335: /* Correct Bit */

2014-04-08T14:52:58Z

Correct Bit

← Older revision		Revision as of 14:52, 8 April 2014
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	=== Correct Bit ===		=== Correct Bit ===
	The above millproect file is intended for our 0.01" end mill. ~~WE DON'T HAVE SPARES FOR THIS BIT RIGHT NOW~~.		* The above millproect file is intended for our 0.01" end mill. That bit is relatively expensive, so try not to break it.

	~~The~~ narrowest possible spade bit ~~should~~ be used for milling ~~high~~-quality circuit boards.		* Multiple shallow passes with the narrowest possible spade bit can be used for milling slightly higher-quality circuit boards.

	~~Low~~ quality boards ~~may get away with wider spade bits~~.		* A scribing bit may be used to cut isolation traces in spraypaint, which can be followed by chemical etching. Short of photolithography, this is the highest quality process, but requires the milling table to be exactly level.

			* If even higher-quality or double-layer boards are required (eg. fine pitch SMT), photolithography becomes more effective.

	=== Multiple Passes ===		=== Multiple Passes ===

Mirage335 at 14:49, 8 April 2014

2014-04-08T14:49:15Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 14:49, 8 April 2014
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	Precisely manufacturing circuit boards with the CNC Mill can be moderately high-quality (10-15mil resolution), cheap, and fast.		Precisely manufacturing circuit boards with the CNC Mill can be moderately high-quality (10-15mil resolution), cheap, and fast.

	Note this page reflects ''direct'' single-layer PCB manufacture. Higher-precision double-layer boards are made by CNC drilling ''followed by photolithography''. Slightly different settings (eg. milldrill) are used ~~to begin that process on the CNC mill. This process is~~ documented at [[:Category:Photolithography_PCB_Fab]].		Note this page reflects ''direct'' single-layer PCB manufacture. Higher-precision double-layer boards are made by CNC drilling ''followed by photolithography''. Slightly different settings (eg. milldrill) and a different process are used as documented at [[:Category:Photolithography_PCB_Fab]].

	== gEDA ==		== gEDA ==

Mirage335 at 14:47, 8 April 2014

2014-04-08T14:47:50Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 14:47, 8 April 2014
Line 3:		Line 3:
	Precisely manufacturing circuit boards with the CNC Mill can be moderately high-quality (10-15mil resolution), cheap, and fast.		Precisely manufacturing circuit boards with the CNC Mill can be moderately high-quality (10-15mil resolution), cheap, and fast.

	Note this page reflects ''direct'' single-layer PCB manufacture. Higher-precision double-layer boards are made by CNC drilling ''followed by photolithography''. Slightly different settings (eg. milldrill) are used to begin that process on the CNC mill.		Note this page reflects ''direct'' single-layer PCB manufacture. Higher-precision double-layer boards are made by CNC drilling ''followed by photolithography''. Slightly different settings (eg. milldrill) are used to begin that process on the CNC mill. This process is documented at [[:Category:Photolithography_PCB_Fab]].

	== gEDA ==		== gEDA ==

Mirage335 at 14:39, 8 April 2014

2014-04-08T14:39:54Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 14:39, 8 April 2014
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	[[Category:CNC_Mill]]		[[Category:CNC_Mill]]

	Precisely manufacturing circuit boards with the CNC Mill can be high-quality, cheap, and fast.		Precisely manufacturing circuit boards with the CNC Mill can be moderately high-quality (10-15mil resolution), cheap, and fast.

			Note this page reflects ''direct'' single-layer PCB manufacture. Higher-precision double-layer boards are made by CNC drilling ''followed by photolithography''. Slightly different settings (eg. milldrill) are used to begin that process on the CNC mill.

	== gEDA ==		== gEDA ==

Mirage335 at 16:08, 18 June 2013

2013-06-18T16:08:28Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 16:08, 18 June 2013
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	== gEDA ==		== gEDA ==
	The ideal tool for the artwork is probably gEDA. Start by making a schematic, convert it to a pcb file, export that as a gerber file, and use pcb2gcode to convert to gcode.		The ideal tool for the artwork is probably gEDA. Start by making a schematic, convert it to a pcb file, export that as a gerber file, and use pcb2gcode to convert to gcode.

			=== gEDA_Template ===
			Empty gEDA project structured for easy customization, documentation, licensing, and manufacturing. Adds automatic generation for BOM files HacDC CNC Mill compatible ngc files, and oshpark compatible gerbers.

			https://github.com/mirage335/gEDA_Template

	=== pcb2gcode ===		=== pcb2gcode ===

Mirage335: /* pcb2gcode */

2013-06-18T15:39:10Z

pcb2gcode

← Older revision		Revision as of 15:39, 18 June 2013
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	# The board outline is 10mil wide, no holes		# The board outline is 10mil wide, no holes
	fill-outline = yes		fill-outline = yes
	outline-width = 0.~~0433071~~ #1.10 mm bit.		outline-width = 0.0334646 #0.85 mm bit.

	# parameters for isolation routing / engraving / etching		# parameters for isolation routing / engraving / etching
	#offset=1 #voronoi regions (commented out)		#offset=1 #voronoi regions (commented out)
	offset=0.~~0433071~~ #~~1.10 mm~~ bit.		offset=0.010 #Small PCB bit. Don't break it!!!
	zwork=0.~~0492126~~ #~~1.25mm above table. Boards usually >1~~.5mm ~~thick~~.		zwork=-0.019685 #0.5mm below touch off.
	zsafe=0.19685 #5mm above table.		zsafe=0.19685 #5mm above table.
	mill-feed=2.~~95276~~ #~~75mm~~/min. Always go slow here.		mill-feed=1.9685 #50mm/min. Always go slow here.
	mill-speed=10000		mill-speed=10000


	# parameters for cutting out boards		# parameters for cutting out boards
	cutter-diameter=0.~~0433071~~ #1.10 mm bit.		cutter-diameter=0.0334646 #0.85 mm bit.
	zcut=0 #Right on the table.		zcut=0 #Right on the table.
	cut-feed=2.~~95276~~ #~~75mm~~/min.		cut-feed=0.19685 #25mm/min. Going slow because this really should be done in many passes.
	cut-speed=10000		cut-speed=10000
	cut-infeed=0.00393701 #Lowers Z 0.1mm each pass.		cut-infeed=0.00393701 #Lowers Z 0.1mm each pass. DOES NOT WORK.

Mirage335: /* Correct Bit */

2013-06-18T15:38:17Z

Correct Bit

← Older revision		Revision as of 15:38, 18 June 2013
Line 65:		Line 65:

	=== Correct Bit ===		=== Correct Bit ===
			The above millproect file is intended for our 0.01" end mill. WE DON'T HAVE SPARES FOR THIS BIT RIGHT NOW.

	The narrowest possible spade bit should be used for milling high-quality circuit boards.		The narrowest possible spade bit should be used for milling high-quality circuit boards.

Mirage335: /* Cavets */

2013-06-01T20:04:30Z

Cavets

← Older revision		Revision as of 20:04, 1 June 2013
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	=== Cavets ===		=== Cavets ===
	* The drill.ngc file may not include M3, particularly if milldrill=true is used. Uncorrected, this breaks the milling bit.		* The drill.ngc file may not include M3, particularly if milldrill=true is used. Uncorrected, this breaks the milling bit.
	* The pcb2gcode utility does not support drill-front and milldrill simultaneously. Consequently, you may want to ignore/delete the toolchange commands (matching regular expression ^T.* ) in drill.ngc.		* The pcb2gcode utility does not support drill-front and milldrill simultaneously. Consequently, you may want to ignore/delete the toolchange commands (matching regular expression ^T.* ) in drill.ngc. The M0 commands may also be annoying.
	* Mach3 seems to go about some funny business loading ngc files. For best results, explicitly set the first line of an ngc file before starting.		* Mach3 seems to go about some funny business loading ngc files. For best results, explicitly set the first line of an ngc file before starting.
	* Milling the back side of circuit boards requires somewhat precise alignment. However, this is definitely possible.		* Milling the back side of circuit boards requires somewhat precise alignment. However, this is definitely possible.

Mirage335: /* Cavets */

2013-05-31T23:30:02Z

Cavets

← Older revision		Revision as of 23:30, 31 May 2013
Line 52:		Line 52:
	* Mach3 seems to go about some funny business loading ngc files. For best results, explicitly set the first line of an ngc file before starting.		* Mach3 seems to go about some funny business loading ngc files. For best results, explicitly set the first line of an ngc file before starting.
	* Milling the back side of circuit boards requires somewhat precise alignment. However, this is definitely possible.		* Milling the back side of circuit boards requires somewhat precise alignment. However, this is definitely possible.
			* Using double-sided copper clad board with through-hole components will necessitate milling out the back side.

	* Newer versions of gEDA offer direct pcb file to gcode conversion. This is untested, and does not seem to offer as much control over the results as pcb2gcode.		* Newer versions of gEDA offer direct pcb file to gcode conversion. This is untested, and does not seem to offer as much control over the results as pcb2gcode.

Mirage335: /* pcb2gcode */

2013-05-31T23:27:54Z

pcb2gcode

← Older revision		Revision as of 23:27, 31 May 2013
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	<nowiki>		<nowiki>
	# You may want to uncomment and change those in local project files		# You may want to uncomment and change those in local project files
	front=~~Project~~.top.gbr		front=PCB.top.gbr
	back=~~Project~~.~~back~~.gbr		back=PCB.bottom.gbr
	outline=~~Project~~.outline.gbr		outline=PCB.outline.gbr
	drill=~~Project~~.plated-drill.cnc		drill=PCB.plated-drill.cnc


	# The board outline is 10mil wide, no holes		# The board outline is 10mil wide, no holes
	fill-outline = yes		fill-outline = yes
	outline-width = 0.0433071 #1.10 mm bit.		outline-width = 0.0433071 #1.10 mm bit.

	# parameters for isolation routing / engraving / etching		# parameters for isolation routing / engraving / etching
	#offset=1 #voronoi regions (commented out)		#offset=1 #voronoi regions (commented out)
	offset=0.0433071 #1.10 mm bit.		offset=0.0433071 #1.10 mm bit.
	zwork=0.0492126 #1.25mm above table. Boards usually >1.5mm thick.		zwork=0.0492126 #1.25mm above table. Boards usually >1.5mm thick.
	zsafe=0.19685 #5mm above table.		zsafe=0.19685 #5mm above table.
	mill-feed=2.95276 #75mm/min. Always go slow here.		mill-feed=2.95276 #75mm/min. Always go slow here.
Line 31:		Line 31:
	# parameters for cutting out boards		# parameters for cutting out boards
	cutter-diameter=0.0433071 #1.10 mm bit.		cutter-diameter=0.0433071 #1.10 mm bit.
	zcut=0 #Right on the table.		zcut=0 #Right on the table.
	cut-feed=2.95276 #75mm/min.		cut-feed=2.95276 #75mm/min.
	cut-speed=10000		cut-speed=10000
	cut-infeed=0.00393701 #Lowers Z 0.1mm each pass.		cut-infeed=0.00393701 #Lowers Z 0.1mm each pass.
Line 38:		Line 38:

	# drilling parameters		# drilling parameters
	zdrill=0 #Right on the table.		zdrill=0 #Right on the table.
	zchange=0.19685 #5mm above table.		zchange=0.19685 #5mm above table.
	drill-feed=0.984252 #25mm/min		drill-feed=0.984252 #25mm/min
	drill-speed=10000		drill-speed=10000
	drill-front=true		drill-front=true
	~~milldrill=false~~
	</nowiki>		</nowiki>