Cutting PCBs
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Posts: 46,084
I just discovered this in my classroom. My students build printed
circuit boards which are never the full size of the PCB material we
use. As a result, I have to trim their boards. In the past I've used a
heavy duty exacto knife, but the blade dulls too soon. This week
I've been trying a laminate cutter that I picked up from Home Depot.
It's worked very well. The carbide tip is not sharp like a knife, but
it is very hard and shouldn't dull anytime soon.
Paul
circuit boards which are never the full size of the PCB material we
use. As a result, I have to trim their boards. In the past I've used a
heavy duty exacto knife, but the blade dulls too soon. This week
I've been trying a laminate cutter that I picked up from Home Depot.
It's worked very well. The carbide tip is not sharp like a knife, but
it is very hard and shouldn't dull anytime soon.
Paul
Comments
> reading about PCBs in anticipation of some projects. It appears that the
> preferred method of separating PCB is shearing rather than any kind of
> cutting/sawing. This is supposed to be easier on both the tools and users.
> It also generates less hazardous dust. Commercial PCB fabs use hydraulic
> shears, similar to those in sheet metal shops. A heavy-duty paper cuts is
> the most common small-shop solution for this approach.
I'd like to use shears, but commerical ones cost $300. I'd like to
hear what paper cutters people are using. Also, how long does the
blade stray sharp.
The dust we create is in small amounts.
> I find it fascinating that someone with "K12" in their e-mail address is
> facing this problem with students. I am in the early stages of putting
> together a program to help put hands-on technology back into schools.
> Overall, students are getting less and less practical training in school.
> But I keep stumbling into individual teachers and schools who are doing
> amazing things. I would be very interested in learning what kind of class
> or club you are teaching and how the program works.
We're a professional technical center that services 13 high schools
in the Boise area. Students build PCBs according to the article I
wrote in Circuit Cellar. They make some very good PCBs with a
"photographic" method that uses a UV lamp. We use Kepro
products for the boards and chemicals and Ares Lite for the layout
program.
Paul
other PCB materials are pretty toxic, so I've avoided using a bandsaw.
Too much trouble to control the dust reliably.
Dennis
Original Message
From: verhap@o... [noparse]/noparse]mailto:[url=http://forums.parallaxinc.com/group/basicstamps/post?postID=ZVZ5_TCRBD-Lm8ttIw4DzPjrtwJFDerLoU6FK6GuR_ToNgCchwp1cDTIaXsZqBi3OZr1fyfb5K_kcF6l2tb7bqZmjA]verhap@o...[/url
Sent: Thursday, February 06, 2003 11:09 AM
To: basicstamps@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [noparse][[/noparse]basicstamps] Cutting PCBs
I just discovered this in my classroom. My students build printed
circuit boards which are never the full size of the PCB material we
use. As a result, I have to trim their boards. In the past I've used a
heavy duty exacto knife, but the blade dulls too soon. This week
I've been trying a laminate cutter that I picked up from Home Depot.
It's worked very well. The carbide tip is not sharp like a knife, but
it is very hard and shouldn't dull anytime soon.
Paul
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I'm a hick. That said, I use my chopsaw with it's regular blade. I cut with
the copper side up. Does a great job, so smooth it needs no sanding. I have
done it for years with no ill effects on blades. Dust get sucked up into the
shopvac via the handy attachment on the back of the saw.
Yeehaw,
Jonathan
www.madlabs.info
Original Message
From: <verhap@o...>
To: <basicstamps@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Thursday, February 06, 2003 1:33 PM
Subject: RE: [noparse][[/noparse]basicstamps] Cutting PCBs
> > I don't have much actual experience myself, but have been doing a lot of
> > reading about PCBs in anticipation of some projects. It appears that
the
> > preferred method of separating PCB is shearing rather than any kind of
> > cutting/sawing. This is supposed to be easier on both the tools and
users.
> > It also generates less hazardous dust. Commercial PCB fabs use
hydraulic
> > shears, similar to those in sheet metal shops. A heavy-duty paper cuts
is
> > the most common small-shop solution for this approach.
>
> I'd like to use shears, but commerical ones cost $300. I'd like to
> hear what paper cutters people are using. Also, how long does the
> blade stray sharp.
>
> The dust we create is in small amounts.
>
> > I find it fascinating that someone with "K12" in their e-mail address is
> > facing this problem with students. I am in the early stages of putting
> > together a program to help put hands-on technology back into schools.
> > Overall, students are getting less and less practical training in
school.
> > But I keep stumbling into individual teachers and schools who are doing
> > amazing things. I would be very interested in learning what kind of
class
> > or club you are teaching and how the program works.
>
> We're a professional technical center that services 13 high schools
> in the Boise area. Students build PCBs according to the article I
> wrote in Circuit Cellar. They make some very good PCBs with a
> "photographic" method that uses a UV lamp. We use Kepro
> products for the boards and chemicals and Ares Lite for the layout
> program.
>
> Paul
>
> To UNSUBSCRIBE, just send mail to:
> basicstamps-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
> from the same email address that you subscribed. Text in the Subject and
Body of the message will be ignored.
>
>
> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
>
>
>
>
Original Message
From: "Dennis P. O'Leary" <doleary@e...>
To: <basicstamps@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Thursday, February 06, 2003 3:22 PM
Subject: RE: [noparse][[/noparse]basicstamps] Cutting PCBs
> A great idea, Paul. I've used tin snips for smaller boards. FR4 and
> other PCB materials are pretty toxic, so I've avoided using a bandsaw.
> Too much trouble to control the dust reliably.
>
> Dennis
jpeakall@m... writes:
> Hi All,
>
> I'm a hick. That said, I use my chopsaw with it's regular blade. I cut with
> the copper side up. Does a great job, so smooth it needs no sanding. I have
> done it for years with no ill effects on blades. Dust get sucked up into
> the
> shopvac via the handy attachment on the back of the saw.
>
> Yeehaw,
>
> Jonathan
>
I didn't know hicks new electronics.....
Sorry, I could not resist...No true harm meant.
[noparse][[/noparse]Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
them on 1/32" material instead of 1/16". I don't know about the
availability of 1/32" in DIY materials, but if you have prototypes
made by APcircuits, they will run the thin material at no extra cost
and usually no extra delay.
We have a 30" foot operated guillotine shear we call The Hulk in our
shop, and it makes quick clean work of chopping the boards. I got it
years ago at a flea market in Silicon Valley.
-- Tracy
an a beer monitors.
Jonathan
PS no offense taken ;-)!
www.madlabs.info
Original Message
From: <smartdim@a...>
To: <basicstamps@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Thursday, February 06, 2003 7:25 PM
Subject: Re: [noparse][[/noparse]basicstamps] Cutting PCBs
> In a message dated 2/6/2003 6:22:34 PM Pacific Standard Time,
> jpeakall@m... writes:
>
> > Hi All,
> >
> > I'm a hick. That said, I use my chopsaw with it's regular blade. I cut
with
> > the copper side up. Does a great job, so smooth it needs no sanding. I
have
> > done it for years with no ill effects on blades. Dust get sucked up into
> > the
> > shopvac via the handy attachment on the back of the saw.
> >
> > Yeehaw,
> >
> > Jonathan
> >
>
> I didn't know hicks new electronics.....
>
> Sorry, I could not resist...No true harm meant.
>
>
> [noparse][[/noparse]Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>
>
> To UNSUBSCRIBE, just send mail to:
> basicstamps-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
> from the same email address that you subscribed. Text in the Subject and
Body of the message will be ignored.
>
>
> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
>
>
>
>
jpeakall@m... writes:
> Yup, I been into eeelectronics fer a lawng time know. I make BIG bug zappers
> an a beer monitors.
>
> Jonathan
>
> PS no offense taken ;-)!
LOL....
[noparse][[/noparse]Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>>I'm a hick. That said, I use my chopsaw with it's regular blade. I cut with
>
> I didn't know hicks new electronics.....
>
Those of us that do prefer to be called "Electron Hicks" please.
Michael Burr
mburr@b... writes:
> >>I'm a hick. That said, I use my chopsaw with it's regular blade. I cut
> with
> >
> >I didn't know hicks new electronics.....
> >
>
> Those of us that do prefer to be called "Electron Hicks" please.
>
Thats good, looks like I am the hick......it took me about 3 or 4 reads
before I understood.....
[noparse][[/noparse]Non-text portions of this message have been removed]