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v-cut scoring equipment — Parallax Forums

v-cut scoring equipment

metron9metron9 Posts: 1,100
edited 2006-09-27 21:26 in General Discussion
When I get prototype boards made I step them up to 60 square inches and use the $33.00 per board deal at Advanced Circuits. That for example gives me 48 boards for $99.00 + $50.00 because they are stepped up.

If I were to get them scored going through the prototype price it would be $369.00 for 3 boards, the only difference would be scoring.

I know I will be making many more buys of this size and I think I should be able to make my own scoring machine or buy one.

Who has experience scoring circuit boards and what options would work for these small quantitys of boards. Are there bits that would work for an off the shelf router or dremel? I have a band saw (Cheap craftsman) but I like the scoring I got on my first production run of another unit I made.

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Comments

  • Paul BakerPaul Baker Posts: 6,351
    edited 2006-09-27 05:02
    If you didnt route too close to the edge a very fine tooth hacksaw in a miter box works very well for small quantities. Just cut about a 1/4 of the way through, place the score over a hard edge and snap the board. If you can align it so you cut at the same place on both sides the edge will be even cleaner. You may want to obtain some scrap FR4 to practice on.

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    Paul Baker
    Propeller Applications Engineer

    Parallax, Inc.
  • T ChapT Chap Posts: 4,223
    edited 2006-09-27 07:32
    Depending on your software, you may be able to draw the score on the mill layer and let the factory do it while they route the edges. I know it is possible. I have been using a shear cutter, sort of a heavy duty paper cutter. It does really nice job.
  • BeanBean Posts: 8,129
    edited 2006-09-27 11:37
    This is something that I have found my LPKF milling machine works great for.
    I have scrored some of my boards and some of a client.
    I have been using a 0.4mm end mill, and I go about 1/3 of the way through the board on both sides.
    I've been told by my client it has worked perfectly.

    Contact me if you are interested in having me score your boards for you.
    There is some time involved and the bits are expensive, so I would have to charge a fee (like $5 + $5/board ?)

    Bean.

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    ·
  • metron9metron9 Posts: 1,100
    edited 2006-09-27 13:47
    Originator99, Yes the mouse bites they call them, not allowed on the $33.00 per board prototype deal.

    Bean, Yes that is what I am looking for, the equipement I would need to make a hand operated scoring machine.
    I have an index table with a stepper motor for X access only, I thought I could mount a router above it in a fixed position
    then just slide the table by hand with the circuit board on it, flip the board over and rout the other side.

    The Router and Bits , is there a good online place to buy bits and a router that would do the job here. How many RPM do you need to run at.
    I will also stop at a cabinet makers shop I know and see if his machines can use a .4mm end mil.

    I was also thinking a dermel tool with one of those thin saws or that abrasive disc mounted over a sliding table would do a good job.

    Pauls hacksaw option is a good one as well, very simple and cheap to give that a go.

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    Think outside the BOX!
  • BeanBean Posts: 8,129
    edited 2006-09-27 14:01
    Metron9,
    I would look at one of the saw options. These end-mills are very fragile. I doubt you could feed the board by hand without breaking them.

    Bean.

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    Cheap used 4-digit LED display with driver IC·www.hc4led.com

    Low power SD Data Logger www.sddatalogger.com
    SX-Video Display Modules www.sxvm.com

    There are only two guaranteed ways to become weathy.
    Spend less than you make.
    Make more than you spend.
    ·
  • Russ FergusonRuss Ferguson Posts: 206
    edited 2006-09-27 14:38
    Brian Riley and I use a small bandsaw with a metal cutting blade to cut circuit boards. The bandsaw is a $89 Ryobi from Home Depot. They carry a metal blade for it (my store had them but not Brian's?). The blade curf is pretty small - probably around .030.
  • Eric REric R Posts: 225
    edited 2006-09-27 21:26
    I may be way off but I can recall a post like this where they were using a tile cutter. I thought it was posted by someone from Parallax.
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