So I finally convinced my contractee to ditch the 100% hand assembly for PTH circuit boards, and invest in equipment for manual dip soldering. We'll still be hand populating, but hoping to streamline the rest of the assembly process.
To that end we're trying to figure out a lead cutting machine as well. Here's a video for those not familiar:
Mostly I need help finding a large diameter flush cut blade, ie. a blade without an arbor, or where the cutting surface extends beyond the end of the arbor (otherwise the arbor would interfere with any leads that would cross it's path.)
So far the only things I'm finding are type-27 (recessed hub) cutoff wheels for angle grinders. But most all of the pics/videos of lead cutters I've seen look like they use flat blades, where the blade is simply attached to the spindle all as one piece?
Any ideas where/what I should be looking for? Looking for something 4.5" or larger diameter.
Beyond that, there's the issue of frame assembly for the cutting machine. The initial plan is to use some aluminum channel as tracks for the PCB and mount those in a t-slot frame so that the height of the PCB can be easily (relatively I hope?) adjusted per the desired lead length of a given board. I have some reservations about how sturdy such an assembly might be ...leaning more toward a welded frame assembly, at least eventually (but I imagine the requisite precision needed for uniform lead length will come at a cost for something welded & adjustable).
Just wondering if anyone has ever given any thought to designing or building such a machine?
To that end we're trying to figure out a lead cutting machine as well. Here's a video for those not familiar:
So far the only things I'm finding are type-27 (recessed hub) cutoff wheels for angle grinders. But most all of the pics/videos of lead cutters I've seen look like they use flat blades, where the blade is simply attached to the spindle all as one piece?
Any ideas where/what I should be looking for? Looking for something 4.5" or larger diameter.
Beyond that, there's the issue of frame assembly for the cutting machine. The initial plan is to use some aluminum channel as tracks for the PCB and mount those in a t-slot frame so that the height of the PCB can be easily (relatively I hope?) adjusted per the desired lead length of a given board. I have some reservations about how sturdy such an assembly might be ...leaning more toward a welded frame assembly, at least eventually (but I imagine the requisite precision needed for uniform lead length will come at a cost for something welded & adjustable).
Just wondering if anyone has ever given any thought to designing or building such a machine?