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Hi,
Oh that, Ok. Mine does not have that though it just has a 'nut'. It's a special anti-backlash nut though.
It's been quite a while since i last looked up any nomenclature for these devices.
Thoughts On Using CNC Machines For Circuit Board 'Etching'
- Thread starter MrAl
- Start date
Oh that, Ok. Mine does not have that though it just has a 'nut'. It's a special anti-backlash nut though.
It's been quite a while since i last looked up any nomenclature for these devices.
Hi,
Yes ok thanks. Mine does not have that though it just has a anti-backlash 'nut'.
It's been quite a while since I last looked up any nomenclature for these devices. Years ago when I was rolling my own CNC I knew more about this.
Hi,
None taken.
No offense to you either, but I do have a question for you. And that is, why shouldn't I ask here when there are knowledgeable people here that have been using these things presumably for years and years already. I also presume this is a forum for discussion of things like this and for asking questions and I try to help other people here when I can also, so I do also contribute.
In the past I have learned that people that have hands on experience usually have learned little tricks that other people will not know. This was true in the power supply industry also where I used to do a lot of work in the long, long ago. They will often follow up with other useful information too which you may not get from a search. I can tell you things in this area which you will never find on the web, and I know that because I had searched for a lot of things on the web with no results. I can also tell you that there are a lot of errors in the texts of articles which means it does not help you much unless you can start from their starting point and work your own way up through the math. I've seen this a lot, and even with the most prominent authors in this field.
This is actually a two-way street too. When an answer is offered, you have a chance to discuss that as well. In this particular case I was able to add the information that mine does not have an actual ball screw it's just a cheaper version of an anti-backlash screw. This adds a little to the total information in this thread.
If you would like to discuss this further, simply throw me a quick PM I'll surely reply.
Last edited:
Hello again,
I was finally able to spit out a program to convert line drawings to G code but it's still in the early stages.
I tested it with a dip package pattern but i found out pine wood is not a good medium for testing intricate etch patterns. I think if we wanted to do a design in wood it should be some sort of hard wood that has a less arbitrary grain and no knots. Etching in pine means some of the grain will just fall off leaving a wider etch than anticipated and thus messing up the pattern.
The thing responds pretty well, but it's a little tricky getting the Z axis and depth of etch right.
I started to wonder what is the optimum depth for etching a regular copper clad circuit board like an FR4.
I was finally able to spit out a program to convert line drawings to G code but it's still in the early stages.
I tested it with a dip package pattern but i found out pine wood is not a good medium for testing intricate etch patterns. I think if we wanted to do a design in wood it should be some sort of hard wood that has a less arbitrary grain and no knots. Etching in pine means some of the grain will just fall off leaving a wider etch than anticipated and thus messing up the pattern.
The thing responds pretty well, but it's a little tricky getting the Z axis and depth of etch right.
I started to wonder what is the optimum depth for etching a regular copper clad circuit board like an FR4.
None taken. When you look up these things for yourself you will/should find out why things are the way they are, or see other things that will entice you to learn. After a while when you continue to ask questions you could answer just from a Google you will get less participation from those that already know the answers, because it looks like your not willing to find things out on your own. Just like the homework thread, show your trying to help yourself.
Hello again,
If you want to talk about my personal behavior, please take it to a PM.
BTW, I have a technical library of over 200 books on engineering and physics and mathematics. I think I know how to help myself.
That's the last I will say on this matter in this thread as this thread is not about how I decide to query for information and it's not about how you think I should ask for information.
I do not know. But you may find the info here:
https://www.manualslib.com/manual/1900228/Genmitsu-3018-Pro.html#manual
Hello again,
Haven't made any progress yet as I am getting over the flu.
Hopefully soon I'll be trying some other things out. I understand a lot more about this now though thanks to the helpful members here.
Been talking to other people on other sites about making a bearing. Those have to be heat treaded, carburized, etc., then finish ground. Not sure if this CNC machine I have is accurate enough for that though.
Haven't made any progress yet as I am getting over the flu.
Hopefully soon I'll be trying some other things out. I understand a lot more about this now though thanks to the helpful members here.
Been talking to other people on other sites about making a bearing. Those have to be heat treaded, carburized, etc., then finish ground. Not sure if this CNC machine I have is accurate enough for that though.
Hi,
Oh yes, that's pretty nice. How long did it take to 'etch' that entire pattern, not including the drilling time?
I love the neat patterns they can make.
The Candle application posted the time taken at the end of the job. I did not pay attention but I am guessing that it took about 10 minutes.
The nice thing about going this route is that I can design a board, do the schematic capture, PCB layout, fabrication and firmware programming all in one day. From start to finish, I can have a project completed in-house very rapidly.
My next step is to 3D print a case for this project. Having both a 3D printer and CNC machine in-house opens a lot of creative bespoke solutions when you have a project in mind. This gadget is a battery powered "dumb terminal". It is a 2x16 LCD display to be used in capturing and displaying serial data in a SW debugging situation.
The nice thing about going this route is that I can design a board, do the schematic capture, PCB layout, fabrication and firmware programming all in one day. From start to finish, I can have a project completed in-house very rapidly.
My next step is to 3D print a case for this project. Having both a 3D printer and CNC machine in-house opens a lot of creative bespoke solutions when you have a project in mind. This gadget is a battery powered "dumb terminal". It is a 2x16 LCD display to be used in capturing and displaying serial data in a SW debugging situation.
Jon Chandler
- Joined Jun 12, 2008
- 1,614
I bought one of these Sainsmart Cubiko CNC machines from Kickstarter. It only has a 4" × 6" work area, but it seems perfect for milling circuit boards, cutting acrylic, etc., and a good intro to CNC (probably a gateway drug! ).
They raised over a million bucks on a $30k goal. They start shipping in May –this is really testing my need for instant gratification!
They raised over a million bucks on a $30k goal. They start shipping in May –this is really testing my need for instant gratification!
The only thing I do not like about the CNC machines is they make so much dang noise. Sounds like a router, and why not, it is a router. I hate that sound
I prefer the annoying sound of an amateur router better than the wallet-draining kaching! of a professional's cash registerThe only thing I do not like about the CNC machines is they make so much dang noise. Sounds like a router, and why not, it is a router. I hate that sound
Ha ha, I like that
