Lance_RFdude.com
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E-design said:I use a Roland mill which limits my board size to 6X4 but it is good enough for most prototypes. The biggest problem I found with my mill is to get the pcb completely flat and setting the Z0 position before milling. At a $1000 I paid, I can't complain as it includes a 3D scanner to copy other 3D models for milling duplicates.
Lance, what did you pay for your mill new?
madengr said:Hey Lance,
We just bought a LPKF to replace our T-tech. It's still in the box so it may be a while until I try it. What I can say is that 80% of (these machines) ease of use is in the software.
It looks like the accuratecnc product is using DeskCNC ( **broken link removed** )This is the same software/harwdare combo that I used to re-build my router at home (I believe I sent you those pictures a while back).
The biggest beef with I have with deskcnc is that there is no rub-out function, just trace isolation. The author is very adament that rub-out is not needed, despite many requests from DeckCNC users, and T-tech and LPKF both have it. On the plus side it uses G-code unlike some proprietary language like the others.
I would suggest downloading the demo here and playing around with it:
https://www.imsrv.com/deskcnc/
Another thing that irks me is that they closed the DeskCNC forum. It's still readable but who knows for how long:
https://www.imsrv.com/cgi-bin/discus/discus.cgi
It's still a good piece of software and the only choice I have found if yoiu want to roll your own system. I believe nothing else is available that imports gerbers.
I noticed on the accuratecnc specs that spindle runout is not listed. I have a Ryobi (Home Depot) router and it is not good for PCB work. It has about +/-4 mils of run-out. It uses 1/4" tooling so I had to buy a collet to get it down to 1/8". I suppose run-out can be compensated for in software just like cutter comp (tool wear) but I have not tried it. That would also not help with small holes. I'm not sure if DeskCNC has cutter compensation. I'd ask for a milled sample from accuratecnc and measure it under a microscope to check the trace widths.
rpm73 said:madengr said:Hey Lance,
We just bought a LPKF to replace our T-tech. It's still in the box so it may be a while until I try it. What I can say is that 80% of (these machines) ease of use is in the software.
It looks like the accuratecnc product is using DeskCNC ( **broken link removed** )This is the same software/harwdare combo that I used to re-build my router at home (I believe I sent you those pictures a while back).
The biggest beef with I have with deskcnc is that there is no rub-out function, just trace isolation. The author is very adament that rub-out is not needed, despite many requests from DeckCNC users, and T-tech and LPKF both have it. On the plus side it uses G-code unlike some proprietary language like the others.
I would suggest downloading the demo here and playing around with it:
https://www.imsrv.com/deskcnc/
Another thing that irks me is that they closed the DeskCNC forum. It's still readable but who knows for how long:
https://www.imsrv.com/cgi-bin/discus/discus.cgi
It's still a good piece of software and the only choice I have found if yoiu want to roll your own system. I believe nothing else is available that imports gerbers.
I noticed on the accuratecnc specs that spindle runout is not listed. I have a Ryobi (Home Depot) router and it is not good for PCB work. It has about +/-4 mils of run-out. It uses 1/4" tooling so I had to buy a collet to get it down to 1/8". I suppose run-out can be compensated for in software just like cutter comp (tool wear) but I have not tried it. That would also not help with small holes. I'm not sure if DeskCNC has cutter compensation. I'd ask for a milled sample from accuratecnc and measure it under a microscope to check the trace widths.
I have an Accurate 360 machine and I am very happy with the results.
The software & USB CNC controller are PhCNC (https://www.accuratecnc.com/software.html) - not DeskCNC !
biff44 said:The primary reason I say this is that aTtech machine I once used came with a Nilfisk hepa vaccum and some dire warnings.
I also know from other types of materials handling experience that this IS the sort of dust that can be a real problem. The dust is not just "dust". It is little tiny shards of glass fibers. When you breath these in, some of them stick in the lungs and just never come out again. The dust builds up in your lungs, and eventually you get emphysema. It is the very small size of these dust particles that is the problem. If they were big long strands of glass fiber, they would not be inhaled so easily.
Things like this make me worried:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Silicosis
If you are on a tight budget, just get a big woodworkers exhaust fan and have it blow everything outside when the machine is running. A wise use of 100 bucks!
Rich
www.MaguffinMicrowave.com
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