The title pretty much sums up what I'm interested in. I recently saw a video of someone routing circuit boards with a cnc. Does any one have any experience doing this? Is there something special that is required other than a cnc router that is required? Special bits? I have been dabbling in some electronics stuff as a hobby and thought it would be really neat to be able to make circuit boards with my cnc vs trying to run wires for everything. I am just looking for any info or resources on this. THANKS!
Haven't done it yet, but I have been looking at doing this. First requirement is an absolutely flat, surfaced spoilboard and a trammed router/spindle. Second is a very small tipped tapered bit. Third is appropriate software to create the g-code - try FlatCam - (FlatCAM: PCB Prototyping CAD/CAM). Alex.
15-30 deg V- Bits, 0.1-0.5mm See ours (Though these days, FlatCAM is the way to go, ignore the OpenBuildsCAM section of the video)
I've routed a few PCB's over time on my 1010 CNC. I use OpenCNCpilot for my toolpathing etc - the software also has the autoleveling feature to probe the board (an absolute must) - pcb blanks are typically not flat so this needs to be done. After loading the g-code into the program, the code is modified by autoleveling which can then be sent directly from the software to perform the isolation routing - other programs could also run the code I think. I typically use a V bit, 30 degrees with a 0.2 mm tip. I have a pyramid bit also but not tried it yet. I did write a procedure for using the program some time ago - finding it a bit tricky initially - I'll look for it if anyone wants it. Below is one of my early efforts which is currently in use.
That would be awesome! Where do y’all get your pcb boards from? I don’t understand the auto leveling. I assume the bed of your machine must be able to move with steppers to do this? I was thinking maybe build an adjustable bed to sit on top of my spoil board to do the pcbs if my spoil board is not flat enough. edit: I would be helping the op if we attempt to do this. Just clarifying.
Look on YouTube for John Lauer's tutorials. Different toolchain (Chilli pepper and tinyg) but same concept. Bed stays still. PCB is probed in a grid pattern, gcode interpolated and z-adjusted to compensate. But, what kind of work are you milling. For normal through hole single sided stuff you really dont need autolevelling. If you want to do 0.8mil SOiC SMDs you do
I ran a cnc in a encloser back around 2002 engraving pcb for old telephone modems and it took me a while to find the bits but basically they were similar to these but these are lot better Printed Circuit Fabrication Tools
Reviving this a little. I watched the John Lauer's tutorials. Really neat. What Are the additional hardware requirements (I use blackbox) to be able to auto level using the alligator clip method and adjusting z height based on probe? Thanks!
Nothing hardware wise (wire a clip to the PCB copper surface = GND; and clip to the bit doing the probing = SIG) , Just a host application that supports grid probing - CONTROL does not yet at this time
I am a little confused. If I wanted to use the auto leveling feature, would I have to do away with the blackbox? Or, can I use the correct host application and it be compatible with the blackbox?
You keep the BlackBox! Autolevelling is a software thing But CONTROL (just one of many Grbl host applications in existance) does not have that feature in software you want, you'd have to use a different Grbl host application that supports grid probing
But if I am not trying to make extremely precise boards, I could use fusion to design and CONTROL to make circuit boards? Thanks!
Yeah autolevelling is just an advanced way, no need for it if that boards are simple enough, like I said above: Instead of Fusion though, FlatCAM: PCB Prototyping CAD/CAM is more appropriate to PCBs
