RogerH Posted October 28, 2023 Report Share Posted October 28, 2023 Hi Folks, I'm in the process of making a PCB (printed circuit board) For an OD logic box. My method is a little bizaare in the I use a fairly big milling machine to cut the gap between the copper tracks. Gap apprx 0.010" wide I use a black & white print out of the PCB to allow a pointer trace where the cutter is going. It is actually a very manual PCB CNC machining method. It takes about 5 minutes to cut the board. However after many years of success today the printer is making the print out apprx 0.050" bigger over apprx 2" This is not good. I do have a 3018 CNC frame but my PCB software does not talk to it. Hence the manual approach Tomorrow I'm sure a really easy answer will appear from nowhere Roger Quote Link to post Share on other sites
BlueTR3A-5EKT Posted October 28, 2023 Report Share Posted October 28, 2023 I was with you right up to “Hi Folks” Quote Link to post Share on other sites
RogerH Posted October 28, 2023 Author Report Share Posted October 28, 2023 (edited) OK, Milling machine Printed circuit board with plain copper Attached a paper print out of the PCB next to the vice on the mill A pointer runs along the gap in the track on the print out as a cutter is run along the copper. Sadly the paper print out is a tad too big. I'll try and post a pic Roger Edited October 28, 2023 by RogerH Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Charlie D Posted October 29, 2023 Report Share Posted October 29, 2023 (edited) Roger, I’ve built a couple of CNC milling machines from scratch over the years and spent a lot of time trying different bits of software to do various things. (The first one was in the 1990’s when there was a lot less choice in how to drive the things.) I guess that your PCB software can produce some sort of file, and the CNC needs a different sort of file. It should not be too difficult to do a translation. What is the PCB software you are using? Just found this. Might help. Charlie. Edited October 29, 2023 by Charlie D Quote Link to post Share on other sites
RobH Posted October 29, 2023 Report Share Posted October 29, 2023 (edited) If the printout is too big, that can only be due to a setting either in the print menu or in the printer driver Roger. Is the scaling for both set to 100%? Is the paper size set to A4 and not a US size? Edited October 29, 2023 by RobH Quote Link to post Share on other sites
BlueTR3A-5EKT Posted October 29, 2023 Report Share Posted October 29, 2023 Ahh thank you Roger. That has stirred my memory of using a pantograph engraver as an apprentice to recut oil grooves in re white metalled torque meter thrust pads of the RR Dart engine reduction gear housing. They set the end float of the lay gears and the oil pressure within them was used to derive a torque measurement. That was a simple trace and engrave job similar to your pcb, exactly the sort of entry level machine shop job an apprentice could do, so long as you did not mess with the settings. If you did you had to re white metal the wrongly engraved thrust pads. The pantograph of course could be set to multiply or divide the engraving of the outcome from the original being traced. Weird machine with exposed round drive belts that you kept your fingers away from. Sharpening the cutters was another task you learnt if you crashed through the white metal and touched the steel cup with the cutter tip. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
RobH Posted October 29, 2023 Report Share Posted October 29, 2023 13 minutes ago, BlueTR3A-5EKT said: Weird machine with exposed round drive belts that you kept your fingers away from. Yes they had those where I worked. Creepily reminiscent of those old dentists drills (shudder) Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Charlie D Posted October 29, 2023 Report Share Posted October 29, 2023 My first dentist had one of those. Pedal operated... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
RogerH Posted October 29, 2023 Author Report Share Posted October 29, 2023 ......but they were much quieter and less frightening than the modern wind driven things. Roger Quote Link to post Share on other sites
RogerH Posted October 29, 2023 Author Report Share Posted October 29, 2023 1 hour ago, Charlie D said: Roger, I’ve built a couple of CNC milling machines from scratch over the years and spent a lot of time trying different bits of software to do various things. (The first one was in the 1990’s when there was a lot less choice in how to drive the things.) I guess that your PCB software can produce some sort of file, and the CNC needs a different sort of file. It should not be too difficult to do a translation. What is the PCB software you are using? Just found this. Might help. Charlie. Hi Charlie, thanks for that. I have been looking at You Tube but have seen the above. It is clearbut a lot togo through. My Software (ExpressPCB) does not have the Gerber files) but am reluctant to change. Roger Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Andy Moltu Posted October 29, 2023 Report Share Posted October 29, 2023 I presume you are printing with a regular printer from your PC? I had this with my laser printer giving different colour balance to what it normally did. I discovered the printer had somehow appeared twice in the hardware and printers section of W10 and changed the default one. Presumably the drivers/settings were subtly different. Worth a check. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
RogerH Posted October 29, 2023 Author Report Share Posted October 29, 2023 1 hour ago, RobH said: If the printout is too big, that can only be due to a setting either in the print menu or in the printer driver Roger. Is the scaling for both set to 100%? Is the paper size set to A4 and not a US size? Hi Rob, I would like to state that you are a Genius (or I am a true dimwit). Not sure how it cam about but the printer was set (deep within) to an odd size, not A4. This is now selected and it is spot on. Thank you Roger Quote Link to post Share on other sites
PodOne Posted October 29, 2023 Report Share Posted October 29, 2023 Amazed at what you folk get up to in the man shed. I profess I wouldn't have a clue! Anyone building a moon rocket? Andy Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Lebro Posted October 29, 2023 Report Share Posted October 29, 2023 I told you not to talk about the moon rocket yet Quote Link to post Share on other sites
stuart Posted October 29, 2023 Report Share Posted October 29, 2023 Its all Greek to me Stuart. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
RogerH Posted October 29, 2023 Author Report Share Posted October 29, 2023 37 minutes ago, stuart said: Its all Greek to me Stuart. They shall inherit the earth Roger Quote Link to post Share on other sites
RobH Posted October 29, 2023 Report Share Posted October 29, 2023 (edited) 28 minutes ago, RogerH said: They shall inherit the earth Only if they follow the gourd - or maybe the shoe ? And what about the cheesemakers? Edited October 29, 2023 by RobH Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Charlie D Posted October 29, 2023 Report Share Posted October 29, 2023 2 hours ago, PodOne said: ...Amazed at what you folk get up to in the man shed... I’ve just finished making a self propelled glockenspiel (MIDI operated) and am thinking of building a beer bottle organ. But then I think … “Why? What will I do with it?” Quote Link to post Share on other sites
BlueTR3A-5EKT Posted October 29, 2023 Report Share Posted October 29, 2023 3 minutes ago, Charlie D said: I’ve just finished making a self propelled glockenspiel (MIDI operated) and am thinking of building a beer bottle organ. But then I think … “Why? What will I do with it?” Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Charlie D Posted October 29, 2023 Report Share Posted October 29, 2023 Ah ! That was the inspiration for the " Mouse Organ " kit I produced a few years ago. I designed the kit because I'd just finished the CNC machine and wanted to do something productive with it. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
stillp Posted October 29, 2023 Report Share Posted October 29, 2023 1 hour ago, Charlie D said: “Why? What will I do with it?” Does everything need to have a logical purpose? Back in the 1970s I made my most useless creation - it was about a 4 inch cube, with no visible controls. If picked up it played the national anthem (badly) until it was put down again. Pete Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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