Cutting PCB's - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / beginners

author: Simon
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: April 18, 2010, 09:04:08 am
content: say i was to batch make small PCB's, what would be a good bench type saw to use to cut the boards apart ? I have a dremel if there are any attachable accesories.

author: GeoffS
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: April 18, 2010, 09:33:32 am
content: A router with a small V bit will do the job.

author: Simon
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: April 18, 2010, 11:04:08 am
content: great any suggestions ? I'm looking for something small (modelling tooling) and not too exspensive

author: EEVblog
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: April 18, 2010, 11:04:57 am
content: You can simply score the PCB with a ruler and stanley knife and then snap it on the edge of the table. But it's pretty hard with smaller boards.If you are making a qty of boards then it might be much easier to simply get them made by PCBcart or one of the other low cost board houses. They can supply them separate already cleanly router cut, or as a panel with v-grooving so you can snap the boards off yourself.Dave.

author: Simon
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: April 18, 2010, 11:11:43 am
content: hm yes they are small boards, This is mostly academic at the moment but i plan on some small runs and seeing how i do, if i need serious quantities i will invest in a china made service (pcb cart being the cheapest I have found so far) at the moment I'm just looking at runs of maybe 10, I tried drilling lots of small holes and breaking them but it did not work

author: dengorius
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: April 18, 2010, 01:19:17 pm
content: With small boards i've always used sheet-metal scissors. They always worked fine

author: Simon
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: April 18, 2010, 01:28:46 pm
content: and they cut accurately ? without random splits in the board ?

author: TheDirty
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: April 18, 2010, 01:48:30 pm
content: I just use a cut off wheel with the dremel. The larger cheapy cut off wheels cut off straighter.

author: Waifian
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: April 18, 2010, 02:19:12 pm
content: A paper cutter may work if you have straight edges it would make quick work of it. They use something similar at manufacturing plants to separate boards. These usually have a pizza cutter like disk on them that you run across the board.

author: Simon
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: April 18, 2010, 02:24:11 pm
content: the only paper cutter i have will handle 8 sheets of 70 g/m2 paper certainly not a 1.6mm PCB, I've used an industrial guliotene paper cutter when i worked in printing but they are beats and exspensive

author: Kiriakos-GR
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 18, 2010, 02:39:16 pm
content: I have actually inherited from my father this tool , back to 1985.Its the perfect tool for cutting hard plastic , I use this tool to trim ( plastic channels ) the ones that you install cables in them .. and you mount them on the wall surface.Any way this tools its a killer , to trim very small PCB , its does a clear cut in everything equal with the length of the master blade , that is 4cm long.For larger ones I use jigsaw , with special blades , the ones for clear cut on Plexiglas.

author: dengorius
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: April 18, 2010, 03:28:34 pm
content: Quote from: Simon on April 18, 2010, 01:28:46 pmyes they do, i've always had precise cut. But i think the quality of the scissors plays a central role there

author: DavidDLC
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: May 03, 2010, 06:10:10 pm
content: I cut the board with a metal saw and the make the finish with a small mill machine that I bought for $200.00 us dollars, the finish is great !!!

author: mikeselectricstuff
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 09, 2010, 11:07:59 pm
content: Beware of using quality tools & things like bandsaws with fibreglass as the dust is very abrasive and will wreck blades and bearings over time.

author: charliex
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: May 10, 2010, 07:48:33 am
content: no idea where you'd get it locallyhttp://www.prc68.com/I/8MSB.shtml

author: Simon
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: May 10, 2010, 11:33:20 am
content: Quote from: charliex on May 10, 2010, 07:48:33 amerr at workbut i like to be inderpendant