Equipment/PCB Mill - Revision history

JWoolf: /* Owners */

2018-05-18T19:36:34Z

‎Owners

Mat-c: decommissioned

2015-09-30T23:34:21Z

decommissioned

Zoomzoomluke: /* Instructions */

2015-04-01T18:15:49Z

‎Instructions

Zoomzoomluke: /* Instructions */

2015-04-01T18:15:09Z

‎Instructions

Zoomzoomluke: /* Owners */

2015-03-24T21:31:28Z

‎Owners

Zoomzoomluke: /* Instructions */

2015-03-24T17:16:23Z

‎Instructions

Zoomzoomluke: /* Summary */

2015-03-24T10:12:24Z

‎Summary

Zoomzoomluke: /* Health and Safety */

2015-03-24T09:36:56Z

‎Health and Safety

Zoomzoomluke: /* Summary */

2015-03-24T09:36:37Z

‎Summary

Zoomzoomluke: /* Owners */

2015-03-24T09:36:13Z

‎Owners

← Older revision		Revision as of 19:36, 18 May 2018
Line 19:		Line 19:

	== Owners ==		== Owners ==
−	* [[user:Zoomzoomluke\|Luke Twydell]]
−	* [[user:RobCopcutt\|Robert Copcutt]]
−	* Adrian van den Heever
−	* Mark Tillotson
−	* Alberto Santos

	== Health and Safety ==		== Health and Safety ==

← Older revision		Revision as of 23:34, 30 September 2015
Line 8:		Line 8:


−	= Summary =	+	= Summary: DECOMMISSIONED=
		+
		+	The PCB Mill is now decommissioned, do not use. Reason: poor bearings, low quality results, noone using it. Not worth maintaining.
		+
	The PCB mill is a computer controlled (CNC) tool that can be used to cut the tracks for printed circuit boards (PCB). Training is required before members use the equipment because it is easy for users to damage themselves and the tool. Maximum travel is about 300mm in the Y direction, about 190mm in X, and 35mm in Z.		The PCB mill is a computer controlled (CNC) tool that can be used to cut the tracks for printed circuit boards (PCB). Training is required before members use the equipment because it is easy for users to damage themselves and the tool. Maximum travel is about 300mm in the Y direction, about 190mm in X, and 35mm in Z.

@@ Line 119: / Line 119: @@
 If you are the last to use the machine, shut down the PC.
-""Pricing""
+'''Prices'''
 Single Sided
 £4.00 per full board

@@ Line 48: / Line 48: @@
 .175mm / 0.125"Collet
-'''Single Sided PCB Procedure'''
+'''Procedure for Eagle BRD Files'''
 This guide assumes you have your board design produced in Cadsoft Eagle.
@@ Line 55: / Line 55: @@
 * Within the board window, open the CAM processor (CAM Processor).
 * Open the custom CAM job (File - Open - Job…).
-* Open “pcbmill_eagle_1sided.cam”.
+* Open “Makespace_PCB_Mill-Eagle7.2.cam”.
 You should not need to change any options unless you have an odd layout.
 * Press the “Process Job” button and close the CAM processor when complete. ''Do not save the JOB unless you want to save your own copy onto removable media.''
@@ Line 63: / Line 63: @@
 Watch the output window for any errors.
-''Common errors usually relate to bad outline. This is caused in the demo case where a component in eagle BRD has it’s layout on the dimension layer, causing overlapping / conflicting outlines.''
+''Common errors usually relate to bad outline. This is often caused by a component in eagle BRD has it’s layout on the dimension layer, causing overlapping / conflicting outlines.''
 * Start PCBMill (LinuxCNC)
@@ Line 71: / Line 71: @@
 * Press the “Power” icon in LinuxCNC.
 * Press the “Home All” button to home the machine. Keep fingers, objects etc off the machine to prevent the head crashing into said objects. ''Be ready to hit ESC or E-Stop if you notice the cutting head on a path to destruction.''
-* Screw the blank PCB material onto the machine bed with at least 5 pieces of copier paper under the board.
+* For 2 sided boards, place the PCB material on the right side of the bed on top of 2 tooling pins. Otherwise place the board to the left hand side of the bed.
 * First secure the bottom two hex bolts ensuring the probe wire is making contact with the copper board.
 * Then secure the remaining clamps around the board with the black knobs.
 '''Copper Engraving'''
-* Open your top copper layer file (named “front.ngc”)
+* Open your top copper layer file (named “front.ngc”) (if 2 sided board - otherwise open "back.ngc")
 * Press the “Change Tool” button to move the head to the tool change position.
-* Fit the V-bit.
+* Fit the V-bit. Always use a new V-bit at the start of the job.
-* Press the “Zero Tool” button.
+* Use the PC keyboard’s arrow keys to jog the head (hold SHIFT for jog faster) above where you would like the PCB to be cut. Ensure you stay clear of any clamps. You MUST leave at least 5mm gap from the edge of the PCB material or any tooling pins or clamps.
-* Use the PC keyboard’s arrow keys to jog the head (hold SHIFT for jog faster) above the BOTTOM RIGHT of where you would like the PCB to be cut. Ensure you stay clear of any clamps.
+* For front.ngc this should be the bottom left of the area you wish to engrave, for back.ngc it should be the bottom right.
-* Press the “Zero Workpiece” button. The tool will probe the PCB blank. Ensure what is about to be probed is conductive and connected to the probe otherwise you WILL break a tool.
+* Press the “Set Origin” button under the appropriate 1sided or 2sided tab. The tool will probe the PCB blank. Ensure what is about to be probed is conductive and connected to the probe otherwise you WILL break a tool.
 * Press the Run button (Blue Forward Arrow or “R” Key)
 * The following the onscreen instructions, the board will then be probed. DO NOT HAVE THE SPINDLE RUNNING!
@@ Line 87: / Line 88: @@
 * When probing is complete, follow the on screen instructions (Turn spindle on and at 100%). Then press “S <Resume>”
 * When finished milling. Stop the spindle.
 '''Drilling'''
 * Load the “drill.ngc” file.
 * Press “Change Tool”
-* Fit a 0.8mm drill (or end mill if you prefer not to change tool again).
+* Fit a 0.8mm drill (or end mill if you prefer not to change tool again) The drilling may not be as sharp with the end mill but most times the results are acceptable.
-* Press “Zero Tool”
+* Press “Zero Tool (Workpiece)”
 * Switch on spindle and press the Run button again.
-* Follow any on screen instructions.
+* Follow any on screen instructions. Ignore any tool change requests and press S (or pause) to resume.
 * When drilling is complete. Switch off spindle.
 '''Outline Routing'''
 * Load the “outline.ngc” file.
 * Start spindle.
 * Press the Run button.
 * Follow any on screen instructions.
-If board comes loose during outline milling, immediately press the ESC key and switch of spindle. A loose board can cause injury and machine damage.
+If board comes loose during outline milling, immediately press the ESC key and switch off spindle. A loose board can cause injury and machine damage.
 *When outline milling complete. Switch off spindle.
@@ Line 109: / Line 114: @@
 * Press the "Park Head" button.
 * Switch off drive switch and press emergency stop.
-Remember to pay for your boards in the honesty box. £4 per full board, £2 for half board. If you supply your own material, the tooling charge is 50p. You MAY use a used engraving bit for free (on your own material only) but your results may be less than optimal.
+Remember to pay for your boards in the honesty box.
 * Put the used V-bit into the box for recycling.
 * Clean the machine thorougly.
 If you are the last to use the machine, shut down the PC.
 == Tips & Tricks ==

@@ Line 18: / Line 18: @@
 * [[user:Zoomzoomluke|Luke Twydell]]
 * [[user:RobCopcutt|Robert Copcutt]]
 == Health and Safety ==

@@ Line 9: / Line 9: @@
 = Summary =
-The PCB mill is a computer controlled (CNC) tool that can be used to cut the tracks for printed circuit boards (PCB). Training is required before members use the equipment because it is easy for users to damage themselves and the tool. Maximum travel is about 300mm in the Y direction, about 190mm in X, and 45mm in Z.
+The PCB mill is a computer controlled (CNC) tool that can be used to cut the tracks for printed circuit boards (PCB). Training is required before members use the equipment because it is easy for users to damage themselves and the tool. Maximum travel is about 300mm in the Y direction, about 190mm in X, and 35mm in Z.
 Machine is a generic 'CNC 3020', easily searchable on e.g. youtube for videos of use and configuration:
@@ Line 32: / Line 32: @@
 * '''Do not turn the black knobs on any of the three motors.''' Doing so may generate large voltages and damage the control board. Move only by command from the PC.
 == Tips & Tricks ==

@@ Line 26: / Line 26: @@
 * Carbon Dioxide extinguisher to be available for any electrical fires.
 * Wear eye protection.
 The risk assessment is at [[Equipment/PCB_Mill/RA]].
 == Instructions ==

← Older revision		Revision as of 09:36, 24 March 2015
Line 14:		Line 14:

	* Configuration with LinuxCNC [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ewtDYvcFZZ4 video]		* Configuration with LinuxCNC [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ewtDYvcFZZ4 video]
−
−	~~<div style="background-color:pink">~~
−	~~== ToDo before machine is available for use ==~~
−	~~Mandatory:~~
−	* Write instruction manual
−	* Document what is to be included in inductions
−	* Install and skim sacrificial bed (done - Luke Twydell 02/02/2015)
−	* Design and manufacture clamping arrangements (done - Luke Twydell 02/02/2015)
−
−	~~Desirable:~~
−	* Implement X and Y limit switches, and auto-zeroing. (done - Luke Twydell 02/02/2015)
−	* Sort tool chain for creating gcodes from PCB design files (done - Luke Twydell 16/03/2015)
−	* Build spring-loaded hockey puck for zeroing Z-axis, and implement zeroing procedure (done - Luke Twydell 16/03/2015)
−
−	~~</div>~~

	== Owners ==		== Owners ==