Cutting pcb
IamSmooth, Sat Sept 13 2014, 04:58AMI saw a heavy duty cutting machine at circuit specialists for cutting printed circuit boards
Does anyone think a large paper cutter with the large hand-driven blade can cut a circuitboard
Re: Cutting pcb
Patrick, Sat Sept 13 2014, 05:11AM
Are you meaning the hand paper shear type attached to a table? if so i would think only for the 1/32 inch boards. for 1/32 i was able to use aviation snips, but even with micro grain carbide G4 fiberglass seems to dull tools. When i was a professional CNC punch press operator, we could see our punches and dies getting dull and drawing more hydraulic force in a single short run.
Patrick, Sat Sept 13 2014, 05:11AM
Are you meaning the hand paper shear type attached to a table? if so i would think only for the 1/32 inch boards. for 1/32 i was able to use aviation snips, but even with micro grain carbide G4 fiberglass seems to dull tools. When i was a professional CNC punch press operator, we could see our punches and dies getting dull and drawing more hydraulic force in a single short run.
Re: Cutting pcb
Sulaiman, Sat Sept 13 2014, 09:34AM
I have used a manual paper shear for cutting circuit boards;
paper (srbp) board almost always splinters,
glass (FR4) is best done with one quick shear.
More reliable (even works for acrylic) is to score both sides with a (safety) knife,
put the board at the edge of a table or counter top with a sharp (not curved) edge
with the line along the edge of the table/top
hold down the board with a something hard (wood, a book etc.)
then with one swift blow of a book on the overhanging board
I usually get a nice clean break.
Sulaiman, Sat Sept 13 2014, 09:34AM
I have used a manual paper shear for cutting circuit boards;
paper (srbp) board almost always splinters,
glass (FR4) is best done with one quick shear.
More reliable (even works for acrylic) is to score both sides with a (safety) knife,
put the board at the edge of a table or counter top with a sharp (not curved) edge
with the line along the edge of the table/top
hold down the board with a something hard (wood, a book etc.)
then with one swift blow of a book on the overhanging board
I usually get a nice clean break.
Re: Cutting pcb
Hazmatt_(The Underdog), Sat Sept 13 2014, 03:29PM
For FR4 you're supposed to use a diamond cut router bit, that's what I use on most boards.
For the really thin boards, metal shears work fine, leaves a nasty edge though, but that can be sanded off.
Hazmatt_(The Underdog), Sat Sept 13 2014, 03:29PM
For FR4 you're supposed to use a diamond cut router bit, that's what I use on most boards.
For the really thin boards, metal shears work fine, leaves a nasty edge though, but that can be sanded off.
Re: Cutting pcb
IamSmooth, Mon Sept 15 2014, 12:56AM
Just got a diamond-blade tile cutter for $99. Works very well and makes some clean cuts on the PCB FR4. I thought I would get one for $20 off of craigs list, but the guy never got back to me.
IamSmooth, Mon Sept 15 2014, 12:56AM
Just got a diamond-blade tile cutter for $99. Works very well and makes some clean cuts on the PCB FR4. I thought I would get one for $20 off of craigs list, but the guy never got back to me.
Re: Cutting pcb
Hazmatt_(The Underdog), Mon Sept 15 2014, 04:25AM
When Cutting FR4, try to use a dust mask. You won't die if you don't, but I'm sure your lungs will thank you.
And of course...I should probably wear one more often.
Hazmatt_(The Underdog), Mon Sept 15 2014, 04:25AM
When Cutting FR4, try to use a dust mask. You won't die if you don't, but I'm sure your lungs will thank you.
And of course...I should probably wear one more often.
Re: Cutting pcb
Dago, Mon Sept 15 2014, 06:00AM
Paper cutter seems to work fine on circuit boards. Also metal shears.
I personally use this mini circular saw from proxxon with carbide tipped blade:
Dago, Mon Sept 15 2014, 06:00AM
Paper cutter seems to work fine on circuit boards. Also metal shears.
I personally use this mini circular saw from proxxon with carbide tipped blade:
Re: Cutting pcb
IamSmooth, Mon Sept 15 2014, 10:19PM
IamSmooth, Mon Sept 15 2014, 10:19PM
Hazmatt_(The Underdog) wrote ...
When Cutting FR4, try to use a dust mask. You won't die if you don't, but I'm sure your lungs will thank you.
And of course...I should probably wear one more often.
Thanks for the advice. I always use a mask and face shield for all cutting. If it's something bad when I'm using malathion I use a respirator.When Cutting FR4, try to use a dust mask. You won't die if you don't, but I'm sure your lungs will thank you.
And of course...I should probably wear one more often.
Re: Cutting pcb
IamSmooth, Mon Sept 15 2014, 10:20PM
I have to say, I've used shears, dremmel and box cutters. This diamond cutter is great. I would have gotten the mega-shear, but it was $330 and $60 to ship. This was $99.
IamSmooth, Mon Sept 15 2014, 10:20PM
I have to say, I've used shears, dremmel and box cutters. This diamond cutter is great. I would have gotten the mega-shear, but it was $330 and $60 to ship. This was $99.
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