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Forum Index : Microcontroller and PC projects : iTEAD Studio PCB’s - wow....
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| WhiteWizzard Guru  Joined: 05/04/2013 Location: United KingdomPosts: 2927 |
Can anyone confirm if they have managed to 'v-groove' or use another method to simplify 'cutting' individual PCBs from panels when using iTead. Their rules implies you can't do this so I am interested in how other people are 'separating' individual PCBs within a single panel. Currently I cut them out with a Dremel band-saw using a silk-screen cutting-line as a guide. Their rules also state that you can't put more than five PCBs on a single panel but I know you can. I put 12 PCBs on one panel (two different designs) and they produce these for me without any challenge. Hope someone is able to help 'simplify' cutting for me . . . PS: I know other board fab houses can accept v-groove but I want to know if iTead has a work-around as they do produce good quality PCBs at very sensible costs. WW |
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MicroBlocks Guru Joined: 12/05/2012 Location: ThailandPosts: 2209 |
I laser cut them and that goes pretty well. If you have access to one (techshop/makerspace) that might be an option. Works very well when you have a batch of them, with a small jig it takes a few minutes to cut 10 boards. You need to clean them up a little, just a piece of steel wool works fine to take the smoke and carbon residue of the edges. Microblocks. Build with logic. |
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bigmik Guru Joined: 20/06/2011 Location: AustraliaPosts: 2946 |
Lads, especially ViscomJim, Thanks to WW's good (pigeon) eyesight, here is a, hopefully, corrected version of the Pic32MX150 28pin library part for use as a micromite (uM names have been used) If there is anything else wrong I am going to give up. 2014-07-06_222630_PIC32MX150.zip 
Regards, Mick Mick's uMite Stuff can be found >>> HERE (Kindly hosted by Dontronics) <<< |
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| WhiteWizzard Guru Joined: 05/04/2013 Location: United KingdomPosts: 2927 |
Not bad Mick, but . . . . Pin 1 and Pin 11 have a leading space. 
Please don't "give up" as I'm sure nobody else will notice!! WW  eyes |
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| viscomjim Guru Joined: 08/01/2014 Location: United StatesPosts: 925 |
Thanks BigMik for the extra effort. Very much appreciated. |
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| bigmik Guru Joined: 20/06/2011 Location: AustraliaPosts: 2946 |
Hey Pigeon eyes (must be full of pigeon DooDoo) that's the way DEX does their numbering... The left hand column of pins are RIGHT justified the Right hand side are LEFT justified, I cant change that one.. I will go and pour some more beer on my Corn Flakes now., Mick Mick's uMite Stuff can be found >>> HERE (Kindly hosted by Dontronics) <<< |
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| bigmik Guru Joined: 20/06/2011 Location: AustraliaPosts: 2946 |
No worries Jim, mik Mick's uMite Stuff can be found >>> HERE (Kindly hosted by Dontronics) <<< |
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Grogster Admin Group  Joined: 31/12/2012 Location: New ZealandPosts: 9502 |
I made a PCB cutting jig out of the back of an old speaker box, and an electric jigsaw mounted upside down. A customwood(MDF) strip provides a lock, to stop the board moving up and down with the blade. This cuts up boards really quickly. The little silver box on the underside at the right, is a speed control for the jigsaw, built into an old PC PSU case. Once cut, the boards are then offered up to the disc sander, to clean up the edges. 
Smoke makes things work. When the smoke gets out, it stops! |
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| paceman Guru Joined: 07/10/2011 Location: AustraliaPosts: 1329 |
Phil, would a hefty paper guillotine do it - the biggish scythe action ones, not the little roller-blade ones? I seem to remember you said you used 0.8mm PCB's (though that's certainly not the case with your 44 pin Micromite module I've got) and I reckon they'd be a doddle with a good guillotine. Greg |
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| Grogster Admin Group Joined: 31/12/2012 Location: New ZealandPosts: 9502 |
I also would be interested in the results here, but I would expect that a guillotine would fracture the PCB in the process, as PCB is rigid, whereas paper or cardboard is flexible enough for a guillotine to work right. Prove me wrong though!  Smoke makes things work. When the smoke gets out, it stops! |
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| Frank N. Furter Guru Joined: 28/05/2012 Location: GermanyPosts: 940 |
Hi WhiteWizzard, I used my little PROXXON machine to separate your PCB's: 
Frank |
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| WhiteWizzard Guru Joined: 05/04/2013 Location: United KingdomPosts: 2927 |
I forgot to ask you Frank, how are you getting on with those wooden PCBs I sent you??
WW |
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elproducts Senior Member  Joined: 19/06/2011 Location: United StatesPosts: 282 |
I use a sheet metal notcher. Slices boards like butter. I use to put multiple small boards on one ExpressPCB $59 mini panel and cut them with this for cheap boards. I plan to do the same with ITEAD next time I need a batch. 
www.elproducts.com |
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| Grogster Admin Group Joined: 31/12/2012 Location: New ZealandPosts: 9502 |
Very clever - better then my upside-down jigsaw, and would be quicker too. How much did you pay for your metal notcher? Does this method not fracture the boards? Smoke makes things work. When the smoke gets out, it stops! |
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| elproducts Senior Member Joined: 19/06/2011 Location: United StatesPosts: 282 |
I paid $225 for it new 8 years ago. The amount I've saved panelizing boards has more than paid for it. I mark the board edges with silkscreen and then slice them apart. They cut easily, no fracture. The edges come out straight and clean. A slight sanding if you want it smooth. I've cut a lot of boards and never had a single issue. www.elproducts.com |
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BobD Guru Joined: 07/12/2011 Location: AustraliaPosts: 935 |
I got the junk mail from ALDI today and I notice in it that they have a Band Saw on sale on Saturday 12 July for $100. Could that be a useful gadget to cut your PC boards? |
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TassyJim Guru Joined: 07/08/2011 Location: AustraliaPosts: 6224 |
I use a band-saw for my board work and still have all my fingers intact. Jim VK7JH MMedit |
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| Frank N. Furter Guru Joined: 28/05/2012 Location: GermanyPosts: 940 |
Hi WW, I used a big hammer and a wood splitter for your wooden PCB's!
No, no, no! You can change the saw blade! The HSS saw blade is perfect for PCB's and it is very fast! Frank |
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vasi Guru Joined: 23/03/2007 Location: RomaniaPosts: 1697 |
Someone says this is just perfect 
Amazon link Hobbit name: Togo Toadfoot of Frogmorton Elvish name: Mablung Miriel Beyound Arduino Lang |
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| vasi Guru Joined: 23/03/2007 Location: RomaniaPosts: 1697 |
As for me, I use a Proxxon tool. 
with fiber discs (well, usually I use just a hand saw because the dust made by the proxxon is unbearable). Hobbit name: Togo Toadfoot of Frogmorton Elvish name: Mablung Miriel Beyound Arduino Lang |
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