Hi,
I’m looking for good CNC machine for PCB.
I found one http://www.accuratecnc.com.
What do you think about it ?
(LPKF & T-TECH second hand are more expensive !)
I’m going to use it for RF & PCB prototyping.
Thank you in advance !
There’s alot of discussion abount CNC PCB prototyping on the Homebrew PCB yahoo group.
rf333. I would definitely recommend this machine! I almost bought one but got an epilog laser instead. The big thing about this process is the thru hole plating you will need to do to get your boards with two-sided tracing. you can got to my blog www.ohararp.com/blog and look at the March 17, 2008 post to see some pictures of a sample Chris cut for me.
Hi @ohararp,ohararp:
rf333. I would definitely recommend this machine! I almost bought one but got an epilog laser instead. The big thing about this process is the thru hole plating you will need to do to get your boards with two-sided tracing. you can got to my blog www.ohararp.com/blog and look at the March 17, 2008 post to see some pictures of a sample Chris cut for me.
Thank you very much for your response.
I think the machine is suitable for my needs (mainly prototyping):
-
2 layers PCBs with QFP64/QFP100, 8 mils traces
-
full copper rubout (for our FR filters & antennas)
-
stencils
I have tested the PhCNC demo software with our gerbers – it seem good enough. On the main page (www.accuratecnc.com) are visible a few samples with good quality …
“thru hole plating” is not a big problem, specially for prototypes. For me the time for development and prototyping is much more important.
So, I’m going to order A360 with camera and PhCNC pro (stencils are included in Pro only). There are few good options: cabinet & vacuum, … but may be later 
P.S. I found one refurbished Accurate 350 (ebay), but 360 seems to be better choice (USB & camera)!
I strongly recommend Accurate 360. I have got one, equipped with camera 6 months ago. It is excellent.
Use to have Protomat C60 by LPKF, this one is better because of motorized Z axis. The software is good and very friendly.
Now I am looking for thru hole plating.
What I found at LPKF site is a technology using conductive ink, no tanks, no acids. About 35 minutes.
Lately Chris (http://www.accuratecnc.com) told me that they are working on their own process similar to the one offered by LPKF.
If somebody knows, other technology/manufacturer for thru hole plating (connection) without chemistry, I will be glad to hear from.
Thank you all for reply !
I got my machine 4 days ago.
Here is may first board (Atmel’s ATR2406-DEV-KIT2) made on it:
http://img7.imageshack.us/img7/2504/at2406tl.jpg
Actually it looks a lot better than the picture
Machining time is ~ 15 min (according to software), it took me 20 more minutes in search of the tools
My first impressions are very good: rock solid built, easy to use software
I got the camera option and the Pro software, but decide not to order professional vacuum.
Now I think it’s needed because the one that I am using is too noisy.
My total cost a little bit over 7000 EUR
Here is what I ordered:
The machine: http://www.accuratecnc.com/A360.html
Camera option: http://www.accuratecnc.com/A104.html
PhCNC Pro: http://www.accuratecnc.com/A106.html
Definitely good for the money!
P.S.
I checked out other machines (actually the software demos/samples) CirquitCAM+BoardMaster Demo (LPKF, Germany), PCAM (Everprecision, China or Taiwan), PhCNC some how fits to me.
It is easier to understand and work with. PCAM jams every time when your Gerber file contains some more complicated layer, Cirquit CAM is too heavy and hard to navigate.
Now I can say it exactly the way it is shown in the PhCNC demo. Just you have to really change the tools
wow, for $9,200, you could get a LOT of quickturn boards done.
@rf333 Sweet board! Can I ask about your thru hole plating setup? I looked at a couple of different options but just couldn’t justify the additional cost and pain in the but off the palladium and thp setup. Can you elaborate on what you are planning to do for this?
I make DS boards all the time and if you design with the right set of design rules, you don’t need plated through holes. Vias can be done with wire soldered to connect the two sides.
The DRs are pretty obvious when you think it through.
Philba:
wow, for $9,200, you could get a LOT of quickturn boards done.
We (me and my buddies) are spending $5-6000 annually for prototypes, so it looks like we will be at + for less than 2 years.
Also we are planning to make stencils and small batches (orders of 100 or below) of antennas.
We see the time as the biggest gain, especially when you have tight dead lines for your projects. Many of RF projects need more than one try to get through and the customers keep calling….
P.S. LPKF’s S62 starts at $ 22К
ohararp:
@rf333 Sweet board! Can I ask about your thru hole plating setup? I looked at a couple of different options but just couldn’t justify the additional cost and pain in the but off the palladium and thp setup. Can you elaborate on what you are planning to do for this?
So far we don’t have a solution for thruhole plating (except soldering small wires on both sides) and we planning to try LPKF’s conductive ink.
In many cases it is possible to reduce the vias during the design process. unfortunately not always.
I think I’d have to break even in far less than 2 years to consider this option worth trying to solder surface mount parts without solder mask.
It’s not even that fun soldering through-hole circuits that have been isolation milled.
How much is this machine?rf333:
Hi,I’m looking for good CNC machine for PCB.
I found one http://www.accuratecnc.com.
To make a decision on buying this machine:
No. 1 is of course performance,
No. 2 is cost.
The board you posted a photo of has a number of vias on the thermal slug of a QFN. How do you plan on soldering those?rf333:
ohararp:
@rf333 Sweet board! Can I ask about your thru hole plating setup? I looked at a couple of different options but just couldn’t justify the additional cost and pain in the but off the palladium and thp setup. Can you elaborate on what you are planning to do for this?So far we don’t have a solution for thruhole plating (except soldering small wires on both sides) and we planning to try LPKF’s conductive ink.
In many cases it is possible to reduce the vias during the design process. unfortunately not always.
Additionally, what’s the cone shaped piece of copper on the PCB for? I must admit my ignorance in the RF field.
edit: speling
The machine is priced aprox. 1/3 of S62 (LPKF with camera). Under $10 K with the shipping. If you exclude the auto tool change it seems to me even better than LPKF. They shows unbelievable high (sub micron) resolution, but the tools have usually up to 2.5 microns run-out, in addition they never mention their own spindle run-out. Seems to me that their specs are more commercial than technical.funnynypd:
…How much is this machine?
To make a decision on buying this machine:
No. 1 is of course performance,
No. 2 is cost.
I spend months in research to determine which one to buy and reach the conclusion that it should be specialized unit for PCB prototyping. Universal CNC machines or DIY are definitely not a solution. Now I am able to run a prototype in a few hours. This is an advantage that is hard to estimate in money. You know the world is spinning faster and faster and I feel this is a good investment.
Yea, I ran this board just to test the machine. It is a demo from Atmel. [http://www.atmel.com/dyn/products/produ ... rt_id=3413](http://www.atmel.com/dyn/products/product_card.asp?part_id=3413)NleahciM:
… The board you posted a photo of has a number of vias on the thermal slut of a QFN. How do you plan on soldering those?Additionally, what’s the cone shaped piece of copper on the PCB for? I must admit my ignorance in the RF field.
The existence of many holes (more accurately 356 and 300 of them 12 mils) and 4 to 8 mils traces attract me to se how the machine will perform. And it is time saver to run ready made projects :).
In our future projects we will look for designs that are easier to prototype (in many cases this is helpful in mass production).
The cone shaped feature is an antenna.
I can’t see the point of CNC for making PCBs. I can make a PCB in about 20 minutes (plus drilling) at home using the photo etch process. 8/8 mil design rules aren’t a problem although I usually use 10/10. I can get down to 5 mil tracks if necessary.
The equipment cost me under $100.
Leon
if you are playing only with single side, it is fine for both.
However, if you like high quality two layer or multiple layer PCB, and you can wait, a PCB house may turn out good quality boards at a relatively low cost.
It is amazing my HP printer only use single layer PCB, and there are lots of high-tech jumpers which doesn’t seems cheap.
Don’t understand why they only use one layer PCB.
It obviously worked out cheaper for mass-production.
Leon