That is what I would like to be able doing one of these days...
Congratulations!
Thanks
Could you please elaborate? All those names are just Greek (or Chinese) to me.
Diptrace is an excellent schematic capture program that allows up to 300 pins free.
Get it here.
http://www.diptrace.com/Like most PCB programs it outputs a bunch of files in "Gerber" format which is an industry standard for such things. If you wanted yur PCB's to be commercially manufactured you send your "gerbers" to them.
But "Gerber" is not what most CNC mills understand and thus you need to convert the files to "G-Code"
For PCB's there is a number of programs that can do this, and for PCB programs like Eagle - it actually has a plugin that will output the G-Code file directly.
Since I use DipTrace I needed to convert my files and I used CopperCAM.
You have to buy this program, and you can get it here...
http://www.galaad.net/coppercam-eng.htmlRepeatability?
My mill, i bought from these guys...
http://www.carving-cnc.com/And mine is an non-USB version of this ...
http://www.carving-cnc.com/cnc-x4800-series/cnc-x4800usb-router-engraver-drilling-and-milling-machine.htmlRepeatability is quoted at 0.05mm and after having cut a few PCB's now, I have no reason to doubt that.
An Endmill is the profile of the tool in the head, in this case, a square face. You can get V bits, ball shaped end mills and mills with specific profiles for cutting into edges of material, all in in many different shapes and sizes.
Like EEVblog there is a massive community for CNC's here...
http://www.cnczone.com/Since the prime purpose of my mill is to cut PCB prototypes I bought endmill, vbit and drill kits to suit the purpose. See photos attached.
As others have said, this is highly addictive. I'm now learning to cut front panels out of aluminum for some of my projects and engrave nice labels for the switches and lights
Seriously good fun !!
cheers
Tim