Home made PCBs

[Charles Jean]

What's the best way to make little ones from big ones? I would like a
method that takes a small kerf and produces a straight line. For
one-at-a-time boards. One that a klutz can handle.
TIA
Charlie

 

[Pooh Bear]

What's the best way to make little ones from big ones? I would like a
method that takes a small kerf and produces a straight line. For
one-at-a-time boards. One that a klutz can handle.

Sorry mate. I don't understand your line of banter.

Graham

 

[[email protected]]

I have used a straightedge and a tool that is used to scribe and cut
plastic laminate and linoleum...it has a carbide cutter on a steel
blade and after lining up the straightedge I give the cutter a few
pulls to make a groove...then remove the straightedge and keep pulling
the cutter thru...turning the board around every few strokes to make it
even.

This produces a clean but beveled edge which I flatten up by rubbing
the cut edge on a file.

scroll down page to see one

http://www.tapeease.com/LamTls.htm

 

[JazzMan]

What's the best way to make little ones from big ones? I would like a
method that takes a small kerf and produces a straight line. For
one-at-a-time boards. One that a klutz can handle.
TIA
Charlie

I use aviation style tin snips, the kind with the compound
action. Use the straight cut.

JazzMan
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[ehsjr]

What's the best way to make little ones from big ones? I would like a
method that takes a small kerf and produces a straight line. For
one-at-a-time boards. One that a klutz can handle.
TIA
Charlie

Best? Dunno. Easiest? A paper trimmer. Item # 818674 at
http://www.staples.com/

 

[Jeff Dege]

What's the best way to make little ones from big ones? I would like a
method that takes a small kerf and produces a straight line. For
one-at-a-time boards. One that a klutz can handle.

I score both sides, with a screwdriver, then stick it in a vice and snap
it off.

 

[Jasen Betts]

What's the best way to make little ones from big ones? I would like a
method that takes a small kerf and produces a straight line. For
one-at-a-time boards. One that a klutz can handle.

the "best way" is to start with them the right size,


assuming a typical garage/basement workshop...


use a steel ruler and a sharp knife (box cutter etc)

mark the ends of the cut with notches or holes

clamp the ruler to the PCB (use a vice, g-clamps, Vice-grips(tm) etc)
and make several passes with the knife,

repeat on the other side.

repuat until cut all the way though or go about 1/4 way and snap it off.

smooth the edge on a file or other abrasive surface,

 

[Rich Grise, but drunk]

I use aviation style tin snips, the kind with the compound
action. Use the straight cut.

JazzMan

I once, very long ago, in a galaxy far away, made a 6-up of a 2.5"dia.
round circuit, double-sided, on .031 fiberglass. (copper clad, both sides,
I etched it in FeCl3, drilled it with a little Dremel drill press, and
fudged on the vias).

I don't remember exactly what tool I used to trim them to size, but just
that fact that I don't remember indicates to me that it must have been
trivially easy. Like, Mom's sewing shears or something.

But this was .031" stock - I guess for .062, if I was really persnickety,
I'd press a die grinder into service as a little router.

Getting them apart in the first place, well, I'd say, shear them, score
and snap them, saw cut them, whatever works. It's pretty much a matter of
taste and getting your hands dirty. ;-)

Cheers!
Rich