Justin Grimm wrote:
>
> This is the plan, to mill around the track only and leave the rest of the
> copper there. This way it won't look unsightly with milling marks all over
> it. Yes the software will be a nightmare.
> What is this Dremel cableflex tool?

A company called "Dremel" makes a hand held, high speed grinding & cutting
 tool.
http://www.dremel.com/
http://www.dremel.com/html/products/tools.html

You can get a flexible cable attachment for it so that your plotter only
has to move the tip of the tool rather than entire motor mass.

http://www.dremel.com/productdisplay/att_template.asp?SKU=225&Color=99CCFF

I am sure there are competitors.
Unfortunately "cableflex" has been usurped as a trade name for a
an exercise machine rather than the 1970's name (as I knew it) for the above
flexible cable attachment..

I do recall seeing a DIY project (3 yrs ago or so) that included the software
(in Pacal I think) to do what you need, but I can't find the
URL now that I want it. Sorry.

Robert

> -----Original Message-----
> From: Robert Rolf [mailto:Robert.Rolf@UALBERTA.CA]

> There are machines that do directly router a board. They don't remove
> all the copper, they just cut it free from the surrounding material.
> What you end up with is a board that from a distance looks like unetched
> but up close you can see the fine lines of missing copper that makes
> trace 'islands'.
>
> These machines are great for prototyping and one offs, and could probably
> be built by a home user from a solid flat bed plotter and a Dremel (r)
> cableflex tool. The routing software would be a pain though...
>
> Robert
>
> Josh Koffman wrote:
> >
> > I was thinking of this too. I definetly think there would be some sort
> > of heat tolerant issues. I also wonder about the avilability of suitably
> > substrate. Etching all the copper off a blank PCB just to end up with a
> > copper free board to print on seems like a waste :)
> >
> > Josh
> > --
> > A common mistake that people make when trying to design something
> > completely foolproof is to underestimate the ingenuity of complete
> > fools.
> >         -Douglas Adams
> >
> > SM Ling wrote:
> > > Would it be possible to use conductive ink on a thin sheet of insulator?
> > >
> > > I only did a 5 minute search, there might be such an "ink", but then
> there
> > > are adhersion and heat-tolerant issues.  Would have to dig deeper when
> time
> > > allows.
>
> --
> http://www.piclist.com#nomail Going offline? Don't AutoReply us!
> email listserv@mitvma.mit.edu with SET PICList DIGEST in the body
>
> --
> http://www.piclist.com hint: To leave the PICList
> mailto:piclist-unsubscribe-request@mitvma.mit.edu

--
http://www.piclist.com hint: To leave the PICList
mailto:piclist-unsubscribe-request@mitvma.mit.edu