James,

Don't be too optimistic. I've just received our LPKF protomat S62,
http://www.lpkfusa.com/RapidPCB/CircuitboardPlotters/s62.htm
claiming much more than those kits (and having a price accordingly)
and till now I'm not very satisfied.
At least, the copper milling on PCB is good only for prototyping. But
the cost of prototyping is equal or higher than manufacturing directly
the final product....
I'm talking about consumable parts and time requiring for gerber
arrangement and gerber to specific tool format conversion, then about
the time spent on tool calibration, etc.

best wishes,
Vasile

On 12/17/07, James Newton <jamesnewton@massmind.org> wrote:
>
> Would you buy a kit of parts, partially assembled, that could make a viable
> CNC mill / drill for PCBs (10mill traces and spaces, 9" x 11" work area)
> given your own spindle (laminate router or dremel), PC (new or old) and a
> power supply (car battery and charger or another old PC) for the grand price
> of $700?
>
> This would require simple bolting together of the mechanical parts, all the
> hard stuff is done. The controller boards must be built (standard thru hole
> soldering) and connected (cabled) to a distribution / mode setting / logic
> power regulator board (also standard thru hold soldering.
>
> If you like pictures or more detail, I'm talking about one of these
> http://www.fireballcnc.com/
> with 3 of these:
> http://www.piclist.com/techref/io/stepper/linistep/index.htm
> 3 of these:
> <http://www.motionking.com/show_products_detail.asp?ID=10&fenlei_id=2&produc
> ts=23HS%20Stepping%20Motor%20-57mm(1.8%20degree)> the 23HS8603
> 3 of these
> http://www.geeks.com/details.asp?invtid=CMI-28-2S&cat=FAN
> and one of these
> http://www.piclist.com/techref/io/stepper/linistep/4axis2build.htm
>
> You add the PC, the software (many choices TurboCNC is great for old DOS
> boxes, Mach3 is good for new machines)
>
> Anyway, the upshot is that for $700 plus a bit of work and some parts you
> probably already have or can get for cheap, you would be able to mill and
> drill PCBs (or wood, plastic, etc...) at home.
>
> Would that sell?
>
> James Newton: PICList webmaster/Admin
> mailto:jamesnewton@piclist.com  1-619-652-0593 phone
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