Cutting blank Printed Circuit Board

[Charles L]

Has anyone got any tips or suggestions on the best way to cut a blank single
sided PCB to size. I require a blank 300mm by 150mm as a 300mm by 300mm PCB
is too large so I'll have to cut it in half.

Charles L

 

[KLR]

On Fri, 26 Nov 2004 14:14:09 GMT, "Charles L" <tjf00@dodo.com.au>
wrote:

Has anyone got any tips or suggestions on the best way to cut a blank single
sided PCB to size. I require a blank 300mm by 150mm as a 300mm by 300mm PCB
is too large so I'll have to cut it in half.

Charles L

I recall scoring it with a stanley knife on both sides using a
straight edge as a guide - and then carefully snapping it along the
score line. Usually sitting it on a table with the score line along
the edge and bending it down carefully is a good way to do it.

Other methods involving hacksaw or jigsaw (on a slow cutting speed
with fine tooth blades) could be used but its hard to get a straight
edge by these means I find, unless you are skilful with these tools.
Also if the blade jams, you have good chance of cracking the PCB
material easily.


Professionally I believe that its done with a guillotine for PCB use,
but doubt this is worth buying for limited home use.

 

[Don McKenzie]

KLR wrote:

On Fri, 26 Nov 2004 14:14:09 GMT, "Charles L" <tjf00@dodo.com.au
wrote:


Has anyone got any tips or suggestions on the best way to cut a blank single
sided PCB to size. I require a blank 300mm by 150mm as a 300mm by 300mm PCB
is too large so I'll have to cut it in half.

Charles L





I recall scoring it with a stanley knife on both sides using a
straight edge as a guide - and then carefully snapping it along the
score line. Usually sitting it on a table with the score line along
the edge and bending it down carefully is a good way to do it.

Other methods involving hacksaw or jigsaw (on a slow cutting speed
with fine tooth blades) could be used but its hard to get a straight
edge by these means I find, unless you are skilful with these tools.
Also if the blade jams, you have good chance of cracking the PCB
material easily.


Professionally I believe that its done with a guillotine for PCB use,
but doubt this is worth buying for limited home use.

A decent pair of tin snips will do it in seconds, however there will be a little
"tearing" along the edge of the board. If you have tracks too close, you may
damage them.

But if it is a simple matter of cutting the board in half and the quality of the
edge is of no real concern, SNIP IT!

Works a treat for those boards that need trimming to squeeze into a plastic
project box.

Don...



--
Don McKenzie
E-Mail Contact Page: http://www.e-dotcom.com/ecp.php?un=Dontronics

VoIP USB/RJ11 Use Any Phone http://www.dontronics.com/phoneconnector.html
USB to RS232 Converter that works http://www.dontronics.com/usb_232.html

 

[Rheilly Phoull]

"Don McKenzie" <look@mysig.com> wrote in message
news:30pj6mF33b180U1@uni-berlin.de...

KLR wrote:

On Fri, 26 Nov 2004 14:14:09 GMT, "Charles L" <tjf00@dodo.com.au
wrote:


Has anyone got any tips or suggestions on the best way to cut a blank
single
sided PCB to size. I require a blank 300mm by 150mm as a 300mm by 300mm
PCB
is too large so I'll have to cut it in half.

Charles L





I recall scoring it with a stanley knife on both sides using a
straight edge as a guide - and then carefully snapping it along the
score line. Usually sitting it on a table with the score line along
the edge and bending it down carefully is a good way to do it.

Other methods involving hacksaw or jigsaw (on a slow cutting speed
with fine tooth blades) could be used but its hard to get a straight
edge by these means I find, unless you are skilful with these tools.
Also if the blade jams, you have good chance of cracking the PCB
material easily.


Professionally I believe that its done with a guillotine for PCB use,
but doubt this is worth buying for limited home use.

A decent pair of tin snips will do it in seconds, however there will be a
little
"tearing" along the edge of the board. If you have tracks too close, you
may
damage them.

But if it is a simple matter of cutting the board in half and the quality
of the
edge is of no real concern, SNIP IT!

Works a treat for those boards that need trimming to squeeze into a
plastic
project box.

Don...



--
Don McKenzie
E-Mail Contact Page: http://www.e-dotcom.com/ecp.php?un=Dontronics

VoIP USB/RJ11 Use Any Phone http://www.dontronics.com/phoneconnector.html
USB to RS232 Converter that works http://www.dontronics.com/usb_232.html


The edges can be cleaned up with sand paper or a file if you want a neater

finish.

--
Regards ..... Rheilly Phoull

 

[Bushy]

I've also used an angle grinder to cut smaller boards. Although it works,
you have to feed it very slowly, and it will leave burn marks on the
fibreglass substrate whenever it gets hot. I do this for one of my customers
who needs replacement small boards 1" x 1.5" to fit a sensor and then hand
draw the 5 tracks and colour in the earth area with a resist pen. It's the
quickest way to cut multiple layers of boards at the same time out of one
12" x 12" blank board.

If you have a steady hand, and keep it slow, allowing the board to stay
cool, it cuts very nicely and you won't see any burn marks. Maybe a wet tile
cutting saw would do a really nice job and you would be able to feed a bit
faster.

Rubbing the clamped together boards on the cheapshop orbital sander with a
bit of 400 wet and dry removes the last of the marks, and if you want them
to have polished edges, (maybe for that product photo or demo model?) a bit
of glass backing for some 1200 wet and dry makes them look fantastic, and
you can get that warm fuzzy feeling!

Hope this helps,
Peter

 

[Hercules Smackbottom]

On Sat, 27 Nov 2004 00:58:40 +1000, KLR <kenreed@yahoo.com> wrote:

On Fri, 26 Nov 2004 14:14:09 GMT, "Charles L" <tjf00@dodo.com.au
wrote:

Has anyone got any tips or suggestions on the best way to cut a blank single
sided PCB to size. I require a blank 300mm by 150mm as a 300mm by 300mm PCB
is too large so I'll have to cut it in half.

A hand-held nibbling tool does a slow but nice job. You can finish off the edges

with a fine file.

 

[David L. Jones]

"Charles L" <tjf00@dodo.com.au> wrote in message news:<41a73a30@news.comindico.com.au>...

Has anyone got any tips or suggestions on the best way to cut a blank single
sided PCB to size. I require a blank 300mm by 150mm as a 300mm by 300mm PCB
is too large so I'll have to cut it in half.

Charles L

Stanley knife to score it and then snap on a table edge. May help if
you score on both sides.
Tin snips and the like tend to warp the board.

Dave

 

[dmm]

On Fri, 26 Nov 2004 14:14:09 GMT, "Charles L" <tjf00@dodo.com.au> wrote:

Has anyone got any tips or suggestions on the best way to cut a blank single
sided PCB to size. I require a blank 300mm by 150mm as a 300mm by 300mm PCB
is too large so I'll have to cut it in half.

Charles L

Take the board to a local sheetmetal shop where they'll cut it with their guillotine.
They'll probably not even charge you for the cut.

 

[Johnny]

On Fri, 26 Nov 2004 14:14:09 GMT, "Charles L" <tjf00@dodo.com.au>
wrote:

Has anyone got any tips or suggestions on the best way to cut a blank single
sided PCB to size. I require a blank 300mm by 150mm as a 300mm by 300mm PCB
is too large so I'll have to cut it in half.

Charles L

Use a hacksaw. If you are half competent, it won't be that ugly.

regards,
Johnny.

 

[Rob]

A Dremel with a thin black carbide looking cut-off wheel fitted works really
well. Fast, clean edge & no burning, it doesn't appear to make too much dust
either.

Some of the methods others have mentioned will stuff up the resist coating -
if pre-coated board is being used of course. The guillotine is definitely he
ideal way.

r.

 

[Albm&ctd]

On Sun, 28 Nov 2004 21:36:29 +1100, Johnny
<john_wr@NOSPAM.hotmail.com.> wrote:

On Fri, 26 Nov 2004 14:14:09 GMT, "Charles L" <tjf00@dodo.com.au
wrote:

Has anyone got any tips or suggestions on the best way to cut a blank single
sided PCB to size. I require a blank 300mm by 150mm as a 300mm by 300mm PCB
is too large so I'll have to cut it in half.

Charles L


Use a hacksaw. If you are half competent, it won't be that ugly.

I usually end up with a strange shaped board in the middle (a work of

art really) after taking all the other various sized boards from the
straight sides. I thought about making a saw from a 12 volt thermofan
motor with a simple pwm speed control. Would anyone know of thin
circular blade that would do this, needs to be about 4" (100
mm)diameter. The idea was to mount it in a frame and push the board
through it, maybe even dust extraction.

Al
2004 insult page awaits your contribution
http://kwakakid.cjb.net/insult.html

 

[engygirl]

"Rob" <rdsfal@yahoo.com.au> wrote in
news:41a93f91$0$25783$5a62ac22@per-qv1-newsreader-01.iinet.net.au:

A Dremel with a thin black carbide looking cut-off wheel fitted works
really well. Fast, clean edge & no burning, it doesn't appear to make
too much dust either.

Yep, this is what I use all the time. Very quick and neat.I suspect the
dust is not very good to breathe tho.

 

[Andy]

alb_mandctdNOWMD@connexus.net.au (Albm&ctd) wrote in message news:<30uu4rF34v6bfU2@uni-berlin.de>...

On Sun, 28 Nov 2004 21:36:29 +1100, Johnny
john_wr@NOSPAM.hotmail.com.> wrote:

On Fri, 26 Nov 2004 14:14:09 GMT, "Charles L" <tjf00@dodo.com.au
wrote:

Has anyone got any tips or suggestions on the best way to cut a blank single
sided PCB to size. I require a blank 300mm by 150mm as a 300mm by 300mm PCB
is too large so I'll have to cut it in half.

Charles L


Use a hacksaw. If you are half competent, it won't be that ugly.

I usually end up with a strange shaped board in the middle (a work of
art really) after taking all the other various sized boards from the
straight sides. I thought about making a saw from a 12 volt thermofan
motor with a simple pwm speed control. Would anyone know of thin
circular blade that would do this, needs to be about 4" (100
mm)diameter. The idea was to mount it in a frame and push the board
through it, maybe even dust extraction.

Al
2004 insult page awaits your contribution
http://kwakakid.cjb.net/insult.html

Hi Al,

I remember seeing what I think was called a "continuous rim diamond
wheel" or similiar. I saw a boat bulider using one to cut through
fibreglass. It was installed on a standard 100mm angle grinder and it
made quite a narrow cut. Maybe this type of blade would suit your
purpose?.

Andy

 

[Albm&ctd]

On Tue, 30 Nov 2004 17:08:51 -0800, "Rob" <rdsfal@yahoo.com.au> wrote:

Hi Al,

I remember seeing what I think was called a "continuous rim diamond
wheel" or similiar. I saw a boat bulider using one to cut through
fibreglass. It was installed on a standard 100mm angle grinder and it
made quite a narrow cut. Maybe this type of blade would suit your
purpose?.

Andy

IIRC they start are < 1mm thick and about $25 at Bunnings. I think they are
intended for cutting tiles / ceramics.

rob

Sounds good, I'll check Bunnings out. The cutting wheel would be the

first place to start, then I'll get a shaft made up to mount it on.

Al

I don't take sides. It's more fun to insult everyone.
http://kwakakid.cjb.net/insult.html

 

[Russ]

Albm&ctd wrote:

On Tue, 30 Nov 2004 17:08:51 -0800, "Rob" <rdsfal@yahoo.com.au> wrote:




Hi Al,

I remember seeing what I think was called a "continuous rim diamond
wheel" or similiar. I saw a boat bulider using one to cut through
fibreglass. It was installed on a standard 100mm angle grinder and
it made quite a narrow cut. Maybe this type of blade would suit your
purpose?.

Andy

IIRC they start are < 1mm thick and about $25 at Bunnings. I think
they are intended for cutting tiles / ceramics.

rob

Sounds good, I'll check Bunnings out. The cutting wheel would be the
first place to start, then I'll get a shaft made up to mount it on.

If you have a "Gasweld" franchise nearby, you should check out their tile
cutter - it has a diamond blade and iI magine would be great for cutting
PCBs as it has a little table, and from memory it was remarkably cheap.

 

[Rob]

Hi Al,

I remember seeing what I think was called a "continuous rim diamond
wheel" or similiar. I saw a boat bulider using one to cut through
fibreglass. It was installed on a standard 100mm angle grinder and it
made quite a narrow cut. Maybe this type of blade would suit your
purpose?.

Andy

IIRC they start are < 1mm thick and about $25 at Bunnings. I think they are
intended for cutting tiles / ceramics.

rob

 

[Bully]

I've always found a laminex cutter the way to go. Similar to the Stanley
knife, score the PCB both sides then simply break along the score marks and
polish the edges with fine sandpaper if required. I found it easier to
scribe a straight line with this than a knife.

Bully

Charles L <tjf00@dodo.com.au> wrote in message
news:41a73a30@news.comindico.com.au...

Has anyone got any tips or suggestions on the best way to cut a blank
single
sided PCB to size. I require a blank 300mm by 150mm as a 300mm by 300mm
PCB
is too large so I'll have to cut it in half.

Charles L