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Small CNC machine, good for [[PCB Milling]].


== Safety ==
== Safety ==
[[File:Cnc e-stop.jpg|thumb|400x400px|Emergency stop|none]]


* Emergency stop (E-stop) cuts power to motors, should be released only when milling is in progress
* Emergency stop (E-stop) cuts power to motors, should be released only when milling is in progress
* Debris and broken tool parts my go flying from the spindle. Wear eye protection when E-stop is released!
* Debris and broken tool parts my go flying from the spindle. Wear eye protection when E-stop is released!


== Parameters and Operation ==
== Operation ==
 
=== Milling machine ===
[[File:Cnc mill.jpg|thumb|200x200px|Milling machine|right]]Small three axis CNC machine, controlled by PC with LinuxCNC.
 
Good for [[PCB Milling]]!
 
=== Motor driver and spindle controller ===
[[File:Cnc driver.jpg|thumb|200x200px|Motor drivers, spindle control|right]]Normally set to be controlled by PC, but provides manual spindle control.
 
Also contains the emergency stop.
 
=== LinuxCNC controller ===
[[File:Cnc linuxcnc.jpg|thumb|200x200px|LinuxCNC controller|right]]PC running LinuxCNC atop RTAI kernel. Provides manual movement control and runs GCode programs.
 
=== Spindle cooling ===
[[File:Cnc cooling pump.jpg|thumb|200x200px|Spindle cooling pump|right]]Water needs to flow when spindle is running. Turned on/off via extension plug along with mill and controllers.
 
=== Tools, bits, drills ===
[[File:Cnc tool box.jpg|thumb|200x200px|Tool box|right]]
[[File:Mill three bits.jpg|thumb|200x200px|V-shaped tool, 0.8 mm drill, and 3.175 cutting bit]]
There's a box with a lot of various tools. Few are going to be useful for PCB milling: a sharp cutting tool, a 0.6 mm or 0.8 mm drill and the 3.175 mm sideways drill.
 
Use 13 mm and 17 mm wrenches to unscrew the tool holder and replace the tool.


* Three axes
=== Workpiece probing ===
* Controlled by PC with LinuxCNC
[[File:Cnc probe.jpg|thumb|200x200px|Probe attachment|right]]Probe triggers when there's a conductive path from it to tool/chasis ground. To use it, the workpiece needs to be isolated from tool/chasis ground and have the proble clamped to it.
* Water cooled spindle


== Tips & Tricks ==
== Tips & Tricks ==
Line 35: Line 57:
Feel free to upload pictures of your finished PCBs and add link(s) to following gallery:
Feel free to upload pictures of your finished PCBs and add link(s) to following gallery:


<gallery widths=200>
<gallery widths="100" mode="nolines">
File:Milled-pcb-esp8266.jpg
File:Milled-pcb-esp8266.jpg
File:Milled-pcb-phsensor.jpg
File:Milled-pcb-phsensor.jpg
File:Milling_pcb2_stm32f042.jpg
File:Milling pcb2 stm32f042.jpg
File:Oven.jpg  
File:Oven.jpg
File:3020pcb.jpg  
File:3020pcb.jpg
File:Hc pcb.jpg
File:Hc pcb.jpg
File:Synth pcb.jpg
File:Synth pcb.jpg
Line 47: Line 69:
File:Audiothing1.jpeg
File:Audiothing1.jpeg
File:Audiothing2.jpg
File:Audiothing2.jpg
File:Mag brk.jpeg  
File:Mag brk.jpeg
File:RN2348PCB.JPG
File:RN2348PCB.JPG
File:Cpld brk.jpg
File:Cpld brk.jpg
File:Amp2.jpg
File:Amp2.jpg
</gallery>
</gallery>

Latest revision as of 07:05, 21 September 2026


Safety

Emergency stop
  • Emergency stop (E-stop) cuts power to motors, should be released only when milling is in progress
  • Debris and broken tool parts my go flying from the spindle. Wear eye protection when E-stop is released!

Operation

Milling machine

Milling machine

Small three axis CNC machine, controlled by PC with LinuxCNC.

Good for PCB Milling!

Motor driver and spindle controller

Motor drivers, spindle control

Normally set to be controlled by PC, but provides manual spindle control.

Also contains the emergency stop.

LinuxCNC controller

LinuxCNC controller

PC running LinuxCNC atop RTAI kernel. Provides manual movement control and runs GCode programs.

Spindle cooling

Spindle cooling pump

Water needs to flow when spindle is running. Turned on/off via extension plug along with mill and controllers.

Tools, bits, drills

Tool box
V-shaped tool, 0.8 mm drill, and 3.175 cutting bit

There's a box with a lot of various tools. Few are going to be useful for PCB milling: a sharp cutting tool, a 0.6 mm or 0.8 mm drill and the 3.175 mm sideways drill.

Use 13 mm and 17 mm wrenches to unscrew the tool holder and replace the tool.

Workpiece probing

Probe attachment

Probe triggers when there's a conductive path from it to tool/chasis ground. To use it, the workpiece needs to be isolated from tool/chasis ground and have the proble clamped to it.

Tips & Tricks

GCode simulation/preview

You can verify if everything is correct by importing all files to Camotics G-code simulator.

Ideally your board should start at positive X, Y coordinates with lower left corner near X0/Y0.

Useful GCodes

  • G0 X0 Y0 F100 -- Non-cutting move to X0 Y0 at 100mm/min, Z coordinate stays
  • G38.2 Z-5 F30 -- Move Z up to -5mm at 30mm/min (slowly) until probe trips

Pictures

Feel free to upload pictures of your finished PCBs and add link(s) to following gallery: