I've fumbled through this process a couple times with mixed results. Your video is my new definitive guide for milling PCBs. I really appreciate the time you've put into helping me understand this process.
Thank you for an excellent description of the process for making a PCB with a milling machine! Your video, detailed write-up, and python codes are by far the best description I've seen. I strongly recommend your video and write-up to others learning the KiCAD, FlatCAM, and 3018 milling process with Candle.
Thank you for this very helpful walk-through! It's great seeing someone's process from beginning to end. One suggestion, instead of having different offset versions for your heightmap, if you move the toolhead up to whatever offset you want and then zero your z to that height you should get the same result and there's far fewer places for something to go wrong.
I'm slightly familiar with Python, but I had a bit of trouble with your programs. Turns out that the scripts are very dependent on the fact that the origin is set exactly as you do in your video. I of course, had moved my origin to the bottom left-hand corner. I changed the location and all works, except for the 'Check_pcb_edge.py' where the cut through has to be less than -1.8 mm. 1.8 < 1.8 causes a fail of the test and prevents the 'test.nc' file being written. I fixed it by changing check.assert_gt('min_z', check.min_z(), 1.85) in the edge script. Working now, but thought others might have encountered this.
Yep, these checking scripts are intentionally very picky and you did exactly what I would suggest. You may already know this, but there are docs at www.instructables.com/Milling-Printed-Circuit-Boards-PCBs-on-a-Cheap-CNC/ (step 12)
Have you tried running them? They are simple with no dependencies so I think they will just work. If not, please open a bug on the github page and I'll take a look.
Seems like hand etching would be a ton quicker for simple boards like the ones you show....this seems also like a ton of trial and error..and probably mostly error..
Yes, use the probe touch off on the pcb itself and then zero Z, now run the heightmap and save it, load the copper file and just use the generated height map directly, no flaffing about with editing the heightmap, it's data points are the actual pcb top surface, no need to modify it. The doc is defined in you gcode file in whatever you designed it for, say 0.1mm, the height map defined the zero or top surface of the board, your gcode file defined the doc.
I appreciate what you've done, it's small, but it shows the details that are really needed
Looking forward to the next video, thank you very much.
I've fumbled through this process a couple times with mixed results. Your video is my new definitive guide for milling PCBs. I really appreciate the time you've put into helping me understand this process.
Thank you for an excellent description of the process for making a PCB with a milling machine! Your video, detailed write-up, and python codes are by far the best description I've seen. I strongly recommend your video and write-up to others learning the KiCAD, FlatCAM, and 3018 milling process with Candle.
GR8 Tutorial & yes please more like this 4 beginners;... way cool...
Blew my mind. Trying not to feel shame for not thinking of this idea. It makes so much sense. I'm inspired to build a lil cnc for once.
Thank you so much!!! It's the best pcb to cnc video I ever saw. It saved me days!
Thank you for this very helpful walk-through! It's great seeing someone's process from beginning to end. One suggestion, instead of having different offset versions for your heightmap, if you move the toolhead up to whatever offset you want and then zero your z to that height you should get the same result and there's far fewer places for something to go wrong.
Nice, thorough job! Thanks!
This is excellent! Thanks!
super video, fajny tutorial
Great job!!
I'm slightly familiar with Python, but I had a bit of trouble with your programs. Turns out that the scripts are very dependent on the fact that the origin is set exactly as you do in your video. I of course, had moved my origin to the bottom left-hand corner. I changed the location and all works, except for the 'Check_pcb_edge.py' where the cut through has to be less than -1.8 mm. 1.8 < 1.8 causes a fail of the test and prevents the 'test.nc' file being written. I fixed it by changing check.assert_gt('min_z', check.min_z(), 1.85) in the edge script. Working now, but thought others might have encountered this.
Yep, these checking scripts are intentionally very picky and you did exactly what I would suggest. You may already know this, but there are docs at www.instructables.com/Milling-Printed-Circuit-Boards-PCBs-on-a-Cheap-CNC/ (step 12)
Great tutorial, just what I needed after destroying my first mills... Any advise on how to run the Python scripts on a Windows pc?
Have you tried running them? They are simple with no dependencies so I think they will just work. If not, please open a bug on the github page and I'll take a look.
@@mattselectronicsrc4423 got it to work, had to find the right syntax. Works like a charm now, many thanks
what type of engraving tools to make pcb?, what degree? (15, 30, or 60°?)
Thanks for allowing me to thoroughly realize that my attention span sucks
Seems like hand etching would be a ton quicker for simple boards like the ones you show....this seems also like a ton of trial and error..and probably mostly error..
What is the alligator clip for
There gotta be a better way than modifying the heightmap to adjust the doc.
Yes, use the probe touch off on the pcb itself and then zero Z, now run the heightmap and save it, load the copper file and just use the generated height map directly, no flaffing about with editing the heightmap, it's data points are the actual pcb top surface, no need to modify it. The doc is defined in you gcode file in whatever you designed it for, say 0.1mm, the height map defined the zero or top surface of the board, your gcode file defined the doc.
You say cheap CNC ..how cheap?
🤘 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘮𝘰𝘴𝘮