Copper Clad Prototyping Tools

RE: Copper Clad Prototyping Tools

shabaz — Tue, 21 Feb 2023 02:19:40 GMT

It's been more than a year, I figured I'd write a short update.

The motorized tool, plus the "bearing cutter" bit have proved invaluable. The bit is extremely tiny, and it comes in handy for cutting fine traces on PCBs. The motorized tool functions really well with it. I think that was a great purchase. However, I don't use it for the original purpose, which was to cut longer lengths for prototyping.

The scorper tool was another purchase I'm happy with. I use it with cheap FR2 board, so it is unlikely to get blunt any time soon. I have not found any need to sharpen it, I'm using it as-is, the long length of it suits the way I hold it; still, I might ask a jeweler to grind it for me at some point (I don't trust that I will do a good job) just to see the difference.

RE: Copper Clad Prototyping Tools

phoenixcomm — Mon, 06 Sep 2021 18:33:13 GMT

[mention:b0bc65b9ecdc4307bd967592f00e340a:e9ed411860ed4f2ba0265705b8793d05] If you are messing with perf-bord you have to look at a neat package called veroroute (Linux).

~~Cris

RE: Copper Clad Prototyping Tools

rsjawale24 — Sun, 05 Sep 2021 04:26:53 GMT

The easiest solution I found out was to use 0.8mm thick FR-4 instead of 1.6mm.

Unless you have proper tools, you don't get a good edge finish with 1.6mm. So I switched to 0.8mm FR-4. It's easy to cut with large scissors or a sheet metal cutter and the surface edge finish is also good.

The only drawback is 0.8mm FR-4 is slightly expensive than 1.6mm board.

P.S: I often fabricate antennas and the alignment is necessary between the ground plane (which often is defected ground) and the radiator, hence I need good surface finish as I use the surface edge as a alignment guide for the masks.

RE: Copper Clad Prototyping Tools

jw0752 — Sun, 05 Sep 2021 02:23:32 GMT

Hi Shabaz,

This post gave me the push I needed to make up a specialty tool that I have needed for some time. While I seldom need to cut traces I frequently need to remove the sealer and masking from traces so that I can repair a pad that has arced or burned. When I do this I always have to scrape the coating and masking off and up until now I have used sharpened screw drivers. I envisioned making a tool which would be similar to the larger versions of house paint scrapers but scaled down and using tool steel. There is a safety and a function difference between pushing a sharpened screw driver and pulling a scraper to accomplish the cleaning of the masking. Here is the result of tonight's build.

[View:/resized-image/__size/620x465/__key/commentfiles/f7d226abd59f475c9d224a79e3f0ec07-d1c6b912-7d69-4f85-b25c-84ce418aecb0/7658.contentimage_5F00_216489.jpg:620:465]

I tried it out on an old circuit board and had much better results with less effort than using the screw driver.

[View:/resized-image/__size/620x465/__key/commentfiles/f7d226abd59f475c9d224a79e3f0ec07-d1c6b912-7d69-4f85-b25c-84ce418aecb0/1881.contentimage_5F00_216490.jpg:620:465][View:/resized-image/__size/620x465/__key/commentfiles/f7d226abd59f475c9d224a79e3f0ec07-d1c6b912-7d69-4f85-b25c-84ce418aecb0/8737.contentimage_5F00_216491.jpg:620:465]

The boards that I typically have to fix have a layer of epoxy sealer on top of the masking which makes it even more difficult to properly clean the copper trace. Now I am looking forward to the next board that comes in with an arced out pad so I can give the new scraper a real test. Your posts are always appreciated and they often inspire us in related activities.

John

RE: Copper Clad Prototyping Tools

neilk — Thu, 02 Sep 2021 10:04:18 GMT

Very impressive.

Thanks for sharing.

Neil

RE: Copper Clad Prototyping Tools

genebren — Mon, 30 Aug 2021 20:37:32 GMT

Thanks for yet another cool tool demo. This has to go on my list of 'want to have' tools!

RE: Copper Clad Prototyping Tools

jw0752 — Mon, 30 Aug 2021 18:14:07 GMT

Hi shabaz,

Thanks for the nice video demonstration.

John

RE: Copper Clad Prototyping Tools

colporteur — Mon, 30 Aug 2021 18:01:53 GMT

Great close up camera work.

RE: Copper Clad Prototyping Tools

kmikemoo — Mon, 30 Aug 2021 16:06:58 GMT

[mention:b0bc65b9ecdc4307bd967592f00e340a:e9ed411860ed4f2ba0265705b8793d05] You did an excellent job with the scorper. I could see going for the engraver if you were really concerned about isolation, but the scorper had such clean cuts. Cool video.

RE: Copper Clad Prototyping Tools

navadeepganeshu — Mon, 30 Aug 2021 15:26:51 GMT

Get the wolverine power to make tarces/cuts on copper clad board perfectly [View:/resized-image/__size/16x16/__key/commentfiles/f7d226abd59f475c9d224a79e3f0ec07-d1c6b912-7d69-4f85-b25c-84ce418aecb0/contentimage_5F00_403.png:16:16]

Those cuts with chisel type scorper tool look really neat and would be suitable for small SMD packages. Satisfying to watch as you slide through with butter smoothness,......