How to cut the PCB's?

[rmgFX]

Hello,
I've cut one rebote delay 2.5 board from a piece of PCB and the cut is not perfect!
I've cut with my drill (with the thing to cut) and I don't like it.
I would like to know if we can cut the boards with a guillotine (the ones that we cut paper).

Regards

[Govmnt_Lacky]

I use a small hand saw to cut my PCBs. Works GREAT! Much like this...

[Colonel Angus]

I was using a razor knife, straight edge and a set of clamps to score and snap. Just got a Dremel, and the cutoff wheel is some serious stuff, I love it!

@ GovernmentLackey = That blood spattered grin and hacksaw are an unsettling combination

[artifus]

@ GovernmentLackey = That blood spattered grin and hacksaw are an unsettling combination

hahaha! works great! 

[deadastronaut]

same as GOV LACKY...i wear a dust mask too, that fibreglass is nasty stuff....(and when drilling).

[Govmnt_Lacky]

@Colonel

That hacksaw is not Patrick Bateman approved! Its too small 

@rob

I guess a dust mask would be a good idea. If I keep inhaling the fiberglass and solder fumes, I might turn into some futuristic DIY robot!! 

[Colonel Angus]

It's good for murder on-the-go or in tight spaces.

+1 on futuristic DIY robots. All you need is more metal shavings embedded in skin.

[Gurner]

Got to love this steampunk effort...

in answer to the original question, yes a heavy duty guillotine does cut fibre glass FR4 PCB material surprisingly well ...though the lower cost cheaper (paper based) pcb material doesn't cut well in this way (too brittle & just chips)

[deadastronaut]

^  i'd forget and sit on it...

[defaced]

I've used hack saws, band saws, razor blades, shears and dremmels.  IMO, the best way would be a wet saw used for tile.  If you're doing alot of cutting, that can be justified, but for one-two offs, the dremel and hack saw wins. 

[Colonel Angus]

Tile saw huh? Funny, I got one for my birthday! I'll give it a whack.

[Mustachio]

I started scoring and snapping my vero boards, then I got a small precision hacksaw and it worked not bad.

Now I'm using some huge old heavy duty tin snips to cut FR4 pcb's from MG chems.

The tin snips cuts straight and easy like butter

Then I file down the edges. works out pretty good. But the vero and thinner boards seem to want to chip break away weird with the tin snips like was said earlier.

What I like about the tin snips is less dust and a fast straight cut. Id imagine the large paper cutter would work great!

[Gurner]

Then I file down the edges. works out pretty good.

A deburring tools is nice for this (they are fairly cheap too), just run it along the edge & you're done.....

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Sealey-Deburring-Tool-with-Spare-Blade-DB01-/320922295843?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item4ab8759e23

[iccaros]

I use this
http://www.harborfreight.com/4-inch-mighty-mite-table-saw-93211.html
works nice for PCB... for picture frames as they advertise not so much..

[waltk]

I use a small benchtop bandsaw with a metal-cutting blade.  Works great.  Fast cutting, thin kerf.  It also helps to hook up a shop vac to minimize fiberglass/epoxy dust.

[davent]

Dremel and a diamond cutoff wheel. (Safety glasses and a dust mask.)

[The Tone God]

Dremel and a diamond cutoff wheel. (Safety glasses and a dust mask.)

I have to second this one all though I use a Proxxon and a metal based (ceramic diamond cutoffs break) diamond coated cutoff wheel. Cuts like butter. It makes sense since you are cutting glass that you should use diamond. I've cut hundreds of boards along with other stuff like metal shafts and slots in sheet metal and I'm still on the original wheel that came as a set of four. The safety glasses and dust mask are an absolute. I would even add hearing protection and machinist gloves then washing your hands after your done with the boards as you don't want to ingest the dust.

If I need quick rough cut bits of perf or copper clad I use sheet metal tin snips and take the edges of with a quick filing.

Andrew

[therecordingart]

Large tin snips.

http://www.tylertool.com/dewalt-dwht70287-12-in-tin-snips/dewndwht70287,default,pd.html?ref=PLA-DWHT70287&origin=pla&zmam=31282435&zmas=47&zmac=478&zmap=DWHT70287&gclid=COOex5PG6rACFYS6KgodjFi0ug

[The Tone God]

Mine are more like these.

http://www.tylertool.com/dewalt-dwht70279-aviation-snip-center/dewndwht70279,default,pd.html?start=12&cgid=pliers-and-snips

Less work and stress on the hands at the cost of a shorter cut range.

Andrew

[therecordingart]

Mine are more like these.

http://www.tylertool.com/dewalt-dwht70279-aviation-snip-center/dewndwht70279,default,pd.html?start=12&cgid=pliers-and-snips

Less work and stress on the hands at the cost of a shorter cut range.

Andrew

Awesome! I hated using my rotary tool with a cutoff wheel so when I tried tin snips it was like the sky opened and I heard angels singing.