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Author Topic: does anyone know how to cut copper clad boards?  (Read 8980 times)

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Offline SmAsHTopic starter

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does anyone know how to cut copper clad boards?
« on: April 04, 2009, 06:16:39 PM »
as title says i have a design that is 5cm/3-4cm and i have a board that is 7.5cm/14cm. so does anyone know how to cut copper clad board. btw it has fiberglass underneath the copper which is my main concern. all help is appreciated. thanks in advance
James.
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Offline GearMotion

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Re: does anyone know how to cut copper clad boards?
« Reply #1 on: April 04, 2009, 07:12:49 PM »
James:

Score it with a knife and straight edge and snap the board.

Offline SmAsHTopic starter

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Re: does anyone know how to cut copper clad boards?
« Reply #2 on: April 04, 2009, 07:20:09 PM »
will that go through the fiberglass too?
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Offline superchiku

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Re: does anyone know how to cut copper clad boards?
« Reply #3 on: April 04, 2009, 11:28:57 PM »
using any cutting tool ...either run by machine or hand...i guess ur using it to make ur own pcb ??
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Offline bionic-man

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Re: does anyone know how to cut copper clad boards?
« Reply #4 on: April 04, 2009, 11:31:20 PM »
James:

Score it with a knife and straight edge and snap the board.
ive tried that before and it worked better than other methods, James give this method a try.

Offline SmAsHTopic starter

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Re: does anyone know how to cut copper clad boards?
« Reply #5 on: April 04, 2009, 11:52:10 PM »
and that i will, i shall report back soon with results!
EDIT: i tried scoring it with a hobby knife and got through the copper but was to scared to snap it as fiberglass fly's everywhere doesn't it? so im just giving it to my dad and he will try to cut it tomorrow at his work with an angle grinder of something :-\
i guess ur using it to make your own pcb ??
yes, im making an atmega board kinda like the roboduino but smaller and cheaper ($8.50au just components and board) but its just for me so im hand etching it.
« Last Edit: April 05, 2009, 12:15:14 AM by SmAsH »
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Offline noobinator

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Re: does anyone know how to cut copper clad boards?
« Reply #6 on: April 05, 2009, 12:35:43 AM »
could you use a bandsaw? those things cut fiberglass pretty good.

Offline want2learn

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Re: does anyone know how to cut copper clad boards?
« Reply #7 on: April 05, 2009, 12:43:19 AM »
The two most common ways of cutting pcb are:
1. use a guillotine
2.Score heavily with a sharp instrument and a straight edge. Place the scored area at the edge of a table, hold firmly to the table and sharply knock/bang the free end hanging over the edge. THIS WILL RESULT IN A CLEAN BREAK, NOT SHATTERED PIECES.

I have seen a few boards where people wanted fancy shapes so they used a bandsaw. Although it was a decent cut, the edges weren't very clean by comparison to the above methods, even after cleaning with a file.

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Offline superchiku

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Re: does anyone know how to cut copper clad boards?
« Reply #8 on: April 05, 2009, 12:59:18 AM »
if u are ssee my pcb tutorial.. .it can help u alot.. :D
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Offline SmAsHTopic starter

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Re: does anyone know how to cut copper clad boards?
« Reply #9 on: April 05, 2009, 01:09:55 AM »
how does your pcb help with the cutting? or do you think it will help me with the etching process? also i will ask my electronics teacher how to cut it (i assume he does) and if i can try it out with his guillotine. thanks guys ;D
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Offline Hawaii00000

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Re: does anyone know how to cut copper clad boards?
« Reply #10 on: April 07, 2009, 11:35:19 PM »
I used a fine hacksaw. It worked perfectly.
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Offline SmAsHTopic starter

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Re: does anyone know how to cut copper clad boards?
« Reply #11 on: April 08, 2009, 12:16:26 AM »
yea, yesterday i used a hacksaw and tore through it ;D thanks guys!
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Offline Admin

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Re: does anyone know how to cut copper clad boards?
« Reply #12 on: May 07, 2009, 06:40:36 PM »
I use a bandsaw to cut these boards and a power sander to clean it up.

Offline unicoder

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Re: does anyone know how to cut copper clad boards?
« Reply #13 on: May 07, 2009, 06:42:46 PM »
I used a pair of diagonal cutters lol. The edge wasnt straight but close enough that i could reliably cut inside narrow areas. it was almost like cutting glass. Dont be scurred :P
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Offline SmAsHTopic starter

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Re: does anyone know how to cut copper clad boards?
« Reply #14 on: May 08, 2009, 01:49:55 AM »
the whole time i was trying to score it with a knife i was like:
"omg omg, please don't snap sending pieces everywhere..."
i was scared because of previous encounters with fiberglass in a fishing rod...
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Offline BANE

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Re: does anyone know how to cut copper clad boards?
« Reply #15 on: May 08, 2009, 05:42:35 AM »
Use the band saw and a sander.  I did this yesterday and my boards came out pretty good.

Offline SmAsHTopic starter

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Re: does anyone know how to cut copper clad boards?
« Reply #16 on: May 08, 2009, 08:35:28 AM »
i don't really have access to a band saw at school, and am not sure if i will be allowed to use one at school...
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