Micro vacuum table for Eagle PCB milling 130x80mm by loska - Thingiverse

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Micro vacuum table for Eagle PCB milling
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130x80mm

by loska Dec 29, 2018

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Micro vacuum table for Eagle PCB milling 130x80mm by loska - Thingiverse.htm[8/12/2019 10:55:52 PM]
Micro vacuum table for Eagle PCB milling 130x80mm by loska - Thingiverse

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Contents
Summary

Summary
Micro vacuum table for milling PCBs on a CNC router.

This is optimised for making 100x80mm double sided PCBs from 'Eagle free'.
TIP DESIGNER
Background:

I have been using the A4 mini vacuum table (see Thing this is derived
from) for PCB work but
REPORT THING found it was too hard to get the Z axis precision needed for reliable fine track engraving. I
realised that the acrylic surface was not rigid enough. I also found that the coolant I was using
was soaking into the MDF, base causing it to swell.

Tags
This micro vacuum table is much more rigid and coolant proof!
cnc CNC_Machine cnc_mill CNC_Router
The mounting points are designed for a 120mm T-slot table.
pcb vacuum Vacuum_Table Vacuum source:

I am lucky to have scored a diaphragm vacuum pump which pulls about -0.8 bar. This works

Remixed From beautifully with heaps of suction over this area. You could probably get good results with a
vacuum cleaner or similar. The A4 version works happily with a Vax bagless cleaner. I will
leave it
up to you to figure out the adaptors etc!
A4 Mini Vacuum Table

by loska
**

License
Micro vacuum table for Eagle PCB milling 130x80mm
by
loska is licensed under the
Creative Commons -
Attribution license.
Bill of materials:
Base, CNC cut from 20mm Acrylic / POM / etc
Top, CNC cut from 6mm aluminium plate
Push fit pneumatic connector and tube to suit vacuum source. I use 12x8mm tube with a
14" BSP x 12mm push fit connector.
M4 x 10 machine screws x 9
3mm x 5mm alignment pins x 4, cut from piano wire or similar
3mm EPDM sponge round seal strip for gasket

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CNC cut base from 20mm Acrylic, POM or similar. Waterproof ply or MDF
may work; if
using MDF be sure to seal it well with varnish as it is air permeable.

Cut depths (refer to STL file):

Vacuum chamber 15mm




Mounting slots 10mm
Plate mounting screw holes 12mm




Drill the vacuum port through the side into the chamber and tap to suit Push fit
connector
Tap plate mounting holes to bottom with M4 tap (alternately use self tapping

screws and adjust the drill size accordingly)

Micro vacuum table for Eagle PCB milling 130x80mm by loska - Thingiverse.htm[8/12/2019 10:55:52 PM]
Micro vacuum table for Eagle PCB milling 130x80mm by loska - Thingiverse

CNC drill & cut top plate from 6.0mm aluminium

Drill / cut depths (or refer to STL file):

Give a Shout Out Air holes (1.5-2.0mm drill) right through
Alignment holes (3.0mm drill) 5mm deep

If you print this Thing and display it in public proudly Mounting screw counterbores 3.5mm (or to suit your screw heads; ensure the
give attribution
by printing and displaying this tag. heads are well below the surface)
Vacuum hole counterbores: 1.0-1.5mm
PRINT THING TAG Seal groove (3.175mm tool) 2.25mm deep for 3.0mm EDPM seal strip

Assembly & preparation

Thing Statistics Use silicone sealant between plate and base; screw top firmly to base
Mount firmly and evenly to CNC bed. I used M8 x 20mm cap screws with my own T-nuts.

3893 Views Ideally, use a torque wrench and record torque for future re-mounting.

376 Downloads Skim the surface to ensure it is flat to the machine's X and Y axis. I used a 6.0mm 2-flute
end mill.

Found in Machine Tools Ideally, use a dial gauge mounted on the spindle to check for flatness in X and Y. I aim
for < 0.01mm variation across the board area.
Cut EPDM to length, use super glue to join the ends and push it into the groove
Insert the alignment pins into the 4 holes which are +/- 60, 20mm from the centre
Zero the machine to the bottom left alignment hole which is -50,-40mm from the centre. I
use a 3.0mm pin in the collet to check this.
Advance the machine in X by 100mm and check it matches the bottom right
alignment hole. Adjust the position of the table to ensure it is absolutely square, for
accurate 2-sided registration.

Usage

Using 'pcbgcode' and the supplied Eagle template, top side gcode coordinates start from Eagle
0,0 which corresponds with the bottom left alignment hole in the plate. After flipping the board
over, the bottom side gcode coordinates start from 100,0 which corresponds to the bottom

right alignment hole, and work negative in X.

Using some other method of work holding, pre-cut 130x80mm PCB blanks with holes to
match the alignment pins; see file 'PCB blank 130x80.dxf'
Using the Eagle template provided, lay out the PCB and use a suitable gcode generator
such as 'pcbgcode'
Etch the top side
Flip the board over horizontally; advance the machine by 100mm in X and re-zero
Etch the bottom side
Drill, mill etc. Use an air permeable spoil board such as thin MDF or card.

Enjoy!

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Micro vacuum table for Eagle PCB milling 130x80mm by loska - Thingiverse.htm[8/12/2019 10:55:52 PM]
Micro vacuum table for Eagle PCB milling 130x80mm by loska - Thingiverse

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Micro vacuum table for Eagle PCB milling 130x80mm by loska - Thingiverse.htm[8/12/2019 10:55:52 PM]