PCB drill press design

[rybitski]

I'm looking for a drill press design for drilling pcb using a dremel, any ideas?
I think this has already been done some where, but why not disscuss it? Besides, It kind of dissapoints me that the hardware section is kind of empty... :'(

 

[rybitski]

Here is my design.
I have started building it and I would say that I am 3/4ths of the way done with it... I'll post pictures later.

Comments/ improvements on my design are welcome ;D

View attachment 39247

 

[sarathk]

Add a spiral spring to one of the vertical round metal bar.

 

[rybitski]

to push the drill back up when force isn't applied to lever?
If so good idea! ;D

 

[gogo2520]

Hello rybitski
    Dremel  all ready makes a small drill press stand that you can attach you drill to. It only cost about 30 bucks and it pretty sturdy, don't know I guess if you can come up with something better for less that might be good.
    I bought a cheep drill press for under a 100 bucks, a small benchtop one. Best 100 bucks I ever spent.
                                              Have fun
                                                gogo

 

[rybitski]

But think, that $30 I just saved went towards buying more pcb supplies, or better yet, That variable temperature soldering iron that I've always wanted...

In my search I did run across the Dremel press (for $30 as you mentioned), but making something is always more fun?

 

[ante1]

I scrapped an old Mustek scanner a few weeks ago and I can see you could have use for some scanner parts here. Inside it was two fine rods and slide bearings to match! 

 

[rybitski]

I am actually using 2 printer rods with the copper bearings...
Right now the project has come to a hault because someone has stolen my drill bits and the ones I have (that werent stolen) aren't the right size...

 

[ante1]

Improvise!  ;D

 

[rybitski]

I was using an off brand dremel tool with a grind stone attached to it...
Result: I broke the drive transmission, which is only a spring... Maybe since I broke my rotary tool I don't need that drill press any more.
I kind of fixed it, but it is a little bit off balance, so at high speeds the tool vibrates alot. :'(

Someone gave me an old Musket scanner, a very compact unit. Mine only had 1 bar...
And just think, our own modderator throwing out a perfectly re-usable scanner.... ;D

 

[ante1]

Yeah, the mechanical parts where fine but the scanner sent out smoke signals after the wall wart got faulty serving 30 Volts to the unit in stead of 16! A pcb with plenty of surface mounts got fried and I signed the death certificate immediately! I saved the plastic covers, the glass and the lid for a future project, a UV light box.

B T W, 100 posts….. You are now a full member Chris! Congrats! ;D

 

[rybitski]

Maybe that just means I've spent too much time this summer on the computer??

 

[rybitski]

Ok, so here it is... (so far)

The actual mountfor the dremel is not yet made and It needs another lever arm on the oposite side to keep it from binding.

I put some springs on the rods and they work great (thanks for the suggestion sarathk)

SO that is the update, again any comments/ improvements are welcome ;D

 

[ante1]

Another lever arm might not prevent the thing from sticking. The picture is not clear enough to show if any of the joints (screws) have some sideways slack, it should have because the distance between the two screws varies as the tool holder slides up and down. ???

 

[rybitski]

I think it will help because, when you push down with even force on both sides of the 'trolley' as I like to call it, it moves up and down smoothly.

he picture is not clear enough to show if any of the joints (screws) have some sideways slack, it should have because the distance between the two screws varies as the tool holder slides up and down.  ???

I'm not sure what you mean by this, could you please explain.

 

[ante1]

When I magnified the pic I could see you got it right! If you need it to push on both sides make the lever arm in one piece (U-shape) and put a hinge on the back of the press, something like this:
The red thing is supposed to be a hinge, the blue is the lever and the view is from above! ;D

 

[rybitski]

Sorry for the bad picture... So you were talking about cutting the slot in the lever arm for the screw to slide back and forth in. I really like your idea of haning them connect form bhind (I was going to connect them from the front).

 

[ante1]

Yes, that’s what I was thinking about. Not a bad picture, just small! ;D
Let us know how it develops!

 

[rybitski]

I have a bad habbit of starting too many projects at one time and then taking a while to get them all finished...  :-\
So I kind of put this project on hold because I wanted to make a laser show (mirrors attached to spining motors to manipulate a laser)... It will get finished, just not right away...

Projects I am working on: (or lack of working on)
Pool pump control
Mini drill press
Laser show
Electronic jewelry things
cleaning the work shop
555 timer based metrenome
various other things I get distracted with...

The PCB keychains I make (and try to sell) on my website got some recognition this morning on hackedgadgets.com, take a look: http://hackedgadgets.com/2006/07/02/pcb-keychain/#more-353


ANYWAY, I'll be sure to update with pictures when something interesting happens with this project.