I use score and snap method while working with ABS plastic sheets and never realized it could work for PCB material. Thanks for sharing this great video.
For cutting large clad boards or anything in high volume I would recommend a decent benchtop shear. They're essentially heavy-duty paper guillotines, and can be a little pricey but always give a perfect clean cut with minimal effort. Great for sheet metal too.
I use a benchtop bandsaw with a fine pitched blade dedicated to cutting PCB material. Not only cuts quickly but also allows for irregular shapes when needed. This is the method that has worked best for me and it spares my real woodworking tools from all the abrasive dust.
@@wd8dsb A good option but I find the reach rather limited with a Dremel as the body of it comes into contact with the board. I always position a vacuum cleaner hose next to whatever I'm Dremel cutting to get rid of the nasty dust!
For quick project you could use "prototype pcb" , easy to snap and solder jumpers. For complex prject I use CNC router or oder it from manufacturer (depending on trace resolution and complexitiy).
I really liked the wooden clamp idea so I made a small version to go in my toolbox. It comprises two ~15cm lengths of 15mm square section mild steel bar. The bars were clamped tightly together to be drilled through at each end. Then I drilled one for tight M6 clearance and tapped the other to M6. The two bars then bolt together with a close, parallel fit at the mating edges on each side. The tool will stand up to a lifetime of close shaves with the box cutter knife. Use normal machine screws, wing nuts or custom made big knurled screws to taste.
Excellent video! Another important issue that needs to be discussed is how to clean up and safely dispose of the fiberglass dust generated when cutting or drilling PCBs.
I used to use a band saw with a really fine blade, it works well but the dust get everywhere. I now use a sheet metal shear, it works incredibly well and leaves a really nice finish on the edge.
Very useful video. I bought my first ever copper clad board a few days ago and had a terrible time cutting it ( I used a hacksaw). I have a vice and will try your scoring method - that looked the easiest.
Nice tips. I like to use tile sample swatches from the hardware store. I cut and use the swatches for art projects. Every time I shop, I pick up a couple more to expand my supply and selection.The swatches are made of the same stuff circuit boards are made of only thinner. I have had the same problem with dulling saw blades. Perhaps these scoring or nibbling methods will work better.
I use the table top jibsaw when making PCB's. My wife uses the Cricut system to make handmade greeting cards. She is interested in a paper shear. I don't think we would need a heavy duty one maybe something in the middle. Thanks for the tips on other ways a cutting PCB's to size Alan!
I think jigsaw refers to the handheld version of the tool, that one you used there I'd call a scroll saw. We have a couple of them around here. They were real handy when I wanted to cut rectangular openings in a plastic box for powerpole mounts and volt/amp meters.
Great, thanks! What if you mounted two straight edges in the vice and then follow them while cutting, that will also prevent marking if the vise jaws is not smooth.
Hello, I would like to create three small copper islands for the transistor as shown in the video. What tool should I use to create roughly 1/8" or smaller copper circular islands on single side fr4? Dremmel with small diamond bit orI plexiglass cutter by "wobbly" hand . I can't find a 1/8" hole saw.
A shear is by far the best way. The Shop Fox 12 inch shear from Harbor Freight is ideal and costs less than $300. (shipping will add significantly to that!)
@@reedreamer9518 8 inch is fairly small. You couldn't shear a standard 12x12 sheet of circuit board material. The smaller sheared ;pieces of circuit board get quite a bit more expensive per square inch.
I like the jigsaw, but I need to buy one. Until then I have to use elbow grease. How do you cut just the copper of a PCB into squares or strips? Thanks for the video.
Any of the methods other than the scoring leads to very irritating particles. I used an N95 mask but still this stuff is worse than cutting metal or wood. I am planning on making a DIY tine little vacuum that is not as noisy as the regular shop-vacs in the market (even the smaller ones) or repurposing one of those small hanheld cleaners that are used for vehicles or pet hair. Did you ever consider doing anything about that? Thank you for the encyclopedic videos
Why would a PCB board use 4 multiple layers of grounds any reasons? It takes 280 C on my hot air gun to lift up SMD chips and use a SMTmax853 pre-warmer under the PCB board to warm the PCB board in order to lift up the SMD chips.
When you use the nibbler tool does it leave small cut squares of copper clad that can be used as glue on islands/pads for other projects? just a thought as Ive never used a nibbler. Phil
The nibbler creates very small rectangles, probably a bit too small to use for islands/pads. Each "bite" the" the nibbler takes is less than1/16" of an inch.
Phil Kashmirkaraoke A hole-punch designed for sheet metal does a nice job. I use this one: www.amazon.com/Neiko-Power-Punch-Sheet-Metal/dp/B0002T87CW/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1421245425&sr=8-3&keywords=metal+hole+punch
***** Cheers that looks nice, I managed to kill a leather hole punch very quickly and ended up scoring and breaking strips of little squares due to being very tight and not wanting all the wasted board from cutting circles, at one time you could buy a bag of pre cut square pads quite cheap but I have not seen them for a long time here in the UK? I wonder how long it will take for somebody to post a link up saying "here they are still available"? Phil
I just use a little porxxon table saw ks230, just because its easy and I also use the material to make casings out of it by soldering them together, with a table saw you get perfect edges and square edges
I was wondering about converting an old TV into a basic audio oscilloscope to reclaim so utility of a set or two in the garage. I looked on youtube and there are several sappy videos playing music with no narration. I thought you may have some interest in this for one of your well done videos. The scope should have some rudimentary stable trigger system and need not be specific on calibration. Perhaps other Hams could find utility as a basic audio scope, transmit or RTTY monitor or as a basic tool for audio projects. Most hams probably have or have access to old TV sets ad this would be a fun project. There are some links under google as well. 73, Glenn WA4AOS
I've never really had in interest in doing a conversion like this. Aside from the differences in deflection, there's the other issue that in most TVs the HV supply for the CRT is usually derived from the horizontal oscillator, so you generally have little opportunity to change that. I know that I lot of people have done it, but in my opinion would only make for a conversation piece rather than something useful.
Tin Snips! thanks man, i found this to be the best solution. You can find these with longer strighter blades like oversized sisors.The cut is clean and quick, unlike saws, or using blades to score and snap the boards. thanks again.
Aren't these boards made of fiberglass? If so, rubbing the edges with your fingers after cutting them in half is a bad idea because of the fine fiberglass particles that will then stick in your fingers possibly make their way into your lungs and eyes later on
Hello when you use the tooth blade machine , that's very dangerous because the fiber material is very small and you should sniff all this particles . what do you think am I sure ?
I'd just suggest you make it even more clear that in addition to cutting the board material's epoxy plastic that you are literally cutting glass mat, and that doing so will VERY quickly dull either blades or drill bits.
@@GhamPlays Everyone's path is different. For me, it started as a summer job working in a TV repair shop in the late 1970s, followed by getting my EE degree in 1985, then working as an engineer since then, as well as being involved in electronics as a hobby along with ham radio for most of my life.
Do you people who worry about dust put your nose about 10 mm away from the cut ? Then breathe in as hard as you can ? Stop worrying about what might happen and enjoy life . ☠️
I still prefer using PCB Guillotine shears a company which I have found that specialise in manufacturing high quality low cost shears are a UK based company called Fortex www.fortex.co.uk.
Great, thanks! What if you mounted two straight edges in the vice and then follow them while cutting, that will also prevent marking if the vise jaws is not smooth.
Using vice and clamp is a great idea I had not thought of.
Leaving comment after all these years because you deserve credit for your good advice!
Nice video shot, thanks for sharing it :)
I use score and snap method while working with ABS plastic sheets and never realized it could work for PCB material. Thanks for sharing this great video.
ElectronFun.com सस
The wood clamp idea is absolutely awesome. It will keep a lot of people safe. Knives are bad.
For cutting large clad boards or anything in high volume I would recommend a decent benchtop shear. They're essentially heavy-duty paper guillotines, and can be a little pricey but always give a perfect clean cut with minimal effort. Great for sheet metal too.
I use a benchtop bandsaw with a fine pitched blade dedicated to cutting PCB material. Not only cuts quickly but also allows for irregular shapes when needed.
This is the method that has worked best for me and it spares my real woodworking tools from all the abrasive dust.
I couple ideas I'd not seen before, thanks for sharing.
Very nice video. I always use my dremel with a cutoff wheel. It is super easy, and fast. Just don't breathe in the dust!
I too use Dremel tool with a thin cutoff wheel, works great.
@@wd8dsb A good option but I find the reach rather limited with a Dremel as the body of it comes into contact with the board. I always position a vacuum cleaner hose next to whatever I'm Dremel cutting to get rid of the nasty dust!
For quick project you could use "prototype pcb" , easy to snap and solder jumpers. For complex prject I use CNC router or oder it from manufacturer (depending on trace resolution and complexitiy).
I like the score method. No dust and straight lines. Thanks!
I really liked the wooden clamp idea so I made a small version to go in my toolbox. It comprises two ~15cm lengths of 15mm square section mild steel bar. The bars were clamped tightly together to be drilled through at each end. Then I drilled one for tight M6 clearance and tapped the other to M6. The two bars then bolt together with a close, parallel fit at the mating edges on each side. The tool will stand up to a lifetime of close shaves with the box cutter knife. Use normal machine screws, wing nuts or custom made big knurled screws to taste.
I used the knife score'n'snap method. However, I found that a Tungsten Carbide tile scorer works a lot faster than a knife and stays sharp.
Good tip!
Excellent video! Another important issue that needs to be discussed is how to clean up and safely dispose of the fiberglass dust generated when cutting or drilling PCBs.
I used to use a band saw with a really fine blade, it works well but the dust get everywhere. I now use a sheet metal shear, it works incredibly well and leaves a really nice finish on the edge.
I've also found that a large paper cutter works pretty well, really fast too...
Just busted out my tin snips. Worked great!
Very useful video.
I bought my first ever copper clad board a few days ago and had a terrible time
cutting it ( I used a hacksaw).
I have a vice and will try your scoring method - that looked the easiest.
Yeah, I like the paper cutter/shear idea too - I don't have one of those...
I have a small metal shear from Harbor Freight that I use. It works very well for this purpose and makes very square cuts.
That's a great solution too - and no dust!
Alan, very good video, I've always struggled to cut CB's.
terrific video - thanks for taking the time to make and post this
very helpful , hadnt thought of tin snips- thanks
Great presentation...thank you for taking your time to put it together.
Nice tips. I like to use tile sample swatches from the hardware store. I cut and use the swatches for art projects. Every time I shop, I pick up a couple more to expand my supply and selection.The swatches are made of the same stuff circuit boards are made of only thinner. I have had the same problem with dulling saw blades. Perhaps these scoring or nibbling methods will work better.
I use the table top jibsaw when making PCB's. My wife uses the Cricut system to make handmade greeting cards. She is interested in a paper shear. I don't think we would need a heavy duty one maybe something in the middle. Thanks for the tips on other ways a cutting PCB's to size Alan!
Always interesting, clear and inspiring. Thanks for sharing your knowledge.
Hi Alan, Thanks for the tip with the tin snips, they work great, would never have thought to use them for cutting pcbs!
73 Kevin GW4WOV
I think jigsaw refers to the handheld version of the tool, that one you used there I'd call a scroll saw. We have a couple of them around here. They were real handy when I wanted to cut rectangular openings in a plastic box for powerpole mounts and volt/amp meters.
Great, thanks!
What if you mounted two straight edges in the vice and then follow them while cutting, that will also prevent marking if the vise jaws is not smooth.
Thank you for that tutorial. I never thought of scoring it. Brilliant.
Hello, I would like to create three small copper islands for the transistor as shown in the video. What tool should I use to create roughly 1/8" or smaller copper circular islands on single side fr4? Dremmel with small diamond bit orI plexiglass cutter by "wobbly" hand . I can't find a 1/8" hole saw.
i use knife honing stone with medium grit and water to finish up the edges. They become so smooth that they look like glass:)
A shear is by far the best way. The Shop Fox 12 inch shear from Harbor Freight is ideal and costs less than $300. (shipping will add significantly to that!)
Good ides - I see an 8 inch sheet metal sheer by VEVOR on Amazon for only $90
@@reedreamer9518 8 inch is fairly small. You couldn't shear a standard 12x12 sheet of circuit board material. The smaller sheared ;pieces of circuit board get quite a bit more expensive per square inch.
nice video sir, me still using old school hacksaw :D
Some nice tis in this video.. Some methods i havent even considered before
A cheap electric tile cutter works very well and is quick and relatively safe since no sharp blades. Spinning wheel variety.
Agreed. Mine has burrs on the platform that can slice copper, though, so rest the PCB on cardboard.
thanks! i'm new at PCBs. this helps understand the basics
Great videos, thanks!
I like the jigsaw, but I need to buy one. Until then I have to use elbow grease. How do you cut just the copper of a PCB into squares or strips? Thanks for the video.
Usually use the tin snips or a bench top metal shear.
Angle Iron, Steel angle with a nut/bolt on each end works to ...simulate to the wooden clamp but in steel ..
Very detail, amazing 🙏🙏🙏
I use a oscillating tool with a round blade. And a dust respirator mask on.
Whats the best method to cut the PCB without bending it? I mean in micrometer range.
Good ideas 👍
Any of the methods other than the scoring leads to very irritating particles. I used an N95 mask but still this stuff is worse than cutting metal or wood. I am planning on making a DIY tine little vacuum that is not as noisy as the regular shop-vacs in the market (even the smaller ones) or repurposing one of those small hanheld cleaners that are used for vehicles or pet hair. Did you ever consider doing anything about that?
Thank you for the encyclopedic videos
Why would a PCB board use 4 multiple layers of grounds any reasons? It takes 280 C on my hot air gun to lift up SMD chips and use a SMTmax853 pre-warmer under the PCB board to warm the PCB board in order to lift up the SMD chips.
When you use the nibbler tool does it leave small cut squares of copper clad that can be used as glue on islands/pads for other projects? just a thought as Ive never used a nibbler.
Phil
The nibbler creates very small rectangles, probably a bit too small to use for islands/pads. Each "bite" the" the nibbler takes is less than1/16" of an inch.
*****
Dam though it might be an easy quick way of cutting pads without much waste like the small circular hole drill creates, never mind.
Phil Kashmirkaraoke A hole-punch designed for sheet metal does a nice job. I use this one:
www.amazon.com/Neiko-Power-Punch-Sheet-Metal/dp/B0002T87CW/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1421245425&sr=8-3&keywords=metal+hole+punch
*****
Cheers that looks nice, I managed to kill a leather hole punch very quickly and ended up scoring and breaking strips of little squares due to being very tight and not wanting all the wasted board from cutting circles, at one time you could buy a bag of pre cut square pads quite cheap but I have not seen them for a long time here in the UK? I wonder how long it will take for somebody to post a link up saying "here they are still available"?
Phil
@@M6MRP 4 years! QRP Club sell QRPMe squares.
Where can I buy the clippers and the holding device (circular metal casted base)?
The small vice problem -- I got around that with two steel rulers.
I just use a little porxxon table saw ks230, just because its easy and I also use the material to make casings out of it by soldering them together, with a table saw you get perfect edges and square edges
Same here.
Excellent. Thanks!
Thanks for vid. Is it true Circuit boards contain lead. Contact with the dust or skin should be limited.
Bare copper clad circuit boards like these to not contain lead. It is only the solder used on assembled circuit boards that may contain lead.
I was wondering about converting an old TV into a basic audio oscilloscope to reclaim so utility of a set or two in the garage. I looked on youtube and there are several sappy videos playing music with no narration. I thought you may have some interest in this for one of your well done videos.
The scope should have some rudimentary stable trigger system and need not be specific on calibration. Perhaps other Hams could find utility as a basic audio scope, transmit or RTTY monitor or as a basic tool for audio projects. Most hams probably have or have access to old TV sets ad this would be a fun project.
There are some links under google as well.
73,
Glenn WA4AOS
I've never really had in interest in doing a conversion like this. Aside from the differences in deflection, there's the other issue that in most TVs the HV supply for the CRT is usually derived from the horizontal oscillator, so you generally have little opportunity to change that. I know that I lot of people have done it, but in my opinion would only make for a conversation piece rather than something useful.
nice very informative
If I had seen this video 7 years ago, my dovetail saw might still have some teeth left
what about using glass cutter ?
How do you cut just the copper to get square Islands on the PCB?
A hobby knife (eXacto knife) or rotary tool (Dremel) with small grinding bit or cutoff wheel.
Aviation snip is best since the long blades produce less bending.
Utica makes a special circuit board pliers. UTICA 470-5 PRINTED CIRCUIT PLIERS
Cool, never saw those before.
How about a diamond tip glass cutter (ebay)? will it work ?
Rotary diamond glass cutter is dangerous since glass fibers are release into the air Lung cancer may result.
Gehan Sanjeewa Silicosis is more likely
Tin Snips! thanks man, i found this to be the best solution. You can find these with longer strighter blades like oversized sisors.The cut is clean and quick, unlike saws, or using blades to score and snap the boards. thanks again.
A wet tile saw works great!
Don't spoil your nice wooden jaws :( Sandwich the pcb with some scrap aluminium angle lengths either side, and draw the blade along those!
Good tip!
Good job !
+Elecnut I bought the cheapest board to exercise solder. ali.pub/ui41n
What is wrong with using a sliding mitre saw with a thin disk.?
73
Aren't these boards made of fiberglass? If so, rubbing the edges with your fingers after cutting them in half is a bad idea because of the fine fiberglass particles that will then stick in your fingers possibly make their way into your lungs and eyes later on
Thanks again Alan
Cut the boards the same way that you cut sheetrock.Score one side then snap it, while folded cut the inside with your knife.
lol so basically the answer is "Anything. Just use anything to cut circuit boards"
How to make a circle?
Compass scoring? Or one of those circular drill bit addons perhaps.
thanks! very helpful.
thanks for sharing
thank you
Hello
when you use the tooth blade machine , that's very dangerous because the fiber material is very small and you should sniff all this particles .
what do you think am I sure ?
*Set* of nibblers, eh? *Pair*?? Gaggle??? I've always just called it "a nibbler" :-) But...cute - set...
I'd just suggest you make it even more clear that in addition to cutting the board material's epoxy plastic that you are literally cutting glass mat, and that doing so will VERY quickly dull either blades or drill bits.
Dust mask with a saw. Not a good idea to breath the dust.
🎯
what kind of education do I need to learn this kind of stuff?
Mainly years of practical experience
@@w2aew where does one start?
@@GhamPlays Everyone's path is different. For me, it started as a summer job working in a TV repair shop in the late 1970s, followed by getting my EE degree in 1985, then working as an engineer since then, as well as being involved in electronics as a hobby along with ham radio for most of my life.
this. AvE this is how youtube video's should be. none of that overacted bullshit.
Thank you.
Score!
Do you people who worry about dust put your nose about 10 mm away from the cut ? Then breathe in as hard as you can ? Stop worrying about what might happen and enjoy life . ☠️
Desktop Metal Shear works better:
www.micromark.com/mini-metal-shear-and-brake,9645.html
Oh yes - perfect! I used a similar shear at a past job, great for cutting circuit boards.
I still prefer using PCB Guillotine shears a company which I have found that specialise in manufacturing high quality low cost shears are a UK based company called Fortex www.fortex.co.uk.
+Mick Wood Is that a joke? Cheapest guillotine is £250. You'd have to be cutting pcbs all day long to justify that expense.
Boobie prize for anyone who can count how many times this guy says "UH" in the video. VERY distracting.
Yeah, sorry about that. Hopefully I’ve cleaned up these bad habits in the 5 years since I did this video.
Great, thanks!
What if you mounted two straight edges in the vice and then follow them while cutting, that will also prevent marking if the vise jaws is not smooth.
Thank you.
Thank you.
Thank you.