PCB Drill

[Michael Black]

FWIW, I've used a Dremel drill press, and always got good results. A real
Dremel drill press thing is pretty stable, and I don't think they're
anywhere near a hundred bucks.

SOmehow I get the feeling the original poster is just doing some
boards, while many of the replies are talking production level.

I've drilled a lot of boards for my own purposes with just a portable
Black & Decker drill, by hand. It got easier when I bought an
adaptor for the drill, so it acts like a drill press. Less broken
bits.

When I got a "Dremel tool" (actually a Sear's branded rotary tool)
it was even easier doing it by hand, since there was less weight.

If I was making as many boards today as I did at one time, I'd just
wait till the local hardware chain put their cheapest drill press
on sale for $40 (one time even $30) and I'm sure it would be fine
for most sporadic use. Every time those go on sale, I think I
really ought to get one, then realize I don't do much drilling,
of anything, anymore and it's just a big thing to get home no matter
what the price.

Michael

 

[Ross Herbert]

I've been drilling PCBs for years with a regular handheld electric
drill and non-carbide bits. I've had surprisingly good results and
broke very few bits. But holding that drill does get old after about
100 holes.

I'm looking for an alternative solution to this. A drill press at
www.micromark.com looks decent for 150-200 USD. How about a Dremel?
This seems like an ideal solution, but I've been reading a lot about
the Dremel drill press stands that aren't precise enough (too much
wobble for carbide bits). Ebay has a lot of super-cheap small drill
presses, but the price makes me think they're junk.

What does everyone do, besides pay a PCB house?

The drill (MD-1) I use is made by Sakai Machine Tools in Japan
http://www.toyoview.co.jp/sakai/mainmach.htm

Unfortunately the page is in Japanese but some details in English are
given here
http://kalex.net.au/index.php?module=Website&action=Text&content=1098582835453-8053

It may not be as "low cost" as you are after but it is probably the
lowest standard required for small run DIY pcb manufacture. I was
lucky and bought mine at an auction.