PCB drill bits???!!!???

[brokenstarguitar]

Can anyone point me in the direction of what size drill bit to drill pcbs i should look into and possibly where? Thanks guys! Much appreciated!

[CodeMonk]

I use these : http://drillcity.stores.yahoo.net/6203801.html

Keep in mind though, carbide is a bit brittle, but the fiberglass won't dull them as fast as standard steel drill bits.
So you have to be careful when drilling or they break.

That size works for most components.
Pots and wires require a slightly bigger size.

[brokenstarguitar]

Ive read about getting a number 70 bit. if i was going to look at a kit, what sizes would i need all together? For pots, wire, components, ect.

[CodeMonk]

I used to have a chart for that, but can't seem to find it
But I did find some other info for a PCB tutorial I wrote awhile back...
....For component holes: 0.035 - 0.038 (#60 - #65)
....For wire holes: 0.040 - 0.045 (#54 - #56) - I use 22 gauge wire.

[Mark Hammer]

Good recommendations.  Note that some resistors and caps have thinner leads and can likely accept a #70.  That said, the 56-65 range is going to handle the majority of cases.

Because of the brittle nature of carbide bits, you'll want to be sure the chuck is "true" (I.e., does not introduce wobble), since wobble stresses the bits in ways that result in snapping.

[smallbearelec]

Can anyone point me in the direction of what size drill bit to drill pcbs i should look into and possibly where?

Here
http://smallbear-electronics.mybigcommerce.com/twist-drills-cutting-fluid-1/

is pretty much anything you'll need in one place. If you use a Dremel tool and need a small collet:

http://smallbear-electronics.mybigcommerce.com/collets-and-mandrels-1/

Regards
SD

[highwater]

This is a bit off-topic, but does anyone have a recommendation for a drill-press-type mount for a Dremel tool, for drilling PCBs and enclosures?

[bluebunny]

This is a bit off-topic, but does anyone have a recommendation for a drill-press-type mount for a Dremel tool, for drilling PCBs and enclosures?

This is a second-hand "un-recommendation", but I heard that the Dremel drill-stand for their tools is not very good.  Anyone know better?  (Or worse?)  Perhaps I should submit an early New-Year resolution for 2015: I will finally use all that board-etching paraphernalia that I bought ages ago and get around to hand-crafting a PCB (or two).  So I would kinda  like to know the answer to this question too!

[antonis]

paraphernalia

(we even hardly use this word in Greece..)   

[deadastronaut]

This is a bit off-topic, but does anyone have a recommendation for a drill-press-type mount for a Dremel tool, for drilling PCBs and enclosures?

This is a second-hand "un-recommendation", but I heard that the Dremel drill-stand for their tools is not very good.  Anyone know better?  (Or worse?)  Perhaps I should submit an early New-Year resolution for 2015: I will finally use all that board-etching paraphernalia that I bought ages ago and get around to hand-crafting a PCB (or two).  So I would kinda  like to know the answer to this question too!

this is a first hand un-recommendation,  mrs astro bought me a dremel drill press ...i looked at it, never even used it, i sold it straight away...it was naff..

had way to much 'wiggle' 'wobblyness'  for my liking....  so minus 100 for the dremel press imo.


bits 0.7mm-0.8mm done.

[Mark Hammer]

The nice thing about the carbide bits with the plastic collar is that the shank is wide enough to easily fit the vast majority of drill presses.  I realize some folks might not have the room for, or dollars for, an actual drill press (even though decent ones of modest size can be had for what a typical Boss or EHX pedal will cost you), such that they look for ways to use their Dremel.  But a proper drill press, while not the ONLY way to use carbide bits for PCBs, is the preferred way, since the device allows the bit to approach the PCB in "true" fashion.  Not only that, but many drill presses come with laser guidance these days, to help you nudge the board over a bit so that the hold you pop really IS in the middle of the pad.  I highly doubt any Dremel or attechment would provide that sort of convenience and precision.

[davent]

I've got an older model Dremel drillpress that with a bit of strategically placed heatshrink eliminated the play at the end of the carriage travel, works great.

My full size drillpress has a laser crosshairs but the intersection of the beams is so wide that it's an absolutely useless feature, somewhere along this 1/4" lighted line the drillbit will enter. I've only see 90 degree crosshairs on rather expensive drill presses.

Drilling pcb's

[bluebunny]

this is a first hand un-recommendation,  mrs astro bought me a dremel drill press ...i looked at it, never even used it, i sold it straight away...it was naff..

Your first-hand un-recommendation beats my second-hand un-recommendation.  Thanks Rob - will steer clear.

I may just have to build that man-cave I've been thinking about, and spend a few bob on some decent kit, including a proper drill-press.

[Perrow]

I've built my own drill press for my Dremel, I'll post an image of it when I get a chance.

[Mark Hammer]

this is a first hand un-recommendation,  mrs astro bought me a dremel drill press ...i looked at it, never even used it, i sold it straight away...it was naff..

Your first-hand un-recommendation beats my second-hand un-recommendation.  Thanks Rob - will steer clear.

I may just have to build that man-cave I've been thinking about, and spend a few bob on some decent kit, including a proper drill-press.

Naff....my vocabulary expanded today!  But about usage, though: Can one say "Kind/sort of, or rather naff", or is something simply "naff" (as opposed to "brilliant")?

[CodeMonk]

The nice thing about the carbide bits with the plastic collar is that the shank is wide enough to easily fit the vast majority of drill presses.  I realize some folks might not have the room for, or dollars for, an actual drill press (even though decent ones of modest size can be had for what a typical Boss or EHX pedal will cost you), such that they look for ways to use their Dremel.  But a proper drill press, while not the ONLY way to use carbide bits for PCBs, is the preferred way, since the device allows the bit to approach the PCB in "true" fashion.  Not only that, but many drill presses come with laser guidance these days, to help you nudge the board over a bit so that the hold you pop really IS in the middle of the pad.  I highly doubt any Dremel or attechment would provide that sort of convenience and precision.

http://www.harborfreight.com/8-in-bench-mount-drill-press-5-speed-60238.html
I picked up one like that (Same brand and type, but without the gooseneck lamp), off of Craigslist for $40.
I was never used and runs pretty true.

Also got one of these: http://www.harborfreight.com/2-3-4-quarter-inch-articulated-vacuum-vise-3311.html
I removed the base, and mounted it to a flat piece of MDF.
The jaws also have a nice grove in them that works great for keeping a PCB flat.

And Harbor Freight is always having sales.

[R.G.]

Carbide is brittle. #70 bits are tiny. A wobble of a few 1/1000 of an inch will break them.

If you do much of this, a stock, not-specially tweaked Dremel drill press will snap them very quickly.

If you do much of this, get a jeweler's drill press, which is much more sturdy and accurate, as well as letting you spin the bit at several thousand RPM, which is necessary for such tiny bits to cut properly.

High speed steel (HSS) bits will be unusable after drilling about 80-100 holes in glass-epoxy.

[davent]

For general hacking around with the Dremel i usually use an adjustable chuck, for carbide bits in the Dremel drill press i switch back to the collet chuck which gives me a much truer rotation.

[JFace]

I use a 1.0 mm bit and a dremel drill press for most components and wires. I use 1.6mm bit for pcb pots/switch lugs. Both of these sizes hold up well. The bits never break...they just become dull after extended use and then I replace them. The drill press may not be perfect, but it is "good enough", and with a good etch and a steady hand, the holes are drilled straight and clean. If you have a dremel already, I wouldn't hesitate to buy the drill press. I've made approximately 50 boards without about 50 holes each with no problems. I also have an 8" drill press that I don't feel the need to use for PCBs. The standard drill press is very nice for enclosures.

[davent]

My regular drillpress has more runout then the Dremel and it's not at all happy running endlessly drilling pcbs. The Dremel just keeps on going and going and at speeds better suited to the tiny bits used. Using mostly a #71 with the occasional #65.