Yes, I know, I am Spartacus — put away the torches. The project’s technical specs reveal that it is not a 3D printer and it doesn’t print anything; rather, it aligns more with a CNC drill. But its creator, Timo Birnschein admits to being heavily inspired by 3D printers, to the point that it could be mistaken for a variant of the RepRap printers. The two good pieces of news are that it costs less than 200 dollars (not including the drill) and boasts impressive precision. The bad news? It’s not a kit, and building it presents several challenges...
The Traditional DIY Method
One of the most economical ways to create printed circuit boards at home involves an iron, magazine paper, and a little acid. Although this works wonderfully for an occasional build, anyone looking to ramp up production will need other options, because dealing with acid and making all the holes manually becomes tedious in record time. In several regions, electronics enthusiasts no longer even fabricate their own PCBs; they order them online with a fairly reasonable price-volume ratio. But the DIY path is broad and adapts to almost any barrier.
A Precision CNC Platform
Timo Birnschein decided to eliminate the iron-paper-acid-holes combo altogether, and the result is a high-precision CNC platform with an integrated drill. The most positive aspect of this design is its cost. While DIY projects can sometimes bust budgets, Birnschein managed to shape his CNC platform for less than 200 dollars (excluding the drill and its main accessories).
The official page has the entire list of parts, material suggestions (it’s recommended to use the best quality plywood you can find), a tip to use a laser cutter (not mandatory, but it adds a lot of convenience), and the entire software side, which is free and open access.
Not for Beginners
Even with all the documentation in your favor, this CNC platform for making circuits isn’t meant for novices. It requires Arduino knowledge, a lot of patience during calibration, and a quality drill. Birnschein advises against using a Dremel because its chucks lack sufficient precision. However, if you reach the finish line, you’ll be rewarded with very clean circuits, drilled to perfection, and without touching chemicals.
