Successful PCB Milling Experiment

I’ve been learning electronics on and off in the past couple of years and finally decided to try milling a PCB on the Taig CNC Mill.

“Hand” drawn PCB in Rhino with toolpaths done in MadCam.

Milling with a .020” carbide end mill.

Another shot.

Very clean, no burrs.

Holes drilled with a #59 carbide circuit board drill.

Soldered up and working. It’s an Attiny84 microprocessor driving an RGB LED with PWM so I can get a lovely mix of colors. The headers on either side of the chip are for reprogramming and additional utility. I'm using an Arduino to program the Attiny84.

Bill Marvel’s Spindle Lock

Bill Marvel says, "Over the years I occasionally have seen the need for some sort of spindle lock.  I have seen several ideas but they were far more complicated than I needed.  Cutting threads with a Taig die holder in the tailstock is one of those times, especially if you are threading a hard alloy.  I don't seem to have quite enough hands to hold the pulley (or spindle wrench), put some positive pressure on the work and turn the die holder with a tommy bar. So, I took a length of 1/2" square aluminum rod and drilled some mounting holes for the headstock.  I centered a cross hole and tapped it for 10-32.  I drilled a hole in one of my steel spindle wrenches.  It ain't pretty but it is very functional.  Easy to mount, remove and store.

Ed Maisey's Compound Slide Modifications

Ed Maisey says, "If you are familiar with the Hardinge HLVs  the mod is a scaled down version of their eccentric top slide locking arrangement. Applying this feature increases the centre line height by .250 above centre, but I believe that problem can be solved by either making two 1/4 in riser blocks (my preference) it will not weaken the stability of the lathe to any extent, or the other alternative would be a drop down tool holder but there would be no opportunity to be able to move the tool bit.”

“The QC is 3/4 scale from an original set on my Drummond "M" type they are manufactured by KRF Omni-Post they work very well, and I had their permission, The Sensitive Knurling tool is in 3/4 scale from full size from Hemingways UK.”

Monty Remon Is Still Working On His Thread Box

Monty says,  "I had a frantic few days on my Thread Box, shifting the pitch input workings from the front to the back, making use of redundant fittings and applying some markings. I think the back plate has had about as much recycling as possible so a new one will be the last job on this project. I am going to put my feet up now."

"I succumbed to temptation and found another quick job on my Thread box, as the pic will show I turned down the large gear boss to accept the coupling system for the 20 - 80 tpi range. That brass pitch input knob is from my plumbing box again, just a step down adapter with a nylon insert."

“Just a small modification to the clutch thingy, I have gone from a radial grub screw to an axial one, the 90 deg. edge is better than the radius.”

Derrick Kortvejesi’s Taig Lathe Indicator Holder

“Taig Lathe indicator holder cobbled together from a few homemade pieces and some pieces from a magnetic base mount.”
“Turned this from a piece of key stock.”

Guy Zattau’s Limit Switches Update

“Found my info on limit switches while searching Taig cnc mill on Google. Here is the rest of the story. I just got the switches working and guess what?, they didn't always work reliable. So here is the fix and pics. A piece of brass .350"x.092" filed to a triangular shape, long enough to cut six .170" wide pieces. The top of the micro switch actuating lever and bottom of the brass piece are mildly scraped to make for better adhesion. Clean surfaces and use crazy glue to adhere the piece to the switch. Use a needle to apply a very small amount then once it is stuck add a small amount if there are any visible voids. I  tugged on them and it looks like they are strong. The ramps on the trigger pieces also have to be filed to about 60 degrees and may have to be adjusted for position.”

Wayne Mitzen’s Modified 3 Jaw Chuck Jaws.

Wayne Mitzen needed to turn down the head of a bolt, "I reversed the soft jaws and milled a slot  about 200 mil deep to clear the head and allow some room for re-truing the end of the jaws... actually will hold up to a 1/2" bolt. "

Peter Zicha’s Latest On The Taig Twins

“I have changed up my lathe benches to show the two Taig CNC twins right along side the manual electric Taig that has also been renovated .”