Bantam PCB
From mills to lathes to industrial grinders and more, there are many types of CNC machines each with their own unique capabilities. The Fabrication Studio offers 2 types of CNC machines; a Bantam Printed Circuit Board (PCB) cutter, and a Carvey 3 axis router.
The Bantam PCB cutter is a small 3 axis mill specifically designed to cut traces on single sided or double sided copper coated circuit boards.
Availability
The Bantam PCB is available by reservation to certified faculty, students, and staff for academic, research, and personal project use. The Bantam is a desktop CNC and is not intended for volume production.
Understanding the Technology
What is CNC: Computer Numeric Control (CNC) machining is a manufacturing process in which pre-programmed computer software dictates the movement of factory tools and machinery such as lathes to mills and routers.
CNC Materials: Pre-cut flat wood and plastic stock and PCB board
CNC Benefits: CNC is used by many industries as it offers a high level of automation, greater accuracy and repeatability over the manual machining processes.
CNC Disadvantages: CNC programming requires an understanding of the manual machining process creating a higher barrier to entry than other manufacturing processes such as 3D printing.
Bantam PCB Specifications:
- Working Volume - 5.5 × 4.5 × 1.35 in / 140 × 114 × 34.3 mm
- Max XYZ Traverse Speed - 100 in/min / 2,600 mm/min
- Spindle Speed - 8,500 - 26,000 rpm
- Accuracy - <0.003’’ per 6’’ linear travel
- Repeatability - ± 0.001"
- PCB Cut Speed - Up to 100 in/min / 2,600 mm/min
- File Input - EAGLE BRD (.brd) / Gerber RS-274X (.gtl and .grb) G-code (.nc and .tap) SVG (.svg)
- Materials - FR-1 Printed Circuit Board (PCB) Blanks
Learn How to use the Bantam PCB mill
To learn how to design for, and safely operate, and earn your operator certification see our Teaching and Certification page: http://www.dc.umich.edu/fs-certification.
To go beyond our basic certification training requirements additional learning materials are available at the Ground Connection Knowledge Base: https://sites.google.com/umich.edu/groundconnections.
Reserve a Desktop CNC Mill
The Desktop CNC mills are available by reservation only. To reserve a CNC mill assure a time slot is open on the Reservation Calendar and reserve your spot via the Reservation Request Form. We will respond with confirmation as soon as possible.
Reserving equipment at the FS is a 3 step process:
- Earn the appropriate Equipment Certification; see our Teaching and Certification page
- Check the equipment schedule on the Resource Calendar
- Reserve time using the Reservation Request Form