[msg]

Tim Shoppa wrote:

snip
Or, drill holes for all leads, and then use a small milling machine
cutter or just a larger drill bit to remove the copper where you don't
need it.

Indeed, this is what the Stahler mini-mill bits do; they create an instant
pad wherever it is needed. Stahler may no longer be in business, but
perhaps there are other pcb fab mini-mill bits out there. If not, a
good machine shop should be able to create a few for commonly used
pad sizes, and they will be forever useful (to justify the expense).

Michael

[Michael Black[_2_]]

On Fri, 11 Jul 2008, msg wrote:

Tim Shoppa wrote:

snip
Or, drill holes for all leads, and then use a small milling machine
cutter or just a larger drill bit to remove the copper where you don't
need it.

Indeed, this is what the Stahler mini-mill bits do; they create an instant
pad wherever it is needed. Stahler may no longer be in business, but
perhaps there are other pcb fab mini-mill bits out there. If not, a
good machine shop should be able to create a few for commonly used
pad sizes, and they will be forever useful (to justify the expense).

There was something about making one, I'm pretty sure in "Ham Radio",
sometime before 1974 (I can't figure out which article it was from
an accumulated index). I can't remember whether it was a homemade
version of the Stahler tool, or if Stahler came after to provide a
commercial version.

I can't remember the details (and I don't feel like digging through
the magazines to find the article now), but it wasn't much more than a
piece of good steel tubing.

Michael VE2BVW

[Mike Lucas]

There was something about making one, I'm pretty sure in "Ham Radio",
sometime before 1974 (I can't figure out which article it was from
an accumulated index). I can't remember whether it was a homemade
version of the Stahler tool, or if Stahler came after to provide a
commercial version.

I can't remember the details (and I don't feel like digging through
the magazines to find the article now), but it wasn't much more than a
piece of good steel tubing.

Michael VE2BVW


This may be too late to help the original poster, but the pad-cutter is
still available from a couple of sources. The price is WAY out of line, in
my hobby-like mentality.
http://www.vectorelect.com/Catpdf/Page%2071.pdf

The above shows the sizes and styles currently produced. A Goggle
search on "pad cutter" or "Vector pad cutter" will turn up some
commercial sources (Digikey, etc.), but prices are in the $70-80
range.

A link below shows a neat, homemade version of the same idea.
www.njqrp.org/islanderpadcutter/index.html . While I haven't made
one using these instructions, it appears to be workable.

My employer may purchase one of the Vector P138 cutters, just in
case I have to fab up something in the tool and die shop where I
hang out sometimes. Of course, I could build one, but.... as long as it's
other people's money, why not buy!

Mike W5CHR
Memphis

[Highland Ham]

A link below shows a neat, homemade version of the same idea.
www.njqrp.org/islanderpadcutter/index.html . While I haven't made
one using these instructions, it appears to be workable.
=========================
A few years ago I bought a few islander-padcutters through the G-QRP
Club. Excellent for homebrewing with discrete components .
The circular ring removed from the copper clad board is less than 1 mm
wide ,so maximum copper clad area remains ensuring a good ground plane .
Each island can take up 3 component leads
All grounded components are upright soldered into drilled holes , with
the other lead to serve as connecting point for other components.
As an alternative to islands I fit 10 MegOhm resistors upright used as
'insulators' in non-high impedence circuits.

The islands combined with above alternative methods ensure zero to very
short fitted component leads.


Frank GM0CSZ / KN6WH

[Leon]

On 13 Jul, 22:03, Highland Ham
wrote:
* * A link below shows a neat, homemade version of the same idea.
*www.njqrp.org/islanderpadcutter/index.html. While I haven't made
one using these instructions, it appears to be workable.

=========================
A few years ago I bought a few islander-padcutters through the G-QRP
Club. * Excellent for homebrewing with discrete components .
The circular ring removed from the copper clad board is less than *1 mm
wide ,so maximum copper clad area remains ensuring a good ground plane .
Each island can take up 3 component leads
All grounded components are upright soldered into drilled holes , with
the other lead to serve as connecting point for other components.
As an alternative to islands I fit 10 MegOhm resistors upright used as
'insulators' in non-high impedence circuits.

The islands combined with above alternative methods ensure zero to very
short fitted component leads.

Frank * GM0CSZ / KN6WH

Farnell used to sell isolated pad cutters. I've got a couple and they
weren't expensive. They might still stock them.

Leon