Zippy Robotics has unveiled a new automated circuit board printing machine called the Prometheus that is capable of quickly carving, drilling and shaping your PCB directly from your desktop.
Enabling makers and developers to create fully working circuit boards in just minutes from an early bird price of $1,899. Watch the video below to learn more about how Prometheus works by carving through the copper layer of a standard copper-clad board (FR-4 or FR-1).
The Prometheus project is currently over on the Kickstarter crowd funding website looking to raise $95,000 in pledges to make the jump from concept to production. Its creators explain a little more :
The most unique mechanical part of Prometheus is the custom-designed spindle. This spindle’s incredible specs set it apart – 45,000 RPM and a static Total Indicated Runout (TIR) of less than 2.5 microns (.0001 inches), measured 10 mm below the spindle bearing. TIR is important because it determines the minimum bit diameter we can run. Too much runout (wobble) and a micro end mill will just snap instead of milling copper as intended.
Prometheus can reliably run bits as small as .007 inches in diameter, so you can use – with few exceptions – any surface mount components in your designs – not just “giant” SOIC packages. This is a major differentiator with what’s available in our price class today. Our specs bring Prometheus close to the level of the other “professional grade” machines out there that cost more than $8,000 (and in some ways, Prometheus even surpasses them).
So if you think Prometheus is something you could benefit from, visit the Kickstarter website now to make a pledge and help Prometheus become a reality.
Source: Kickstarter
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