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Components and Circuits For discussions about component types, alternatives and availability, circuit configurations and modifications etc. Discussions here should be of a general nature and not about specific sets. |
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20th Jul 2017, 10:34 am | #1 |
Heptode
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Yarm, North Yorkshire, UK.
Posts: 535
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Cutting Veroboard
I have searched the various areas of the forum and I cannot find any definitive answer.
How do members cut Veroboard (or even PCB material) to the required size? What is your preferred method and how successful/clean is the cut? Interested to hear about various methods. Colin Last edited by camallison; 20th Jul 2017 at 10:35 am. Reason: Spolling! |
20th Jul 2017, 10:43 am | #2 |
Dekatron
Join Date: Jun 2016
Location: London, UK.
Posts: 3,687
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Re: Cutting Veroboard
I use a metal ruler and a stanley knife. If it's veroboard, you score about half way through and it snaps neatly. If it's FR4 you have to give it a few cuts and then you can snap it. Comes up quite clean and you can finish it off with a file if you need to.
If I'm cutting pads out for manhattan construction, I'll cut strips off using the above method and then snip them up with some aviation shears when I need a length. |
20th Jul 2017, 10:56 am | #3 |
Octode
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Southport, Merseyside, UK.
Posts: 1,156
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Re: Cutting Veroboard
I also use a stanley knife and steel rule for straight lengths, for small pieces from a larger sheet it's a junior hacksaw, I cut through the holes and file flat, not really necessary but I still do it.
John |
20th Jul 2017, 11:39 am | #4 |
Moderator
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Location: Oxford, UK
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Re: Cutting Veroboard
Junior hacksaw here.
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20th Jul 2017, 12:13 pm | #5 |
Heptode
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Yarm, North Yorkshire, UK.
Posts: 535
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Re: Cutting Veroboard
Thank you all. I currently use the knife and steel rule method but occasionally slip and wobble off the line.
Colin |
20th Jul 2017, 1:29 pm | #6 |
Hexode
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: Rustington, West Sussex, UK.
Posts: 384
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Re: Cutting Veroboard
Bench shears, FR4, Vero and paxolin all cut clean. For a very good job I reset the blade gap to the required thickness setting.
Bob.
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20th Jul 2017, 2:09 pm | #7 |
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Re: Cutting Veroboard
For Veroboard I use nothing more than a junior hacksaw, then tidy up the rough edges with a small flat file.
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20th Jul 2017, 9:43 pm | #8 |
Heptode
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: Lincoln, Lincolnshire, UK.
Posts: 583
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Re: Cutting Veroboard
For Veroboard I score down the line of holes on both sides with a craft (or Stanley) knife then snap the board. A fairly light score is all that is generally needed. I then clean up all the edges with a smooth file, taking particular care to remove any flash on the ends of the copper tracks.
It gives a very tidy result. For copper clad board I use a junior hacksaw, then finish with the smooth file. |
20th Jul 2017, 10:25 pm | #9 |
Dekatron
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Oxford, UK.
Posts: 4,993
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Re: Cutting Veroboard
Bandsaw. But only because one of my (too many) hobbies is amateur cabinet making.
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20th Jul 2017, 10:34 pm | #10 |
Dekatron
Join Date: May 2008
Location: Derby, UK.
Posts: 7,735
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Re: Cutting Veroboard
I cut it through the holes and file away the excess, rather than risk undercutting by scoring and breaking it between tracks.
If I had a bandsaw, I'd most definitely use that; but it's hardly worth getting one just for cutting a piece of breadboard.
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20th Jul 2017, 11:06 pm | #11 |
Dekatron
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Oxfordshire, UK.
Posts: 4,935
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Re: Cutting Veroboard
Piercing saw.
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21st Jul 2017, 10:25 am | #12 |
Dekatron
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Leominster, Herefordshire, UK.
Posts: 16,536
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Re: Cutting Veroboard
Boggo Veroboard or matrix board I just nick the end of the appropriate row of holes with side cutters and manually break along the row. With a bit of care you can break out rectangular pieces from a larger board without the need to cut right across.
FR4 style- hacksaw or Dremel. Tidying up is optional- makes no difference to function!
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21st Jul 2017, 10:32 am | #13 |
Dekatron
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Wiltshire, UK.
Posts: 14,007
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Re: Cutting Veroboard
I do the score-both-sides-along-the-holes-then-snap-it technique. For large pieces I like to clamp it in a vice with the score-line tight along the jaws before snapping it: that way you can apply more-uniform bending than when holding one side of the scoreline in each hand.
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21st Jul 2017, 10:33 am | #14 |
Heptode
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Gosport, Hampshire, UK.
Posts: 606
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Re: Cutting Veroboard
Hacksaw and file here. Can't bear to see the half holes round the edge. Always have to get the corners square too - don't know whether that's OCD or training when I was 16
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21st Jul 2017, 10:58 am | #15 | |
Dekatron
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Location: Kington, Herefordshire, UK.
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Re: Cutting Veroboard
Quote:
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21st Jul 2017, 11:29 am | #16 |
Heptode
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Yarm, North Yorkshire, UK.
Posts: 535
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Re: Cutting Veroboard
Thank you all again. This weekend, I am going to try each method (except bench shear) on some scraps and see which one suits me best. My badly arthritic hands don't help!
Colin |
21st Jul 2017, 12:04 pm | #17 |
Rest in Peace
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Chard, South Somerset, UK.
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Re: Cutting Veroboard
Veroboard: I use a vice, hacksaw and file.
FR4: as above, but I use a ruler plus a try-square first, plus fine ink-based marker pen. Al. |
21st Jul 2017, 5:23 pm | #18 |
Heptode
Join Date: May 2015
Location: Bradford, West Yorkshire, UK.
Posts: 512
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Re: Cutting Veroboard
I use a 5" 1mm thick metal cutting disc mounted in a grinder, a bit over the top, but I use the same method for cutting DS copper clad fibreglass board as we..
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21st Jul 2017, 5:37 pm | #19 |
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Re: Cutting Veroboard
Snip and snap for me with a clean up on the linisher (bench mount upside down belt sander).
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21st Jul 2017, 6:50 pm | #20 |
Nonode
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Dukinfield, Cheshire, UK.
Posts: 2,038
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Re: Cutting Veroboard
Same as many above. For Vero and paxolin, deeply score it with a sharp Stanley and a steel rule and then snap it on an edge. Works best if I score both sides. For fibreglass types, a hack saw and file to clear up.
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