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Bantam PCB Mill

Status: technically works. Needs vacuum adapter designed+printed

Make sure you've installed and set up the software: Bantam Software

  1. Clean any dust left in mill previously with vacuum

  2. Power on with switch on back right side of machine

  3. Ensure emergency stop button is not pressed

    1. Rotate red button on right of machine clockwise

  4. Plug computer into machine via the mill’s rear USB port

  5. If software prompts for homing procedure, let it do that, it should take roughly 10-20 seconds

  6. Software should guide you through the remaining steps from this point

WARNING! THERE ARE SOME STEPS THE SOFTWARE DOES NOT GUIDE YOU THROUGH, SEE BOLDED STEPS

Material Setup

  1. Install tool

    1. Select install tool

    2. Select tool you wish to install

    3. For tool installation, you need two wrenches, they are on the top of machine

      1. Do not use these they are awful just grab two adjustable wrenches and use those

  2. Remove current tool

    1. Put into correct tool holder

  3. Select tool you are installing

  4. Insert into tool collet

    1. Leave an inch exposed after tightening

  5. Put dust fan onto tool just above the point where the tool begins to narrow

  6. Follow software instructions to perform touch off

File Setup

  1. Open file

    1. Formats:

      1. brd

      2. gtl

      3. gbr

      4. cmp

      5. gcode

      6. nc

      7. tap

      8. svg

      9. btm

      10. btp

  2. MILL TRACES THEN MILL HOLES AND OUTLINE

  3. SELECT TOOLS TO USE

  4. For traces the pcb milling .005” works the best and then the 1/32 and 1/64 flat end tools work fine for most other things

  5. For 2 sided PCB’s Mill top traces, then bottom traces, then mill holes and outline

  6. Select “generate gcode”

Plan setup

This is where to make plan offset adjustments if there is a specific spot on the pcb where you want to do the milling

Summary/Run Job

Make sure everything is set up correct in the summary, then select

files to mill and either mill single files or mill them all at once

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