Innovative Mini 3-Axis Computer Numerical Control (CNC) Machine for the Fabrication of Printed Circuit Boards (PCBs)

Innovative Mini 3-Axis Computer Numerical Control (CNC) Machine for the Fabrication of Printed Circuit Boards (PCBs) | Research Square window.SnipcartSettings = { analytics: { enabled: false } }; (function() { var accessVector = localStorage.getItem('access_vector') || ''; window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; if (accessVector) { window.dataLayer.push({ user: { profile: { profileInfo: { snid: accessVector } } } }); } })(); (function(w,d,s,l,i){w[l]=w[l]||[];w[l].push({'gtm.start':new Date().getTime(),event:'gtm.js'});var f=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0],j=d.createElement(s),dl=l!='dataLayer'?'&l='+l:'';j.async=true;j.src='https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtm.js?id='+i+dl;f.parentNode.insertBefore(j,f);})(window,document,'script','dataLayer','GTM-K279D39R'); Browse Preprints In Review Journals COVID-19 Preprints AJE Video Bytes Research Tools Research Promotion AJE Professional Editing AJE Rubriq About Preprint Platform In Review Editorial Policies Our Team Advisory Board Help Center Sign In Submit a Preprint Cite Share Download PDF Research Article Innovative Mini 3-Axis Computer Numerical Control (CNC) Machine for the Fabrication of Printed Circuit Boards (PCBs) Mohammed Suraj, Ruhiya Abubakar, Gabriel Gidisu Blankson This is a preprint; it has not been peer reviewed by a journal. https://doi.org/ 10.21203/rs.3.rs-4889112/v1 This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License Status: Posted Version 1 posted You are reading this latest preprint version Abstract In the manufacturing industry of Printed Circuit Boards ( PCBs), the quality and reliability of circuits are highly dependent on the accuracy of the manufacturing processes. Etching is the most sensitive process needed in manufacturing processes and needs more accuracy. In cases of etching inaccuracies, severe problems may occur, leading to the degradation of circuit performance and the malfunction of circuits. In this work, all the effects of inaccuracies in etching during the manufacturing process and the causes of malfunction in PCB circuits are investigated and resolved via a Computer Numerical Control (CNC) device. The mechanics behind a PCB milling machine design and construction have been investigated to identify the roots and fundamental techniques in CNC milling technology. To advance innovation in this project, the machine control and command processes as well as the positioning information were forwarded from the controlling software via a serial port connection directly to the milling machine's on-board controller, which in turn controlled the motion and continuous monitoring of the various components that moved the milling head and controlled the spindle speed at speeds ranging from 30,000 to 100,000 RMP. Typically, this drive system comprises nonmonitored stepper motors for X-Y, an on-off nonmonitored solenoid, a pneumatic piston or lead screw for the Z-axis, and a DC motor control circuit for spindle speed, none of which provide positional feedback. This study incorporated both milling and laser etching capabilities into a single CNC machine for PCB milling. Electronic Materials and Devices Computer Numerical Control Fabrication Milling Electric Motors STEM Full Text Additional Declarations The authors declare no competing interests. Cite Share Download PDF Status: Posted Version 1 posted You are reading this latest preprint version Research Square lets you share your work early, gain feedback from the community, and start making changes to your manuscript prior to peer review in a journal. As a division of Research Square Company, we’re committed to making research communication faster, fairer, and more useful. We do this by developing innovative software and high quality services for the global research community. Our growing team is made up of researchers and industry professionals working together to solve the most critical problems facing scientific publishing. Also discoverable on Platform About Our Team In Review Editorial Policies Advisory Board Help Center Resources Author Services Accessibility API Access RSS feed Manage Cookie Preferences © Research Square 2026 | ISSN 2693-5015 (online) Privacy Policy Terms of Service Do Not Sell My Personal Information {"props":{"pageProps":{"initialData":{"identity":"rs-4889112","acceptedTermsAndConditions":true,"allowDirectSubmit":true,"archivedVersions":[],"articleType":"Research Article","associatedPublications":[],"authors":[{"id":338336689,"identity":"ffa420dc-4225-4931-b43d-ad51219b8770","order_by":0,"name":"Mohammed Suraj","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"Ghana Communicaton Technology University","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Mohammed","middleName":"","lastName":"Suraj","suffix":""},{"id":338336690,"identity":"e91fe9ac-7c91-4749-804c-38c3cb972a1e","order_by":1,"name":"Ruhiya Abubakar","email":"data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAZAAAAAyAQMAAABI0h/eAAAABlBMVEX///8AAABVwtN+AAAACXBIWXMAAA7EAAAOxAGVKw4bAAAA8ElEQVRIiWNgGAWjYFACHgZmBoYEBgb2BqjAAQaQCDFaeA6AVZOiRSKBSC3m7WePSRfUpMmbz3x+8fPHNgY5vhsJzK8L8GiROZOXJj3jWI7hnNs5xRIH2xiMJW8ksFnPwKNFgiHHTJqHrYJxhnROGgNQS+IGoBZjHnxa+N8AtfyrsJ8heQaspZ6wFgmgLbxtOYkzJNiPgbQkGAD98hi/lnfJ1jP70pJn8OQwS5w5J2E488zDNmb8Dss9eLvgW7LtDPbjDz9UlNnI8x1PPvwZnxYkwGMAMgKIGdskiNPBwP4AxmL+QKSWUTAKRsEoGBkAALFkS+kUBWRUAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3978-7598","institution":"Ghana Communication Technology University","correspondingAuthor":true,"prefix":"","firstName":"Ruhiya","middleName":"","lastName":"Abubakar","suffix":""},{"id":338336691,"identity":"e0c59b31-5ba4-42b5-8676-347388f6f360","order_by":2,"name":"Gabriel Gidisu Blankson","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"Ghana Communication Technology University","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Gabriel","middleName":"Gidisu","lastName":"Blankson","suffix":""}],"badges":[],"createdAt":"2024-08-09 21:20:20","currentVersionCode":1,"declarations":{"humanSubjects":false,"vertebrateSubjects":false,"conflictsOfInterestStatement":false,"humanSubjectEthicalGuidelines":false,"humanSubjectConsent":false,"humanSubjectClinicalTrial":false,"humanSubjectCaseReport":false,"vertebrateSubjectEthicalGuidelines":false},"doi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-4889112/v1","doiUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-4889112/v1","draftVersion":[],"editorialEvents":[],"editorialNote":"","failedWorkflow":false,"files":[{"id":62338710,"identity":"efbb08bb-7101-41a6-be17-ee3bf7655a78","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2024-08-13 05:57:35","extension":"pdf","order_by":1,"title":"","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"manuscript-pdf","size":918761,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"","description":"","filename":"INNOVATIVEMINI3AXISCNCMACHINEFORTHEFABRICATIONOFPCBs1.pdf","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-4889112/v1_covered_d66ef3d3-b608-4671-b117-35c407631e7c.pdf"}],"financialInterests":"The authors declare no competing interests.","formattedTitle":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eInnovative Mini 3-Axis Computer Numerical Control (CNC) Machine for the Fabrication of Printed Circuit Boards (PCBs)\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e","fulltext":[],"fulltextSource":"","fullText":"","funders":[],"hasAdminPriorityOnWorkflow":false,"hasManuscriptDocX":false,"hasOptedInToPreprint":true,"hasPassedJournalQc":"","hasAnyPriority":true,"hideJournal":true,"highlight":"","institution":"","isAcceptedByJournal":false,"isAuthorSuppliedPdf":true,"isDeskRejected":"","isHiddenFromSearch":false,"isInQc":false,"isInWorkflow":false,"isPdf":true,"isPdfUpToDate":true,"isWithdrawnOrRetracted":false,"journal":{"display":true,"email":"[email protected]","identity":"researchsquare","isNatureJournal":false,"hasQc":true,"allowDirectSubmit":true,"externalIdentity":"","sideBox":"","snPcode":"","submissionUrl":"/submission","title":"Research Square","twitterHandle":"researchsquare","acdcEnabled":true,"dfaEnabled":false,"editorialSystem":"","reportingPortfolio":"","inReviewEnabled":false,"inReviewRevisionsEnabled":true},"keywords":"Computer Numerical Control, Fabrication, Milling, Electric Motors, STEM","lastPublishedDoi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-4889112/v1","lastPublishedDoiUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-4889112/v1","license":{"name":"CC BY 4.0","url":"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/"},"manuscriptAbstract":"\u003cp\u003eIn the manufacturing industry of Printed Circuit Boards \u003cb\u003e(\u003c/b\u003ePCBs), the quality and reliability of circuits are highly dependent on the accuracy of the manufacturing processes. Etching is the most sensitive process needed in manufacturing processes and needs more accuracy. In cases of etching inaccuracies, severe problems may occur, leading to the degradation of circuit performance and the malfunction of circuits.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eIn this work, all the effects of inaccuracies in etching during the manufacturing process and the causes of malfunction in PCB circuits are investigated and resolved via a Computer Numerical Control (CNC) device. The mechanics behind a PCB milling machine design and construction have been investigated to identify the roots and fundamental techniques in CNC milling technology. 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