Aric,
        Your three-legged stool is a little tilted. High quality and
reliable are not normally said in the same sentence as low to mid
priced. If you're serious about getting a good precision press, check
out http://www.circuitnet.com/catalog/3977030.htm, this is a press from
Circuit Technology Corporation made by Servo. It'll set you back about
$1800, but is what you really need for this type of work. If your boss
chokes on the price, ask him how many damaged boards will equal the cost
if you mess them up trying to do them with a hand tool. You may find it
at a better price from http://www.cal-metrics.com, but I haven't dealt
with them before. The model you want is the one with the 17" reach
throat.

Mike McMonagle
PCA Process Engineering Supervisor
K*Tec Electronics
1111 Gillingham Lane
Sugar Land, TX  77478
(281) 243-5639 Phone
(281) 243-5539 Fax
[log in to unmask]

> -----Original Message-----
> From: Aric Anderson [SMTP:[log in to unmask]]
> Sent: Friday, June 25, 1999 9:37 AM
> To:   [log in to unmask]
> Subject:      [TN] High Precision Drill Press
>
> Good Friday to all you TechNetters,
>
> I am in need of a precision drill press for making disconnects on our
> boards.  High quality, low-mid priced and reliable are the criteria I
> am
> looking for.
>
> Please let me know of any you might have seen or currently own.
>
> Also, I would like to get a poll quickly of a simple disconnect
> procedure.  What size drill bit do you use compared to the width of
> the
> trace and how do you determine minimum electrical spacing, I seem to
> have much disagreement on these and IPC-7721 is very vague.
>
>
> Thank You All