You can mill prototype PCBs on an Ant-derived desktop CNC, but the available build report does not establish a standard setup, guaranteed trace width, or repeatable feeds and speeds for every machine called The Ant. Single-sided boards are the simpler starting point. Double-sided boards add a registration problem: after flipping the blank, its position must be repeatable, and unplated vias need a separate electrical connection.
What is documented about The Ant
“The Ant” does not refer to a single verified specification in the available documentation. Ross-RDP describes an individual redesign for 2020 T-slot: a CoreXY layout with two NEMA11 motors for X/Y, a NEMA8 motor and leadscrew for Z, and a drone-motor spindle with an ER8 collet. The builder reports modifying GRBL to control a drone ESC and milling copper-clad PCB material. This is one build account, not a controlled performance test or a specification for all Ant machines. Ross-RDP’s Desktop PCB Mill V1 – 1.1 build report also describes recurring collet/pulley retention problems and confusing spindle-RPM mapping.
The report mentions an engraving setup around 250 mm/min and around 8,000 rpm, but those are settings from that builder’s account, not validated general settings for an Ant. The source does not establish a reproducible single-sided setup, a guaranteed trace limit, board size, or reliable operating settings. Check the exact machine, spindle control, cutter, and stock rather than treating those figures as a recipe.
Mill a single-sided PCB
A single-sided board has copper on one face, so it avoids the alignment step required when milling both faces. The general process is to remove copper around pads and traces, then drill holes and cut the board outline with a suitable tool. Ross-RDP’s account supports that copper-clad material was milled on its Ant-derived build; it does not document a tested end-to-end setup that can be applied to other machines.
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Prepare the blank and cutters
Flat, securely held stock matters: uneven stock height can change how deeply a cutter engages. As adjacent guidance—not verified Ant compatibility—Bantam Tools recommends an FR-1 blank held flat with broad, even coverage of double-sided tape, without overlaps or wrinkles. Its documentation describes 0.003-inch or 0.005-inch PCB engraving bits for isolating traces and pads, and a 1/32-inch flat end mill commonly used for holes and the outline. Treat these as candidate cutter categories to verify against your machine and toolpath, not as required Ant tooling. Bantam Tools’ FR-1 and workholding guidance
Check the design against the cutter
The cutter must fit through the copper-free space between traces, pads, and nearby features. A smaller cutter can reach narrower clearances but generally takes longer; a larger cutter removes material faster where the layout permits. Bantam Tools suggests a 6 mil trace width for its own Desktop PCB Milling Machine and notes that ground- and power-plane isolation must leave room for the cutter. Neither that recommendation nor the machine’s capabilities establish a 6 mil limit for The Ant. Bantam Tools’ PCB design guidance
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Before cutting, inspect the toolpath preview if your control software provides one, looking for copper areas or clearances the selected tool cannot reach. Verify that the blank is flat and held securely. A preview feature or warning in Bantam’s software is not evidence that The Ant’s control software has the same function.
Mill a double-sided PCB
Double-sided milling uses copper on both faces. The difficult part is not simply repeating the milling operation: the board must return to a known position after it is flipped so the second face lines up with the first. Bantam Tools documents a workflow that mills the top traces, flips the board against the other side of an alignment bracket, then mills the bottom traces, holes, and outline. The transferable principle is to use a repeatable registration datum; the bracket and software controls described by Bantam are machine-specific and are not documented as Ant features. Bantam Tools’ double-sided PCB workflow
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Plan registration before cutting
Choose how the blank will be located on both passes before starting. With Bantam’s described procedure, the board is flipped and registered against the opposite side of its bracket; the instructions emphasize clean contact and avoiding debris or tape caught at the edge. For an Ant-style machine, the exact fixture and sequence depend on the build. The essential requirement is that the board seats consistently against the chosen datum each time, without shifting between faces.
Account for unplated vias
Milling copper on both faces does not create plated through-holes. Bantam Tools says its milled boards are bare and describes connecting a via by threading wire through the hole and soldering it on both sides, or by using via eyelets. If hand assembly time matters, reduce the number of vias where the circuit design allows. Bantam’s double-sided instructions and design guidance cover these approaches.
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Decide whether milling fits your board
For a prototype, the useful decision points are whether the machine can repeatedly hold registration, whether the cutter can clear the layout’s feature spacing, and whether manual via connections are acceptable. The available sources do not provide controlled measurements for these factors across Ant variants, so they cannot establish a universal accuracy or minimum feature size.
Quick Recap
- Single-sided: a more straightforward first job because there is no flip-and-register operation.
- Double-sided: feasible only with a repeatable way to locate the board after flipping and a plan for electrically connecting unplated vias.
- Either type: tool clearance, flat stock, secure fixturing, and machine-specific setup determine what the cutter can actually produce.
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