Tiny Controls · Own design
TNC-D33 : PCB drilling Controller
Offline PCB drilling controller with a handheld pendant and remote display, importing DRL, ROU and XLN drill files directly with differential pulse/direction outputs.
Overview
The TNC-D33 is an offline controller purpose-built for PCB drilling machines, reading drill files directly rather than needing them converted to G-code first.
It imports DRL, ROU and XLN files — the formats PCB CAD software actually exports — and renders a preview of the drill pattern before the machine runs it, so a mistake shows up on screen rather than in a scrapped board. A handheld pendant with its own remote display handles jogging and setup away from the panel.
Motor outputs are differential step and direction for a stepper or servo drive per axis, with independent maximum velocity and acceleration on each. Four opto-isolated inputs and four open-collector 24 V outputs cover the machine's limits, emergency stop and any relay switching the drilling cycle needs. An inbuilt switch-mode supply runs directly from 220 V AC.
Where the TNC-M33 is the general-purpose three-axis controller in the range, the TNC-D33 is built specifically around the PCB drilling workflow — file import and preview included.
Designed and built by Tiny Controls in India.
Specifications
| Output type | Differential step/direction |
|---|---|
| Opto-isolated inputs | 4 |
| Open collector outputs | 4 24 V relay |
| File import | DRL, ROU, XLN |
Questions
Do I have to convert my Gerber/drill files to G-code before running them on this?
No — it reads DRL, ROU and XLN drill files directly, the formats PCB CAD software actually exports, without needing them converted first.
Can it catch a mistake before it ruins a board?
Yes — it renders a preview of the drill pattern before the machine runs it, so a mistake shows up on screen rather than in a scrapped board.
What motors does it drive?
Stepper or servo drives, with differential step and direction outputs per axis and independent max velocity/acceleration on each.
How do I jog it or set it up?
A handheld pendant with its own remote display, away from the panel.
How is this different from your TNC-M33 controller?
The TNC-M33 is the general-purpose three-axis controller in the range; the TNC-D33 is built specifically around the PCB drilling workflow, file import and preview included.