Re: [CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO] Laser "route" Printed Circuit Boards

Yes, this is doable, but the issue is that "small" is about 50 watts. In a
normal laser cutter, both the smaller laser cutter/engraver units as well as
the larger metal cutting ones, the laser is not mounted on the moving head.
It is located off to the side in a large enclosure, and optics (mirrors and
fiber optics) are used to bring the beamline to the moving head. For
example, a Xenetech laser engraver has a moving head with a mirror and lens
assembly, which moves around 40 inches per second (yes, per second). The
laser beam is also pulsed in the kilohertz range. This allows the machine
to engrave raster (bitmap) images as well as vector images. This also
prevents localized heating which is likely to occur with a slowly moving
head.

On Sun, Nov 1, 2009 at 13:44, Alan Rothenbush <alan@...> wrote:

>
>
>
> I have a T-Tech PCB milling machine that works just great making PCBs for
> "standard-sized" components.
>
> For some of the surface mount stuff, though, it's a wee bit iffy; end mills
> of small enough diameter break and V shaped cutters cut too wide a swath.
>
> It occurs to me that laser beams are nice and thin, and that if we can
> laser cut thick steel slabs, we should also be able to laser route thin
> copper sheets.
>
> It seems like a guy _should_ be able to mount a small laser on the Z axis
> for outline milling the traces and then drill using the existing spindle.
>
> Is this nuts?
>
> If not, any getting started information gratefully appreciated.
>
> Alan
>
> --
> Alan Rothenbush
> Client and Research Services
> IT Services
> Simon Fraser University
>
>


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