Re: Laser "route" Printed Circuit Boards

Co2 lasers can only cut steel because the absorption co-efficient increases as the metal heats up making it heat even more etc etc, add some oxygen and it can be cut well though 50W will only cut shim. Copper on the other hand is exactly what the laser mirrors are generally made from (though gold plated) and is incredibly hard to cut even at foil thickness, I think you need KW of power.

You can use a laser to etch off a resist and then etch the board.

Graham

--- In CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO@yahoogroups.com, Alan Rothenbush <alan@...> wrote:
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> I have a T-Tech PCB milling machine that works just great making PCBs for "standard-sized" components.
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> 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.
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> 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.
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> 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.
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> Is this nuts?
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> If not, any getting started information gratefully appreciated.
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> Alan
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> --
> Alan Rothenbush
> Client and Research Services
> IT Services
> Simon Fraser University
>