Homebrew PCBs

--- In Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com, "Roy J. Tellason" 
<rtellason@b...> wrote:
> On Friday 16 April 2004 04:40 pm, dkesterline wrote:
> > This idea of CNC photoploting has got my wheels turning.
> >
> > Does anyone know what wavelength the laser emitters in laser 
printers
> > are?
> 
> I don't know offhand,  but you can find a *lot* of info on those 
(as well as 
> the lasers in cdroms,  and other lasers) at repairfaq.org,  if I'm 
> remembering right.
> 
> > I'm thinking that it might be passible to photoplot directly onto
> > sensitised boards.
> 
> I thought those required UV?  The lasers AFAIK are all IR...

The concept of a multi facted mirror that reflected the laser in time 
with the angle of the mirror would be a simple enought undertaking.

Obtaining a laser with enough power and the correct wavelength is 
just time spent (and luck) on E-bay.

My concerns would be the optics for laser focus on a board and the 
time to do the photo plot.

Since a board could potentailly be aligned on a fixture so you can 
rotate the board and get perfect second side alignment the idea is 
pretty neat.

I think I would look at those new lasers that will cut the near 
copper side, then change power and cut the substrate, but NOT the 
second copper.  

Laser cutting the copper side is cool enough, but imagine plated vias 
with a hole on only one side of the board....  cool !

Dave