Homebrew PCBs

Anyone try a laser engraver to make pcbs?  You can buy a 40W CO2 off
ebay for $1600 shipped.  Not sure of the adsorption of copper at CO2
wavelengths but seems like you could probably coat it if need be.

Apparently the ebay ones just act like a print driver and whatever you
print out, it does burns so can easily print Gerber files onto
copperclad.

Seems like it would be faster than the cnc mill method I'm using now...

you cant cut through metal with these CO2 lasers. and if one has high enough 
power to cut metal it will burn and char the pcb material. I have tried to 
paint the board and laser the paint like a mask for etching, but lasering 
the paint with the laser is actually burning the paint and it leaves some 
residue on the copper so the end result was bad. Spotty etching and finer 
etch lines are not possible. May be some sort of cleaning after lasering 
might help but the other processes becomes more desirable at that stage..

Kim


----- Original Message ----- 

From: "Henry Liu" <henryjliu@...>
To: <Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Sunday, September 21, 2008 3:29 PM
Subject: [Homebrew_PCBs] laser engraver for pcbs?


> Anyone try a laser engraver to make pcbs?  You can buy a 40W CO2 off
> ebay for $1600 shipped.  Not sure of the adsorption of copper at CO2
> wavelengths but seems like you could probably coat it if need be.
>
> Apparently the ebay ones just act like a print driver and whatever you
> print out, it does burns so can easily print Gerber files onto
> copperclad.
>
> Seems like it would be faster than the cnc mill method I'm using now...
>
> ------------------------------------
>
> Be sure to visit the group home and check for new Links, Files, and 
> Photos:
> http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Homebrew_PCBsYahoo! Groups Links
>
>
>

You are not supposed to cut copper on a CO2 laser anyways.  The
mirrors in a CO2 are copper.  Its very reflective in that 10,6000nm
wavelength.  Now a YAG is a different story.



--- In Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com, "Kim Vellore" <kimvellore@...>
wrote:
>
> you cant cut through metal with these CO2 lasers. and if one has
high enough 
> power to cut metal it will burn and char the pcb material. I have
tried to 
> paint the board and laser the paint like a mask for etching, but
lasering 
> the paint with the laser is actually burning the paint and it leaves
some 
> residue on the copper so the end result was bad. Spotty etching and
finer 
> etch lines are not possible. May be some sort of cleaning after
lasering 
> might help but the other processes becomes more desirable at that
stage..
> 
> Kim
> 
> 
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Henry Liu" <henryjliu@...>
> To: <Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com>
> Sent: Sunday, September 21, 2008 3:29 PM
> Subject: [Homebrew_PCBs] laser engraver for pcbs?
> 
> 
> > Anyone try a laser engraver to make pcbs?  You can buy a 40W CO2 off
> > ebay for $1600 shipped.  Not sure of the adsorption of copper at CO2
> > wavelengths but seems like you could probably coat it if need be.
> >
> > Apparently the ebay ones just act like a print driver and whatever you
> > print out, it does burns so can easily print Gerber files onto
> > copperclad.
> >
> > Seems like it would be faster than the cnc mill method I'm using
now...

> >
> > ------------------------------------
> >
> > Be sure to visit the group home and check for new Links, Files, and 
> > Photos:
> > http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Homebrew_PCBsYahoo! Groups Links
> >
> >
> >
>

On Mon, Sep 22, 2008 at 1:31 AM, cant afford one <anode505@...> wrote:

> You are not supposed to cut copper on a CO2 laser anyways.  The
> mirrors in a CO2 are copper.  Its very reflective in that 10,6000nm
> wavelength.  Now a YAG is a different story.


That, and you need to stop on the other side of the copper.


ST


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