There have been tests with laser cutters into burning off etch resist, Adafruit industries tried it (after first dismissing the idea of directly burning off the copper)
"well you need superhigh power to remove copper and even then, its very difficult. one thing we might try with the laser cutter ive got is doing photoresist WITHOUT a mask by 'exposing' the mask directly w/laser @ 600DPI. if so: ultra high precision without ironing/transfers/UV boxes/milling/etc.
stay tuned for our experiments!"
and then a few posts later:
"we tried it out, it was 'ok' but not as good as toner transfer (yet)"
(
http://forums.adafruit.com/viewtopic.php?f=18&t=2807)I guess it might be good if it were tweaked, but if it's not even as good as toner transfer I don't see much of a reason to bother (especially since my toner transfers work really well)
Even the UV method will be much cheaper than a laser cutter and no doubt even better quality again.
--- In Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com, "Boman33" <boman33@...> wrote:
>
> I never thought about the tracking and that the drive might reject it
> knowing it is not a CD.
>
> I was a cute idea even if not practical at all ......
>
>
>
> From: tda7000 Sent: Wednesday, April 13, 2011 17:41
>
>
> I assume just like a writable CD, the lightscribe part also needs a pre-made
> spiral groove in the material for the laser to follow.
>
> If this is not there I expect the drive will just say "no disc" and do
> nothing.
>
> --- In Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com
> <mailto:Homebrew_PCBs%40yahoogroups.com> , Leon Heller <leon355@> wrote:
> >
> > On 13/04/2011 14:31, Boman33 wrote:
> > > Here is a crazy idea that might just work:
> > >
> > > A first requirement is being able to cut out a PCB the to look just like
> a CD. It needs to be accurate and typically a lathe would be used. Apply a
> layer of paint or other protective coating over the copper.
>
> > > Pop it into a CD burner that has the Light Scribe or whatever it is
> called feature to mark CDs. Take the layout and convert it to a JPG and use
> the marking software to place it on the CD. Several small SMT PCBs will fit
> on a CD. "Write" the picture to the "CD" and hopefully it will vaporize the
> paint. Afterwards etch the boards as usual.
> > >
> > > If the power is controllable, it might also be used to expose a
> photoresist as an alternative.
>
>
>
>
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>