I am interested in knowing how many of you have experimented with a
laser cutter for DIY PCB?
Would love to hear what kind of experiences you have had.
This method does away with worrying about a laminiator and laser printer
but in this case too, just like toner and paper's critcal for toner
transfer, the choice of spray is extremely imporant!
For those who have good experiences using a laser cutter, could you
share the details of the spray used?
From what I have read, bad choice of a spray can generate the following
issues in the least:
- melts with the laser and cools over the traces which were just
engraved, ruins everything
- is very difficult to remove using acetone or thinner (even after
etching) in order to solder on the traces; requires to be scrubbed off
(potentially damaging very thin traces)
- evaporates but leaves behind a film/residue on the board that is
resistant to etching (some can be removed with alcohol/acetone) This
last issue has been well documented on this picture set:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Homebrew_PCBs/photos/album/540603270/pic/5\51305033/view?picmode
<
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Homebrew_PCBs/photos/album/540603270/pic/\551305033/view?picmode>
What vers5d did first was spray the copper clad with some Rustoleum
paint: something like
http://www.rustoleum.com/CBGProduct.asp?pid=95<
http://www.rustoleum.com/CBGProduct.asp?pid=95> . The picture
"Before etching" is what he got ∗after∗ using the laser cutter to "cut
away" that spray on resist from places that needs to be etched later.
(This is the reverse process of toner transfer/plot. Pretty
timeconsuming I believe. Perhaps making a pattern like that used in
isolation milling would require less time?)
Then he wiped the right hand portion of the PCB with some acetone, thus
clearing away the spray residue.
After this he proceeded to etch the board to get "After etching"
"After cleaned" is what he got after scrubbing the board after it was
etched
I agree with his observation "With the right resist and some adjustment
for the laser's dot size. It should work nicely."
I am interested in taking this further and would entertain exchange from
others who are interested likewise.
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]