I'll post some information on my website when it's ready and notify the
group.
$2000 gets you a box that's like a plotter except it's a laser.
The tube is around $300 and lasts about 1000-2000hrs. That thermark tape
stuff doesn't seem cheap because it's $0.17/sq cm. But you can buy the
brush on stuff that's $60 and covers 1000 sq/inches on ebay it seems.
I'm really not trying to sell anything by posting my info. It's just
information that you can go try it on whatever laser you have handy.
I doubt it's cheaper than professionally made pcbs. The point is you can
have it a few minutes later without much hassle.
If I were making a lot of pcbs, I'd get a UV laser and ablate the copper
directly, drill it and then use the thermark stuff to make the solder mask.
There's videos here: http://www.thermark.com/content/view/120/173/
I ordered a sample and will try it.
On Wed, Oct 28, 2009 at 5:25 PM, Andres Hernandez
<afhernandez79@...>wrote:
>
>
> Very interesting stuff:
>
> Can you list me what would I get if I give you the $ 2000?
>
> Can you help me to find out what would cost to build a PCB of 10 cm x 10 cm
> with the etch and solder mask ?
>
> Because I am concerned about the ink price and if the laser needs to be
> recharged or something because, the price of one double sided PCB is $11
> ($0,11cm2).
>
> Believeme if you garantee that the pricing equals or better I would "kill"
> to by the laser.
>
>
> Ingeniero Andres F. Hernandez
> Pontificia Universidad Javeriana
>
> Celular (300)7825582
> Casa (572) 5572655
>
> ________________________________
> From: Henry Liu <henryjliu@... <henryjliu%40gmail.com>>
> To: Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com <Homebrew_PCBs%40yahoogroups.com>
> Sent: Wed, October 28, 2009 1:30:51 PM
>
> Subject: Re: [Homebrew_PCBs] Cool results with CO2 laser
>
>
> I really don't guarantee anything other than it arrives in 1 piece. I use
> the laser for lots of things but mostly making stencils out of mylar and
> kapton and cutting acrylic. I sell the whole thing but you need to play
> with it to get it right for your application which I don't do application
> support other than through my web forum.
>
> Basically for $2000 you get a laser that would otherwise cost you
> $8000-10000 from epilog. Software is through Mach3 and additional firmware
> can be opensource for your own modifications.
>
> A CO2 laser has 10micron wavelength = 0.39 mil. A good quality lens can get
> 1mil pretty standard. You will likely need to replace the $50 lens on the
> $2000 laser with a $500 or $1000 lens from edmund optics if you want best
> possible spot size. It's pretty easy as it just unscrews and you can pop
> another one on there on a standard threaded tube.
>
> That thermark material is pretty sweet. I talked to the guy and he said it
> works fine on copper and is totally solidified. No solvent will remove it
> and it is non conductive and stable to 1200C. Only way to remove it is to
> sandblast it off. That is the ultimate solder mask. You can buy it in tape
> form and raster scan your image onto the board. Takes <1 minute. I got
> some samples to try with my laser and will report back.
> On Wed, Oct 28, 2009 at 11:19 AM, Andres Hernandez
> <afhernandez79@ yahoo.com>wrote:
>
> >
> >
> > How can you garantee that I can get the best resolution for etching (
> less
> > than 1 mil) ?
> >
> > Less than 1 mil for spacing mainly.
> >
> > Is possible to print the legends with any kind of white inks ?
> >
> > Do you sell the whole thing ? SOftware, structure, mechanics, etc ?
> >
> >
> >
> > Ingeniero Andres F. Hernandez
> > Pontificia Universidad Javeriana
> >
> > Celular (300)7825582
> > Casa (572) 5572655
> >
> > ____________ _________ _________ __
> > From: Henry Liu <henryjliu@gmail. com <henryjliu%40gmail. com>>
> > To: Homebrew_PCBs@ yahoogroups. com <Homebrew_PCBs% 40yahoogroups. com>
>
> > Sent: Wed, October 28, 2009 2:43:24 AM
> > Subject: Re: [Homebrew_PCBs] Cool results with CO2 laser
> >
> >
> > Keep an key on my website at www.fullspectrumeng ineering. com
> >
> >
> > PCBs shipped today and first shipment of lasers is coming in two weeks. I
> > designed the control circuitry so feel free to ask any questions :)
> > H
> >
> > On Wed, Oct 28, 2009 at 12:10 AM, Cristian <bip@terranet. ro> wrote:
> >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >I have a 50W CO2 mach3 controlled XY gantry laser. I'm selling them
> > myself
> > > >for around $2000.
> > >
> > > Henry, I'm interested.
> > > May I have some details, please?
> > > Cristian
> > >
> > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
> > >
> > >
> > >
> >
> > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
> >
> > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
> >
> >
> >
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>
>
>
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