Path: ...!weretis.net!feeder8.news.weretis.net!feeder6.news.weretis.net!usenet.blueworldhosting.com!diablo1.usenet.blueworldhosting.com!feeder.usenetexpress.com!tr3.iad1.usenetexpress.com!69.80.99.27.MISMATCH!local-2.nntp.ord.giganews.com!nntp.supernews.com!news.supernews.com.POSTED!not-for-mail NNTP-Posting-Date: Wed, 17 Apr 2024 15:11:13 +0000 From: John Larkin Newsgroups: sci.electronics.design Subject: Re: PCB laser cutting Date: Wed, 17 Apr 2024 08:09:30 -0700 Organization: Highland Tech Reply-To: xx@yy.com Message-ID: References: X-Newsreader: Forte Agent 3.1/32.783 MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Lines: 24 X-Trace: sv3-QzfItAtmQHn70owhpF31lPGGA4k0FIk+aLsBP5advydUtNxDdSJE7Oda5Oc+6P2mneszlK2e3kpWP+e!Mt6Q7dpL1zELyJ8E5fh7sloSpgAmAoTvFGvgls+Xh4xuj//lP074AW67XvETIhOLsohpRqEvF92H!eJN/aw== X-Complaints-To: www.supernews.com/docs/abuse.html X-DMCA-Complaints-To: www.supernews.com/docs/dmca.html X-Abuse-and-DMCA-Info: Please be sure to forward a copy of ALL headers X-Abuse-and-DMCA-Info: Otherwise we will be unable to process your complaint properly X-Postfilter: 1.3.40 Bytes: 2156 On Tue, 16 Apr 2024 21:16:27 -0700, Don Y wrote: >I've been offered a small, 40W laser cutter and wonder if I >want to make space to store it -- as I suspect I don't have >many uses for it! > >One that came to mind would be cutting odd-shaped PCBs. > >But, I didn't think CO2 lasers were good with FR4, etc. > >(Or, could I opt for a different board material to >exploit the laser's abilities?) We buy blue anodized boxes and use a Boss laser to blast the artwork. https://www.highlandtechnology.com/Product/J744 That saves a ton of hassle with labels and silkscreening. I tried using it to cut patterns into copperclad FR4, instead of dremeling. It didn't cut copper very well and burned the FR4. Maybe some fast pulsed laser would work better.