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 <jjSNIPlarkin@highNONOlandtechnology.com>
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: <r6pv1jhf6hcg8agp106gi0jbtpeaphb09n@4ax.com>
References: <uvnif3$1dg6o$1@dont-email.me>
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
<blockedofcourse@foo.invalid> 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.