Demon
- 6th February 2024, 03:16
Oh boy, check out this instructable:
https://www.instructables.com/Double-sided-PCBs-with-a-laser-cutter/
I'm googling laser machines since yesterday and came upon this; double-sided PCBs by combining a laser cutter with chemical etching.
Warning: burning PCB fiberglass laminate is VERY TOXIC!
So far I've learned that the basement variety laser is the diode type. Economical models use 1 diode, some use 2 diodes, xTool D1 Pro uses 4 diodes, and Creality just released the Falcon2 40W laser with 8 diodes.
The Falcon2 40W has 25000mm/min cutting speed, 400mm x 415mm work-area and integrated air-assist for $1900CAD. It's more expensive than I was shopping for, but power is everything when you're dealing in lasers; it's better to have a bit too much than not enough.
https://store.creality.com/ca/products/falcon2-40w-laser-engraver-cutter
My initial goal was to mark black ABS plastic in white text like this guy is doing on black PLA.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4XDkvmDwoIs
He's using a "DIY Galvo 30W DPSS laser". The only decent link I could find was this laser:
https://www.endurance-lasers.com/products/endurance-diy-marking-machine-30-watt-fiber-raycus-diy-galvo-system
So far I've learned that 2 things are important with laser specs: power (watts) and frequency (wavelength). Wikipedia says his machine "most likely" runs in the 1064nm range:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nd:YAG_laser
Diode lasers on the other hand seem to run just shy of 500nm. The Falcon2 40W runs at 455nm.
Just a heads up on chinesium lasers; they often advertise the power consumed by the laser module. The important value is the power emitted by the laser module (some call it optical power).
(research goes on...)
https://www.instructables.com/Double-sided-PCBs-with-a-laser-cutter/
I'm googling laser machines since yesterday and came upon this; double-sided PCBs by combining a laser cutter with chemical etching.
Warning: burning PCB fiberglass laminate is VERY TOXIC!
So far I've learned that the basement variety laser is the diode type. Economical models use 1 diode, some use 2 diodes, xTool D1 Pro uses 4 diodes, and Creality just released the Falcon2 40W laser with 8 diodes.
The Falcon2 40W has 25000mm/min cutting speed, 400mm x 415mm work-area and integrated air-assist for $1900CAD. It's more expensive than I was shopping for, but power is everything when you're dealing in lasers; it's better to have a bit too much than not enough.
https://store.creality.com/ca/products/falcon2-40w-laser-engraver-cutter
My initial goal was to mark black ABS plastic in white text like this guy is doing on black PLA.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4XDkvmDwoIs
He's using a "DIY Galvo 30W DPSS laser". The only decent link I could find was this laser:
https://www.endurance-lasers.com/products/endurance-diy-marking-machine-30-watt-fiber-raycus-diy-galvo-system
So far I've learned that 2 things are important with laser specs: power (watts) and frequency (wavelength). Wikipedia says his machine "most likely" runs in the 1064nm range:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nd:YAG_laser
Diode lasers on the other hand seem to run just shy of 500nm. The Falcon2 40W runs at 455nm.
Just a heads up on chinesium lasers; they often advertise the power consumed by the laser module. The important value is the power emitted by the laser module (some call it optical power).
(research goes on...)