You are on page 1of 11

RAYMING PCB & ASSEMBLY

All You Need to Know about Laser Print PCB


PCB manufacture is an extremely difficult operation that needs highly

specific tools and engineering knowledge. The use of lasers is among the

most recent breakthroughs in how technology has simplified key

components of PCB manufacture.

A variety of materials are needed for PCB construction. To ensure both

electrical and mechanical dependability, these materials are chosen

depending on their electrical performance. The PCB manufacturing

process heavily relies on PCB laser engraving.

Table of Contents

Lasers Marking In PCBs

Circuit board marking is a crucial phase in the production of PCBs, and

PCB lasers are being utilized for this. Due to the complexity of electronics

production, it is crucial to label boards to identify essential components

and ensure that parts are positioned correctly for proper connection.

Identification markers have grown in importance in the manufacture of

PCBs. Alphanumeric identification markers have been used in the past.

However, there are limitations because of the size of the PCB surface.

PCB Manufacturing & Assembly Services https://www.raypcb.com/


RAYMING PCB & ASSEMBLY

Since they can provide accurate marking, lasers are utilized to label

Boards.

Each PCB surface may benefit from adding identification codes, and fiber

laser Printed Circuit Boards can employ barcode technology and QR codes

that fit more data into a given area.

Lasers can mark Boards quickly and efficiently. They can quickly etch

codes while shielding the material all around the application region from

deformation or damage. Information is also provided through laser

labeling during the fabrication of circuit boards. Precision, efficiency, and

accuracy are crucial in this application.

It’s also crucial to understand that marking components with lasers

follows the same process as marking printed circuit boards. This ensures

that delicate and fragile components are really not put under excessive

pressure while making it simple to identify and replace components.

Request PCB Manufacturing & Assembly Quote Now

Lasers Cutting In The PCBs

PCB Manufacturing & Assembly Services https://www.raypcb.com/


RAYMING PCB & ASSEMBLY

Cutting is a crucial part of PCB fabrication because a PCB needs to be

constructed using only a stencil with holes for connecting

and soldering components. PCB stencils may be quickly and efficiently cut

in bulk using a fiber laser. The material of the circuit board may be

punched by using a laser-cut PCB beam to create the required

perforations, protecting the material’s structural integrity around it.

This technique must be repeated several times when mass production is

involved. As they employ a non-contact method to cut the PCB

materials, CNC laser PCB reduces damage from happening and reduces

waste. An essential component of PCB production is fr4 cut by laser.

Lasers Sintering In The PCBs

Sintering is regarded as the ideal approach for attaching PCB

components because it may resolve the issues with soldering and allow

stronger, more reliable connections to develop as PCBs are being made.

Laser sintering enables the production of creative PCBs without solder,

which represents the future of printed circuit boards. This method permits

greater stability and works well in high-density PCBs. A silver-containing

powder is exposed to a laser during the sintering process. The powder is

heated by the laser until it reaches a melting temperature, at which point

it is given the opportunity to cool and solidify.

PCB Manufacturing & Assembly Services https://www.raypcb.com/


RAYMING PCB & ASSEMBLY

Laser Cutting For The PCB Depaneling

For PCB manufacturers, laser depaneling is a fantastic technique that can

save both money and time. Circuit boards have delicate components that

are prone to damage, and laser depaneling lessens the strain on these

components and the solder links they share.

Request PCB Manufacturing & Assembly Quote Now

How To Select Laser Routing For Depaneling of PCB?

One common method for depaneling is laser routing. This process makes

sure that the board is not touched directly. Several manufacturers believe

that laser routing is suitable for the delicate and compact PCBs utilized by

the newest wearable technology.

Two lasers are used for PCB depaneling: CO2 and UV. The most crucial

elements to take into account when choosing the kind of laser to employ

PCB Manufacturing & Assembly Services https://www.raypcb.com/


RAYMING PCB & ASSEMBLY

are the relative significance of processing times and the tidiness of the

outer edges.

Choosing The Right Laser Source

For the depaneling needs, it’s crucial that you use the right laser source.

The pros and cons of UV and Co2 lasers are described below.

· UV Laser:

The “Cold” cutting technique is used with lasers that employ UV light. UV

lasers have made it simple to regulate the edge’s thermal charring. Hence,

if eliminating char is more important than speed, a UV laser seems to be a

superior choice.

The pros of using Uv Lasers include Low HAZ, provides tidy cuts, a very

thin kerf width, and the capability to cut the leads of copper with accuracy.

However, it also has cons. It takes a long time to cut and is a little bit

expensive.

Several iterations of laser scanners are used to cingulate the Boards when

using a UV laser in order to obtain clean cuts. Software controllers are

used to regulating the cut speed. The entire paneling that cingulate the

board is sliced through by these cuts.

PCB Manufacturing & Assembly Services https://www.raypcb.com/


RAYMING PCB & ASSEMBLY

· Co2 Laser:

If the time of the cycle is highly critical to you, a CO2 laser seems to be a

better choice. CO2 laser Printed Circuit Boards are more frequently used

to produce perforated cuts but may also assist in making entire cuts.

Using the perforation technique lessens char while also making it simpler

to load and unload boards and panels from the cutting process.

With the perforation technique, the space between perforations is crucial.

Lesser char upon the outer edge will result from a larger space, but it will

take more effort to divide the boards. Depending on the specified

requirements, we may simply alter perforation strength.

Moreover, when material thickness grows, both cycle time and charring

increase. Laser cuts may be quicker and cleaner if panels with V-grooves

were manufactured at the cut areas.

The pros of using this laser source includes quick speed cuts, cutting the

thicker substrates accurately, costing less for every watt, and also allowing

the aluminum panels for processing.

It also contains some cons which is Larger HAZ, greater kerf width, and

more charring.

Request PCB Manufacturing & Assembly Quote Now

PCB Manufacturing & Assembly Services https://www.raypcb.com/


RAYMING PCB & ASSEMBLY

How To Improve Cut Accuracy For Depaneling of PCB?

The precision of the cutting while depaneling PCBs is crucial for reducing

damage and waste. You must make sure that the cut location is constant,

and you can do this by making sure that the laser is precisely aligned with

the panel’s features and components.

To guarantee that the cuts precisely correspond to the circuits, a vision

system recognizes certain elements on the board and modifies the cut

route.

Why Laser Depaneling of PCB Is Better Than Other Methods?

1. A no-contact methodology is used in the technique of laser routing.

Hence, there is no mechanical pressure on the components.

2. No need to replace or sharpen worn-out blades

3. may cut through any route, even bends

PCB Manufacturing & Assembly Services https://www.raypcb.com/


RAYMING PCB & ASSEMBLY

4. Software adjustments that make it easy and rapid

to switch between several cut patterns

5. No mechanical components are changed, and the blades aren’t

adjusted.

Laser Drilling In PCBs

To construct connections between several layers, laser drilling creates

holes in a PCB. In modern houses, we have HDI boards that employ laser

drills as electronic equipment. Drilling using a laser ensures precision even

when dealing with tiny diameters.

For a hole to be drilled, laser drilling uses laser energy. Using a machine to

drill holes is quite different from this. To place components and provide

connections between different layers, holes are bored into PCBs. On the

plain reinforced glass, lasers can drill vias that are 2.5 to 3 mils thick. For

an unreinforced dielectric, it can drill around 1 mil vias.

Benefits Of Drilling PCB With A Laser

There are various advantages to utilizing lasers for drilling. Some of them

are described below.

· Precise control:

PCB Manufacturing & Assembly Services https://www.raypcb.com/


RAYMING PCB & ASSEMBLY

With the aid of lasers, you can better regulate the laser beam’s period,

intensity, and emission of heat. This offers excellent precision and

facilitates the creation of different hole shapes.

· Multi-Tasking:

Cutting, sintering, welding, and other manufacturing operations may all be

done using lasers.

· No-contact Process:

Lasers guarantee a non-contact technique, thus vibration from drilling

has no impact on the object being worked on.

· High Aspect Ratio:

An essential drilling hole parameter is the aspect ratio. The ratio of the

hole’s diameter to its depth is known as the aspect ratio. Due to their

ability to create holes with tiny diameters, lasers have a high aspect ratio.

Request PCB Manufacturing & Assembly Quote Now

Factors To Consider During Laser Drilling

PCB Manufacturing & Assembly Services https://www.raypcb.com/


RAYMING PCB & ASSEMBLY

There are some factors that need to be taken into consideration while

drilling with a laser. The main two factors are

· The copper Thickness:

The desired copper layer’s lowest thickness must be two times as thick as

that of the topmost copper layer that will be drilled. The best method for

creating micro vias in Printed circuit boards is with lasers. PCB

manufacture relies on laser-drilled micro vias.

· Non-homogeneity Of The Stack-Up:

The stack-up non-homogeneity is crucial when drilling with lasers.

Different materials absorb energy at different rates. For instance, the glass

fibers and FR4 resin absorb energy at the same rate. Because glass

vaporizes considerably more quickly than BT epoxy, glass fibers are left in

the hole.

PCB Manufacturing & Assembly Services https://www.raypcb.com/


RAYMING PCB & ASSEMBLY

Conclusion

Lasers are crucial pieces of specialized machinery utilized in the

production of PCBs. These tools serve the purpose of cutting, drilling,

sintering, and marking PCBs, among other things. This technology is a

better solution for PCB producers since it gives accuracy. Lasers also

employ the no-contact method, making it simple to employ during PCB

manufacturing. In the manufacture of PCBs, laser engraving is employed.

Related Posts:

1. Finger Print Lock Appliactions,Design and Manufacturing

2. Why 3D Print PCBs Matter in Today’s Electronics Production

3. How to use laser in PCB

4. How PCB Laser Drilling Works

https://www.raypcb.com/laser-print-pcb/

PCB Manufacturing & Assembly Services https://www.raypcb.com/

You might also like