How-To: Use a laser cutter to make PCBs

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By Becky Stern
Posted 2010/01/29 @ 8:02 am
Category Electronics

I just started teaching a course in the Design & Technology department at Parsons the New School for Design. It’s called Beyond DIY, and it’s all about tutorial making and DIY projects. One of my students, Joe Saavedra, is quick out of the gate with his Instructable for using a laser cutter to prepare PCBs for etching. Did I mention they have a giant laser (Epilog 75W)? I’m really looking forward to the course. If you want to keep up with what they’re working on, check out the Beyond DIY class blog.

In the Maker Shed

5 Responses to How-To: Use a laser cutter to make PCBs

Anonymous on January 29th, 2010 at 8:57 am said:

Wow, great! I too have a giant laser that I’ve been trying to figure out a good use for. First I was going to hold the earth hostage for $1,000,000, but now I can make some circuit boards at home. Thanks.

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Marc de Vinck on January 29th, 2010 at 9:58 am said:

Congratulations on the class Becky, sounds great. Parsons is an amazing school! (Disclosure: I’m a graduate! BFA Product Design ’94…pre-lazzzzor days!)

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Garrett on January 29th, 2010 at 11:09 am said:

Glad to see more people using this process…there are even several Instructables for doing the same thing. It means laser cutters are getting more accessible.

The first time I tried it was in 2008: http://www.flickr.com/photos/macetech/2726870409/

I don’t recommend using alcohol to wipe off the paint residue. That’s what I told everyone to use back then, but now I find that alcohol removes the thin traces too much. Scrubbing with toothpaste works much better and preserves the traces.

Also, giving the paint time to bond is important. I keep several copper clad boards painted for whenever I need them. Day-old paint can wipe off too easily.

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Anonymous on January 29th, 2010 at 3:12 pm said:

Here is a stupid question that has bugged me for a while. Is it theoretically possible to make a laser cutter that is able to create pcbs without etching. Meaning is it possible to make a laser cutter strong enough (and at a correct wavelength?) so that it is able to “burn off” the copper?

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- Garrett on January 29th, 2010 at 6:31 pm said:
  
  No, there is not currently a way to vaporize copper and then not go on to obliterate the fiberglass underneath.
  
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