I know you can mod a 3D printer to work as a laser cutter

3D Printing
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I know you can mod a 3D printer to work as a laser cutter but im not sure if that would be strong enough to etch copper and cut out the shape i meed. Im looking to make a PCB out of DuPont Pyralux. Which is flexible PCB material. Any ideas on how to make this work? If it came down to it i could etch the traces with chemicals but i need to be able to cutout a shape i cant do by hand

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  • a strong laser for metal is expensive and dangerous (uv reflexion). But maybe a cheap laser would burn through the Pyralux (carefull some like Pyralux TK contain fluor - this normaly end in very toxic and agressive fumes (hydrofluoric acid) when laser cutting) if you removed the copper on the cutout shape first.

You also can add a small high speed drill (20 000rpm up to 100 000) with http://gravierstichel.info/deutsch/d_stichel_standard_03_express.htm (not a dimond head - not a milling cutter)

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Cool :slight_smile: thanx

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For pcb making, I second the high speed drill to make a basic cnc for pcb production. Has its risks also but near what the laser option risks are.

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Yep you can’t do that power laser safely on a modified printer. If you really think you will be using them, some pcb fabs will do flexible.

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Yeah for a nice price tag lol

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Yes using a plotter blade also came to my mind - but not sure how good this will work with a flex pcb as you have to cut through the copper and adhesive or even epoxy coating (depending which pyralux you use) - you have much higher force and need a sticky surface to hold the pcb more firmly. With a high speed rotating cutter/blade (stichel) those forces are minimal. But as these plotter blades cost only 10-20¥€$ and just need an simple mount - give it a try.