Laser drilling and cutting for PCB shops
Stress-free processing of rigid PCBs, FPCBs and coverlays
Your benefits with LPKF's new CleanCut and short pulse technology
LPKF's CleanCut technology works in the optimum pulse duration range for PCB material processing. Within the short pulse regime the pulse duration plays a major role in processing efficiency. Industrial applications in which the total processing time is important benefit significantly from using specialized laser technology.
New LPKF PicoLine laser systems
Clean cuts and precise vias – Surpassing industrial standards.
Based on the MicroLine platform, LPKF has developed a solution for meeting even higher demands on laser manufacturing quality: LPKF PicoLine. With this new laser system, LPKF meets the highest expectations regarding quality and cutting speed.
The system increases yield and production efficiency in PCB processing – resulting in fast return on investment. Equipped with a pico-second laser, the ultra-short pulse laser system LPKF PicoLine 5000 stands for highly precise positioning and accurate processing of PCB materials such as FR4 and PI-, LCP-, and PTFE-FPC in all industry-standard panel sizes.
Due to the CleanCut shortpulse technology, the heat-affected zone (HAZ) of the material becomes negligible.
Fields of application
LPKF has developed laser microvia processes to work with a very wide range of materials and via shapes to fit your designs and need for process efficiency.
Advantages
- Space savings
- Circuit reliability
- RF line termination
- Clean, smooth side walls
Typical Materials
- Liquid cristal polymers (LCPs)
- Polyimide (PI)
- Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE)
We are capable of handling other materials and compounds if your design calls for them. Please let us know what your requirements are.
The LPKF lasers are suitable for cutting all industry-standard panel sizes with dimensions of up to 533 x 610 mm (2'' x 2''). The 20-μm high-quality UV laser kerf width allows for cutting of even the most delicate contours at high speeds.
Laser skiving is a selective ablation process that can remove one material with or without affecting an underlying material. Laser skiving can be performed to clear all dielectric material or to stop without cutting all the way through. Please also see "ablation of inorganic material from organic material."
Depending on the material and its depth, cavities produced by laser may exhibit tapered walls. LPKF cutting techniques allow for steep side walls with perfect geometries.
- Effective cutting speed up to 500 mm/s, dependent on materials and layout
- Clean cutting edges: no heat-affected zone (HAZ), no carbonization
- Smooth cuts: no burr or bulging; burr height reduced to less than 10 μm.
- Uncontaminated surfaces: no particles, dust or dirt
The laser systems specifically tailored to the needs of the electronics industry are capable of cutting and opening or drilling a variety of IC compounds:
- Curved cuts with extremely fine outlines Clean side walls,
- Virtually no burring
- Small heat-affected zone
- High positioning precision
Reliable and cost-efficient ablation of thin metal layers from thin organic substrates enables new solutions, e.g., for OLED display manufacturing.
A typical application for laser processing: precise, cost-efficient ablation of thin organic layers from inorganic substrates.
Consulting and sample support
LPKF’s mission is to provide a long-term, trusting business relationship with all of our customers. We engage potential customers by offering to process custom sample panels. This initial panel evaluation is to assure all parties that the LPKF laser will meet the potential customer’s requirements for cycle-time, accuracy, precision and quality.
Learn more about our global service network with fast response times in the service section. Various concepts for extended warranty and care-free maintenance contracts are available.
Choose from the LPKF system portfolio
Various laser options and levels of system capabilities allow you to find the right balance between cost and quality. Both for special applications and for high-volume production LPKF laser processing equipment is highly productive.
- The systems work as standalone units or as components of fully integrated production lines.
- The systems can be adapted to various handling requirements of the electronics industry.
- Portfolio includes UV-lasers, green lasers and IR-lasers.
- LPKF MicroLine systems work with pulse durations in the nano second range.
- LPKF PicoLine systems work with pulse durations in the pico second range.
