pointers to the laser module I bought and why

[web/gag.com] / pcb / laser / index.mdwn

diff --git a/pcb/laser/index.mdwn b/pcb/laser/index.mdwn
index b2d21c464b7b9f46af26cb79da44dcfc4f6d71b8..1cd843b75ba044213f9af46b93107867946b0991 100644 (file)
--- a/pcb/laser/index.mdwn
+++ b/pcb/laser/index.mdwn
@@ -5,4 +5,17 @@ associated with them.  After trying stickers, and spending years using a
 fine-tip Sharpie pen to write on a silk screen rectangle, we've decided to
 try a laser engraver instead.
 
 fine-tip Sharpie pen to write on a silk screen rectangle, we've decided to
 try a laser engraver instead.
 

+Digging around on the web, we found an article on 
+[laser marking circuit boards](http://https://jtechphotonics.com/?p=1164)
+that made it clear this was something we should be able to do with a 1W
+laser module.  Since Bdale had a spare [Lulzbot](http://lulzbot.com) TAZ 5 
+printer sitting around unused, and the J Tech folks had a pointer to a 3d
+printable mounting bracket that can replace a TAZ head, we decided to give
+one of their [1W 405nm](https://jtechphotonics.com/?product=900mw-405nm-laser-and-2-5amp-safety-compliant-driver-kit)
+ packages a try.  A big motivator for going with this
+laser module instead of one of the higher power units (which might have had
+other uses) was that this module can focus down to 0.003 inch spot size!
+Since some of our circuit boards are quite small and we're way up in the
+4 digits now, being able to engrave thin lines seemed like a good plan.
+

 More details to come...
 More details to come...