Custom PCBs with vias are easy, if the vias are already there!

March 2025 Opulo Update Hey all! As a way of keeping everyone in the loop on what's happening at Opulo, I decided to start doing monthly status updates. I'll include everything from status of WIP products, improvements to so...

As a way of keeping everyone more in the loop with what we're working on, we're going to be releasing monthly status updates! The first one for March 2025 is live on our blog, with the video version on your YouTube. Check out the post here: www.opulo.io/blogs/news/m...

yes please!

hmm, maybe i dismissed the idea of just using some wire too quickly. i figured this would be a tremendous pain to do; it's incredibly encouraging that you've had a good time with it. ill give this a try! thank you dude!!

WHAT dude that is SO SICK. really cool way you went about it too!

oh awesome; just opened my DMs!

It's an F1 Ultra from xTool! Using the 20W IR in it for all these steps!

is that fr4? i found that fr1 worked much better in my experience!

thanks woovie!! :D

GitHub - sphawes/fiber-laser-pcb-fab: Instructions and settings for fabricating PCBs on a fiber laser, namely the xTool F1 Ultra Instructions and settings for fabricating PCBs on a fiber laser, namely the xTool F1 Ultra - sphawes/fiber-laser-pcb-fab

i also put my notes and settings on the process in a repo: github.com/sphawes/fibe...

finally finished the fiber laser vid! you can check out the full version on yt: youtu.be/wAiGCyZZq6w

glad to hear! we are aggressively working on making the software experience much better, look out for some big updates soon! 😁

what??? that is INSANELY cool. the fomo for 38C3 is very bad rn

yes, but in my experience it’s not quite as consistent. drilling heats things up a ton, and i’ve had copper delam on me. drilling before etching traces helps with heat dissipation tho! still working on tuning that, along with vias/double sided boards

pcb made on a fiber laser with a soldermask layer

silkscreen is now in play. etched the blue layer where text should go, squeegeed white into the voids, wiped clean, then etched the normal soldermask layer

working pcb made on a fiber laser

lots of tests today with drilling and cutting with the fiber laser, resulted in a fully operational board!

oh dude, i am STOKED to see what you do with a plotter

that’s the real value add of this process imo. it feels like running a 3d print. i do something else while it’s running, then give it a light sand and it’s done (assuming no solder mask). no acid to deal with!

i do the first one! apply the mask everywhere then remove it with a lower power only on the pads

working on it now! i’ll put it all into a github repo, i’ll be sure to share here when im done

How to Solder Mask PCBs #Adafruit YouTube video by Adafruit Industries

ah right, their PCB kit comes with that little roller for mask application? i’m using a transparency sheet to spread it evenly like this: youtu.be/wvU2yyfH-XE?...

would be SO cool. iterating on PCBs as fast as 3d printed parts.

that’s the next test! it’s pretty hard to drill deep with this laser unfortunately, but i have a cheeky method with some super thin copper clad blanks that i think might work.

there’s a little angle bracket i used for realignment, but i’m also doing a quick alignment etch on the soldermask to double check and adjust before going full send!

single sided pcb with solder mask fabricated on a fiber laser

single sided PCB, fully fabricated on my bench in under an hour using a fiber laser. i’m STOKED.

yup! tuning in progress!

you read my mind 😁 going to try for one as part of this series! being able to drill holes for vias is huge

this is FR1! i’d like to try fr4 to see how it pans out tho! it’s actually leftover blank from when i had that mill as well!

i’m putting all my workflow notes and settings in a repo once i have it tuned, but iirc im running a unidirectional raster at 240 passes per cm, 100% power (20w fiber IR) and 600mm/s with 10 passes. lots of quick, dense passes doesn’t burn the FR4 but will ablate the copper. on the F1 Ultra!

sweet! what laser are you working with?