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pcb-help_pl [2021/01/17 16:22] benhpcb-help_pl [2022/07/18 18:06] (current) benh
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   - Overview   - Overview
   - Q & A   - Q & A
 +    - What materials have been successfully etched?
     - Using a "new" material     - Using a "new" material
 +    - Optimization
 +    - Adjusting the breakout tabs
   - Common processing errors   - Common processing errors
     - The pre-toolpath file did not import correctly.     - The pre-toolpath file did not import correctly.
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 For more information, see the following documents:\\ For more information, see the following documents:\\
 The brochure: [[https://www.lpkf.com/fileadmin/mediafiles/user_upload/products/pdf/DQ/brochure_lpkf_protolaser_u4_en.pdf|The Swiss Army Knife for the Lab: Micro Material Processing with the LPKF ProtoLaser U4]]\\ The brochure: [[https://www.lpkf.com/fileadmin/mediafiles/user_upload/products/pdf/DQ/brochure_lpkf_protolaser_u4_en.pdf|The Swiss Army Knife for the Lab: Micro Material Processing with the LPKF ProtoLaser U4]]\\
-The Manual: [[https://drive.google.com/file/d/1BxVWaqscUSuwdxnlmrbbO0lq9QGHd9cX/view?usp=sharing| ProtoLaser U4 User Manual.pdf]]\\ +The Manual: [[https://gtvault.sharepoint.com/:b:/s/HiveMakerspace/EcM8MWAGR1tPu4dySYs2QRwBT9GmpSEZmcbCuVIBn2UfEA?e=DZws6y| ProtoLaser U4 User Manual.pdf]]\\ 
-LPKF's "How-To" guides: [[https://drive.google.com/file/d/1_Micu9tWmRdbYdbN3eI2AKbIfn4hzWNI/view?usp=sharing|ProtoLaser U4 How To Guides.pdf]]\\ +LPKF's "How-To" guides: [[https://gtvault.sharepoint.com/:b:/s/HiveMakerspace/EbRHI5KMoPZFq2Wot9Tkz1UBi6x02PeX6IDQ7XzBW3dKMw?e=JjqalH|ProtoLaser U4 How To Guides.pdf]]\\ 
-Software guide: [[https://drive.google.com/file/d/1jqR5wxnQLJAZjezrfv-xtRAbVk5Unb49/view?usp=sharing|CircuitPro 3.0 PL - Software Guide.pdf]]\\ +Software guide: [[https://gtvault.sharepoint.com/:b:/s/HiveMakerspace/EY2hkxd8yeNLoB3t0B-_5rcB4rQPIgwmuCHR4CaHTTkFkQ?e=f6cddG|CircuitPro 3.0 PL - Software Guide.pdf]]\\ 
-Vacuum system manual: [[https://drive.google.com/file/d/1hqnQRs0nk9Gr2x3jGlLfUgmQC5OFKuzb/view?usp=sharing|Dust Extraction Manual CSA 600 iSeries-e-1-0.pdf]]\\ +Vacuum system manual: [[https://gtvault.sharepoint.com/:b:/s/HiveMakerspace/Edt3AuJWGCBOkM6wxr56268BpM_O1znw6J4flrg26w2iow?e=AW6e4e|Dust Extraction Manual CSA 600 iSeries-e-1-0.pdf]]\\ 
-Optimizing your process: [[https://drive.google.com/file/d/1rF-XXszzSLil9l0rhl82kTUsCyUagpYU/view?usp=sharing|Protolaser - Optimization.pdf]]+Optimizing your process: [[https://gtvault.sharepoint.com/:b:/s/HiveMakerspace/EZGQyfhrC0BItpbSxd_rjRQBzDyNWUubu-RCuJr6a3OI9A?e=5oMu0N|Protolaser - Optimization.pdf]]
 ---- ----
 ===Q & A=== ===Q & A===
 +** What materials have been used successfully? ** \\
 +This is a running list of materials that we, or someone we know of, have successfully etched and/or cut. //(Last updated: 2022-06-22)//
 +  * 0.5oz (18um)/1oz (35um) copper on FR4
 +  * 5mil/0.125mm polyamide
 +  * Polyester (PET) (1mil and 2mil) [Kapton settings]
 +  * Rogers TMM 10i
 +
 ** Using a "new" material ** \\ ** Using a "new" material ** \\
-So you have a material that either isn't in the laser's material list, or maybe you just want to play around with the settings. Exciting! Head over to our [[https://docs.google.com/document/d/1cSzj7JneW4bxKN7n9ntSDFMEgimxm6dbDMw8x6RknpE/edit?usp=sharing|ProtoLaser: New Material]] document for how to do this.+So you have a material that either isn't in the laser's material list, or maybe you just want to play around with the settings. Exciting! Head over to our [[https://gtvault.sharepoint.com/:w:/s/HiveMakerspace/EShrwNPAMH1Cj3cE3pg5h8QB6r3JP-XtLghmQcU96-fNfA?e=Ska4Ud|ProtoLaser: New Material]] document for how to do this. You can also see below for optimizing this process. 
 + 
 +** Optimization **\\ 
 +The ProtoLaser can be a very powerful tool. If you're working carefully with it, and you want to know more details about how the tool works, and how to better optimize your process, please see LPKF's [[https://gtvault.sharepoint.com/:b:/s/HiveMakerspace/EZGQyfhrC0BItpbSxd_rjRQBzDyNWUubu-RCuJr6a3OI9A?e=nbVu4k|Protolaser - Optimization.pdf]] document. This has proven to be useful for some users in the past. You can also contact LPKF directly at [[lasersupport@lpkfusa.com]]. A quick breakdown of optimizing is to look at the etch under a microscope with a set of tweezers in hand. Try to lift one of the stuck-on strips with the tweezers. If the ends of the strip are stuck, adjust the Mark Speed of the "Contour" tool down by 10%. If the sides are stuck, adjust the Mark Speed of the "Hatch" tool down by 10%. If the entire strip is stuck, adjust the Mark Speed of the "Heat" tool down by 10%. Repeat this until the etch is better for you. 
 + 
 +**Adjusting the breakout tabs** 
 +If you're running a single-sided laser-only process, you can adjust the breakout tabs that connect the board to the substrate, both their position and size. See "[[pcb-help_pl_breakoutTabs|Adjusting Breakout Tabs on the Laser]]" for details. 
 ---- ----
 === Common processing errors === === Common processing errors ===
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   * **The bottom/top didn’t etch completely.**   * **The bottom/top didn’t etch completely.**
-You can either restart the process entirely (hit the Play button, see figure 32) or right click on “Top Side” (or “Bottom side”) under “Processing” on the left, and click “Process from here” to restart the top (or bottom) side processing with top (or bottom) side alignment.+You can either restart the process entirely (hit the Play button, see figure 32) or right click on “Top Side” (or “Bottom side”) under “Processing” on the left, and click “Process from here” to restart the top (or bottom) side processing with top (or bottom) side alignment. You can also do this for an individual tool or an individual tool for a single scan field through the "Scan Fields" drop-down in the same area.  
 + 
 +A more involved, but better long-term, solution is to make your own material settings: [[https://gtvault.sharepoint.com/:w:/s/HiveMakerspace/EShrwNPAMH1Cj3cE3pg5h8QB6r3JP-XtLghmQcU96-fNfA?e=Ska4Ud|ProtoLaser: New Material]]. It's not hard to do, though adjusting the settings can be time consuming. A quick thing to do it to look at the etch under a microscope with a set of tweezers in hand. Try to lift one of the stuck-on strips with the tweezers. If the ends of the strip are stuck, adjust the Mark Speed of the "Contour" tool down by 10%. If the sides are stuck, adjust the Mark Speed of the "Hatch" tool down by 10%. If the entire strip is stuck, adjust the Mark Speed of the "Heat" tool down by 10%. Repeat this until the etch is better for you. See LPKF's [[https://gtvault.sharepoint.com/:b:/s/HiveMakerspace/EZGQyfhrC0BItpbSxd_rjRQBzDyNWUubu-RCuJr6a3OI9A?e=nbVu4k|Protolaser - Optimization.pdf]] document for more details on this process. **//DO NOT ADJUST THE DEFAULT MATERIALS!!//** Only adjust a custom material that you've created.
  
   * **The board is/is not flipped in the Processing tab.**   * **The board is/is not flipped in the Processing tab.**
 On the left of the screen, make sure nothing is selected under “Processing”. If there is, hold down either CTRL (on Windows) or the command key (on Mac) and then left click to de-select it. If that doesn’t fix it, you can select either “Bottom Side” or “Top Side” (again, on the left) to force the correct orientation. You can try starting the project over again if this doesn’t solve it as well. Sometimes, the software has bugs. On the left of the screen, make sure nothing is selected under “Processing”. If there is, hold down either CTRL (on Windows) or the command key (on Mac) and then left click to de-select it. If that doesn’t fix it, you can select either “Bottom Side” or “Top Side” (again, on the left) to force the correct orientation. You can try starting the project over again if this doesn’t solve it as well. Sometimes, the software has bugs.
 +
 +  * **The toolpath generates drilling or cutting operations.**
 +Usually, this happens because the "supported by ProtoMat" box was not checked when you selected the template. Because the ProtoLaser does not know that you are using the ProtoMat for drilling and contour routing, it will try to do it itself. Reselect the template, making sure this box is checked.
  
   * **The software throws and "Insufficient pressure" error.**   * **The software throws and "Insufficient pressure" error.**
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     * //Potential issue:// The vacuum hose(s) may be clogged.     * //Potential issue:// The vacuum hose(s) may be clogged.
       * There are two vacuum hoses. One runs from the extraction hood (the round plastic bit inside the main bay) to the rear interior wall of the tool, and the second runs from the outside backside of the tool to the vacuum system (the tall white box to the tool’s right). You should be able to remove both of these and check for clogs.       * There are two vacuum hoses. One runs from the extraction hood (the round plastic bit inside the main bay) to the rear interior wall of the tool, and the second runs from the outside backside of the tool to the vacuum system (the tall white box to the tool’s right). You should be able to remove both of these and check for clogs.
 +    * //Potential issue:// If your substrate is very small, not enough of the bed may be covered for proper vacuum pressure.
 +      * Tape down an old piece of 8”x12” FR4 on the bed. Then, secure your sample inside one of the cutouts. If the FR4 has a lot of holes, try covering some of them with tape.
  • pcb-help_pl.1610918521.txt.gz
  • Last modified: 2021/01/17 16:22
  • by benh