Laser drilling for improving circuit board manufacturing

Abstract

We reported here a novel technique for laser high speed drillings on Printed Circuit Boards (PCBs). A CNC solid laser based system is developed to drill through and blind vias as an alternative to mechanical drilling. The system employs an Acousto-Optic Q-switched Nd:YAG laser, a computer control system and an X-Y moving table which can handle up to 400 X 400 mm PCB. With a special designed cavity the laser system works in a pulsed operation in order to generate pulses with width down to 0.5 microseconds and maximum peak power over 10 kW at 10 k repetition rate. Delivered by an improved optical beam transforming system, the focused laser beam can drill holes including blind vias on PCBs with diameter in the range of 0.1 - 0.4 mm and at up to 300 - 500 vias per second (depending on the construction of PCBs). By means of a CNC X-Y moving system, laser pulses with pulse-to-pulse superior repeatability can be fired at desired location on a PCBs with high accuracy. This alternative technology for drilling through or blind vias on PCBs or PWBs (printed wiring boards) will obviously enhance the capability to printed boards manufacturing.