A Comprehensive Guide To Buying Laser

Drilling Machines

The laser drilling machines make use of various laser technologies such as the image

projection, percussion, direct writing and trepanning. These technologies determine

the performance, durability, the output, efficiency and lifespan of the drilling machine

and directly contribute to the factors that should be put in place by anyone who need

to buy these drilling machines.

How to Choose Drilling Machines

When you need to buy any type of laser engraving machines, be it Printed Circuit

Board (PCB) drilling machines or the laser drilling machines there are a number of

factors that you should put into considerations.

1. The Laser Light Technology Used

Make a choice from the four basic laser technologies that determine the mode of

operation of the drilling machine. These are

(a) Image Projection and Direct writing

Also known as mask illumination, this is a technique where patterns are transferred to

the material by making use of an imaging lens that collects and projects the laser light

shining through a custom mask.

(b)Direct writing

This technique makes use of a focused laser beam that is steered into the shape of

your pattern by a scanner while the material is being kept stationary through the

fine-kerf cutting process.

(c) Percussion Laser Drilling

In this technique, the laser is delivered in rapid bursts of pulse that are meant to

evaporate layer by layer without the use of any strata or striation defects.

(d) Trepanning Laser Drilling

The technique makes us of the removal of a cylindrical core or circular disk from a

substrate. The position of the substrate or the beam is then moved in conjunction with

a predetermined beam in order to achieve the desired edge quality, resolution, and

production throughput.

2.The specifications and Tolerance of the Drilling Machine

When making a purchase for these machines, make sure that the resolution of

features that are produced by the laser micro-hole drilling are proportional to the

beam quality and the wavelength used. Make sure that the positional accuracy on the

micron level allows you to make unique parts that are not achievable using other

conventional methods.

3. The Cutting speed of the Drilling Machine

The cutting speed is the rate expressed in feet per minute. Have an understanding of

the factors that affect the cutting speed. These factors are;

- The kind of material being drilled (Speed is high in soft materials)

- The cutting tool material (Speed is high in hard materials)

- The quantity of the hole design

- The efficiency and use of the cutting fluid

- The size and type of the drilling machine.

Understanding the feed is another important aspect. The feed is the distance that

the drill moves into a work piece for each complete turn of the drill made.

4. The Drilling Machine Age and Conditions

Access the condition of the machine that you are about to buy. Make a choice

between new machine and the refurbished or second-hand ones. The performance of

the machine is going to be determined by;

- The management of equipment

- The working conditions

- Condition tools

5. The Stability of the Control System

If the control system of the PCB drilling machine is unstable, it will make the

machine to be slow. Thus, is because the numerical control systems of the CPU and

the hard drive heat cause system instability. In case of any virus infection on the hard

disk, or if the software has any defects, it will make the production to be slow, leading

to cutting errors and affecting the cutting quality.

6. Cost

The cost of the laser drilling machine is an obvious consideration factor. The cost

of the machine will depend on the cutting accuracy, the size of the drilling machine,

the performance, and output efficiency. The laser technique type and the state of the

machine will have a role to play in determining the final price of the equipment.

7. Setup and Installation

Make sure that you get the required documentation and assistance that will guide

you in the setting up and installing the components of the drilling machine.

8. The Beam quality

Have and understanding of the factors that affect the beam quality and understand

how they have been incorporated in the drilling machine. These factors include the

internal components such as the cavity mirrors, the flash lamps, the diodes and the

delivery optics.

9. Warranty

Look at the warranty that has been placed on the machine and how authentic the

PCB drilling machine is. Warranty offers you the flexibility and the security as you

work on the purchased equipment.

10. Deliverability

The machine deliverability is another important factor that should not be

overlooked. You would not like to buy a drilling machine that would take centuries to

be delivered