LPKF ProtoLaser U4 in the Institute of Electronics

ProtoLaser U4 uses an optically guided laser with a wavelength of 355 nanometres in the UV spectrum to provide high-resolution processing of printed circuit boards. This device enables convenient and precise processing of many groups of materials without additional tools or chemical reagents. It is extremely precise, which makes it perfect for working on specialised substrates and in increasingly smaller dimensions.

Only few institutions in Poland have a device of this generation at their disposal. As emphasised by Dr Jakub Sorocki, ProtoLaser U4 will above all allow for replacing the current method for making printed circuit boards and increase the resolution and precision of electronic circuits which, in case of microwave circuits, have very small dimensions. As a result, we will be able to develop microwave circuits operating in a range up to 100 GHz. For example, faster Internet requires radio communication at a higher frequency, hence the tendency to extend the frequencies of radio circuits further and further. Interestingly, a 5G network has a range of 700 MHz – 26 GHz.

The processing of a board takes around one hour and is preceded by a few-stage process. Nevertheless, both the software and the laser are user-friendly and intuitive, which considerably facilitates and speeds up the work.

The ProtoLaser U4 was purchased with funds from the Instiute of Electronics and the IDUB programme.