May 3rd, 2010
A-Laser is one division within a family that forms FCT Assembly. In addition to precision parts manufacturing, we produce SMT stencils, leaded and lead-free solder bar, flux , and paste, and offer metal reclain services. Most of this work focuses on the contract manufacturers and OEM’s related to the PCB industry. A-Laser covers both more of a broad and narrow spectrum. Broad in that we work with vastly different companies each day, but narrow because we provide a very niche service. Our lasers are some of the most precise lasers at work in the United States right now and UV frequency lasers that have the ability to route rather than simply drill or etch are dificult to find. UV laser cutting provides very high quality parts without the mess associated with our other hot cutting systems.
Fineline Stencil uses similar high precision IR frequency lasers to cut their products. The equipment, combined with excellent customer support and quick turn times, has positioned Fine Line as one of the premier stencil providers in the nation.
FCT Solder has a leg up on the lead free solder market as a liscensee of Nijon Superior’s Sn100c. This product, among many others is helping FCT Solder to lead the way as new demands are placed on circuit board manufacturers.
FCT Recovery is our newest division aimed at reclaim services. Our focus is offering a transparent and simple means to dispose of materials that take up space and create hassles for manufacturers.
These companies share a goal of high quality, excellent service, and value.
Tags: The divisions of FCT Assembly
Posted in General Laser Cutting News | 1 Comment »
April 30th, 2010
We are laser cutting silicon using our UV frequency lasers and are exploring the applications for this material is mems devices. The UV lasers give us a very precise and very clean cut, but we are still hoping to remove about 3 microns of debris. The laser systems are set up with a very good vacuum system already, but we are wondering if we should look for added vacuum on these jobs or try to create some sort of mask. The laser cut mask idea is interesting and we will run trials to see if this has any effect on the substrate. We hoped there would be an easy cleaning method available for these precision parts, but are being told that those will not work and we have to stop it before being deposited. Laser cut mems applications are growing and we have some of the best equipment to meet these demands.
Tags: laser cutting silicon
Posted in UV laser cutting Service | 1 Comment »
April 28th, 2010
A-Laser is now an ITAR registered laser cutting service. The process was a few months long, which really isn’t all that awful. It could have been much longer had we not been given assistance from customers that have already been through the registration themselves.
Tags: Itar Certification
Posted in General Laser Cutting News | No Comments »
April 26th, 2010
A-laser will be exhibiting laser cutting services next week at the DelMar Electronics show. Please come by booth 521 for a visit. I will bring sample parts to show off our UV and IR laser capabilities.
Tags: A-laser exhibiting at the DelMar Electronics show
Posted in General Laser Cutting News | No Comments »
April 23rd, 2010
I spent the day walking through BioMed device Boston to review opportunities for us to share our laser cutting services with the market in the New England region. We know that our capabilities match the needs of medical industry applications, but there are so many different applications that it is hard to sort through the bad to get to the good laser cutting opportunities. We do our best to be easy to find for these customers and tools like this blog are very useful. Laser cutting within the medical industry can involve many facets; such as scribing, welding, tubular cutting, and, our specialty, precision laser applications for flat sheet stock.
Tags: Medical UV laser cutting opportunities
Posted in General Laser Cutting News | No Comments »
April 22nd, 2010
Kapton drilled array near dime
comparison of UV laser drilled holes to dime
Tags: UV laser drilling Kapton near dime pics
Posted in UV laser cutting Service | No Comments »
April 19th, 2010
A-laser has focused on the NdYag applications for our laser cutting services, but we are curious about taking on other equipment to compliment our current capabilities. There is some very interesting CO2 equipment out there, as well as tube cutting systems. Laser cutting services are widely varied, because materials dictate the equipment that is ideal for the application. For instance, we use our frequency tripled NdYag lasers to cut polyimide materials (Kapton, Cirlex, Pyralux) because it provides a very clean cut in the most optimal speed. This material can be cut with CO2 laser systems, but the cut quality isn’t even close. Ceramic materials, such as Alumina, cut very well on CO2 lasers, but our UV lasers struggle to cut them once past 10 mil thicknesses. Laser applications are increasing all the time and we want to make sure our laser cutting services are equipped to handle as many of the opportunities as possible.
Tags: Diversifying our laser cutting services
Posted in General Laser Cutting News | No Comments »
April 16th, 2010
A-laser is looking to create a few standard PN’s to create easier ordering for some of our laser cutting services, especially our laser cut reball stencils. This is one of the products that we see the most reorders from, thus making it an ideal starting point for an online shopping opportunity for our laser cutting service customers. Reball stencils come in hundreds of different designs, so we will begin with those that we see most often. An item we are curoius about is whether there would be value to offering this product using both PEEK and Kapton materials. Both offer exceptional insulating properties, though one is a thermoset and the other a thermoplastic. These stencils can typically be cut and shipped within 24 hours of receiving the order due to the ease fo CAD driven cutting processes. We want to make sure we are the highest quality laser cutting service around and it’s important to drive toward ease of access as well.
Tags: More about laser cut reball stencils
Posted in UV laser cutting Service | No Comments »
April 14th, 2010
A-laser, the laser cutting service division from FCT Assembly, has been cutting BGA reball stencils for a number of years. Customers buy reball stencils from us due to the superior quality of the cut, accuracy of the design and fine pitch detail we are able to achieve. UV laser cutting provides a very clean part every time without the need for added cleaning procesess to remove high levels of carbon. We also know that turn time can be critical for these pieces and can typically get them out within 24 hours of an order placement. Our laser cutting applications are widely varied, but this is one that we have done for years and know well.
Tags: laser cutting BGA reball stencils
Posted in UV laser cutting Service | No Comments »
April 12th, 2010
We have seen many flat spring designs that are ideal for our laser cutting services. The size and intricacy of the patterns requires a cutting method that holds tight tolerances, has little thermal influence, and can complete small radii. Our laser cutting experience is valuable here, because it goes beyond equipment to the talent of our CAD and laser operating team.
Tags: Laser micromachining flat springs 2
Posted in IR Laser Cutting Services | No Comments »
