Title: Nanosecond pulsed laser processing circuits on the copper clad polyimide

Authors: Zhenyuan Jia; Kai Zhao; Wei Liu; Jianwei Ma; Ling Wang

Addresses: Key Laboratory for Precision and Non-Traditional Machining Technology of Ministry of Education, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian, 116024, China ' Key Laboratory for Precision and Non-Traditional Machining Technology of Ministry of Education, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian, 116024, China ' Key Laboratory for Precision and Non-Traditional Machining Technology of Ministry of Education, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian, 116024, China ' Key Laboratory for Precision and Non-Traditional Machining Technology of Ministry of Education, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian, 116024, China ' Key Laboratory for Precision and Non-Traditional Machining Technology of Ministry of Education, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian, 116024, China

Abstract: Precision processing of miniaturised circuits on the surface of three-dimensional (3-D) structure is of great importance for the telecommunication equipment. Laser micro-machining technologies have led the way in the development of innovative solutions in manufacturing high-accuracy circuits. In this paper, fine strip-line of planar helical antenna on the copper clad polyimide (CCPI) is fabricated based on the application of nanosecond pulse laser. In order to obtain the optimised processing parameters for planar helical antenna, ablation experiments of single grooves are performed and the effect of process parameters, such as laser wavelength, single pulse energy density, repetition frequency, scanning speed, laser spot overlap coefficient and milling times, are quantitively analysed. And the strip-line of planar helical antenna is processed under the optimised condition (laser single pulse energy density is 25 J/cm², frequency is 30 kHz, laser spot overlap coefficient is 0.9, and milling times is 1). Experimental results indicate that the minimum width of micro-strip can reach 50 µm, and form error of strip-line edge processed by nanosecond pulse laser is less than ±10 µm, which could match the geometric accuracy requirement of the micro-strip antenna.

Keywords: nanosecond pulsed lasers; laser processing; circuit manufacturing; copper clad polyimide; CCPI; laser wavelength; single pulse energy density; SPED; laser frequency; laser spot overlap coefficient; scanning speed; milling times; heat affect zone; HAZ; laser micromachining; micro-strip antenna; miniaturised circuits.

DOI: 10.1504/IJMMM.2014.060547

International Journal of Machining and Machinability of Materials, 2014 Vol.15 No.3/4, pp.157 - 173

Received: 31 Aug 2013
Accepted: 11 Oct 2013
Published online: 13 May 2014 *

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