By Their Powers Combined, a CNC Mill and a Fiber Laser Give Mikey Sklar Crisp, Clean DIY PCBs

Maker Mikey Sklar has been experimenting with DIY printed circuit boards — but rather than the usual toner transfer and etch approach, has put two other tools to work: a CNC mill and a fiber laser, each making up for where the other lacks.
“You can make multiple custom circuit boards in under an hour using a CNC [mill] and a fiber laser,” Sklar explains. “A CNC is ideal for making precise, deep cuts and drilling holes. We can use a 50-cent blank PCB and cut out three small circuit boards in less than nine minutes. While a fiber laser is capable of these tasks, it is better suited for delicate operations like trace cutting and engraving.”