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Scott,

To minimize confusion, I have been referring to the systems for imaging 
phototools as "Dry Write Imaging" or "Direct Write Imaging" (DWI) 
systems, and the systems for imaging resist as "Laser Direct Imaging 
(LDI)" systems.  What I know:

Dry Write (phototool) systems:
-----------------------------

Barco has been selling the ELISE plotter system for a few years now.  It 
was the first system of this type and may still be the only system being 
used regularly for production.  There are 6-8 plotters currently 
installed, mostly in Europe.

Gerber announced their PRISM-IR (Crescent-50) plotter system at the IPC 
Expo last year.  They have recently installed their first system.

Orbotech has been testing a prototype system, but I don't think they have 
"officially" announced that they have a product offering yet.

All of these systems use an infrared laser to expose a new and different 
phototool film.  The film consists of a layer of bismuth metal coated 
onto traditional 7 mil (175 um) polyester base with a 12 um protective 
cover layer of polyester.  The film is opaque as delivered and becomes 
clear where it is exposed.  The film is called MasterTool MT-8.  It was 
developed by Agfa and is available from both DuPont and Agfa.

MasterTool was specifically designed to meet the needs of a phototooling 
film for durability, dimensional stability, resolution, etc.  A couple of 
other systems that have been introduced recently, but were not 
specifically designed for phototooling include:

Polaroid Helios uses gallium-arsenide laser diodes to expose a 
photopolymer impregnated with carbon particles.  Exposure causes a shift 
in adhesion properties and then a cover sheet is removed, taking with it 
the exposed polymer.  A protective overcoat is then applied.  I talked 
with an individual from Polaroid about the system while at IPC two years 
ago.  He was exploring possible applications in PWB, but I haven't seen 
any other activity in this industry.

Xerox has a system called Verde Film they are selling into the graphic 
arts and x-ray markets, but I'm not aware of any interest in our market.


Laser Direct Imaging (resist) systems:
-------------------------------------

Laser Imaging Systems (LIS) is a new joint venture between Jenoptik and 
Orbotech.  Their DP-40 imager uses a UV laser and resists that are 
similar to traditional resists in their spectral sensitivity.  It is 
capable of imaging silver phototools as well as resist.

Polyscan has sold LDI systems for a number of years.  They have recently 
been purchased by ETEC.  Their imager also uses a UV laser.  I expect 
that it is capable of imaging silver phototools as well, but I don't that 
it will.

Pentax has shown a system at JPCA each year for the past several years.  
It uses a visible laser to expose a specially sensitized resist in a 
highly automated system.  The imager is expensive and I understand that 
the resist is expensive.

As with any new technology, all of these systems tend to be expensive and 
slower than more traditional resist exposure systems.  New advancements 
in high power laser technology combined with work to develop higher speed 
resists may close that gap in the near future.


I notice there is a workshop on "Direct Write Exposure Techniques" being 
led by Jeff Rittichier of ETEC/Polyscan at the IPC Convention in March.  
He is also presenting a paper on "Advancements in UV Laser Direct 
Imaging".



Bob Seyfert
DuPont Electronics
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Posted: Tue, 04 Feb 97 00:00:01 -0500
Date: Mon, 03 Feb 97 22:26:01 -0500
From: "[log in to unmask]" <"[log in to unmask]"@esds01.mrgate.jlcl01>
To: seyferrl@a1
Subject: Laser Direct Writing


VMSmail To information: [log in to unmask]
Sender's personal name: MAIL-11 Daemon

Looking for some input on laser direct writing:

Who makes LD equipment for phototool writing?
Who makes LD equip. for direct board writing?
Does a machine that does one necessarily do the other?
Any good/bad experiences with LDW (direct board, in particular?)

I've got an old PC Fab mag. from '89 with an add for a Nikon LP3000D
that's supposed to be able to do both phototool and board.  Anybody ever
use this machine? Does it still exist, maybe in a newer model?

Thanks in advance.
	-Scott

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