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96 I-CONNECT007 MAGAZINE I APRIL 2026 D R I V I N G I N N OVAT I O N W hen I first joined Schmoll Maschinen, I brought experience from almost every PCB process, except for laser. As I im- mersed myself in laser processing, I realized why it can seem so daunting to a newcomer. The com- plexity arises from three intersecting factors: • A vast variety of laser sources: CO 2 , UV-na- no, green-pico, UV-pico, IR-pico, and others • A diverse range of applications: Drilling, cut- ting, ablation, and more • An extensive list of materials: These have vastly different absorption rates Choosing the right machine or laser source is rarely trivial. Even for experienced engineers, answering "Which source is best?" requires exam- ining the business's specific goals. Stefan Rung and I have written this article to help simplify that decision-making process, covering the most com- mon scenarios from the perspective of someone building their knowledge from the ground up. Intro to Laser Sources In laser material processing, the laser source is only half the story. The other half is time. When we talk about nano, pico, and femto, we are discuss- ing pulse duration, meaning the amount of time the laser beam actually touches the material. Under- standing this distinction is the difference between a burned via and a surgical via (Figure 1). 1. Microsecond (10 -6 s): The Industrial Workhorse (CO 2 ) Most CO 2 lasers used in PCB drilling operate in the microsecond range. BY S I M O N K H ES I N W I T H ST E FA N R U N G, S C H M O L L M AS C H I N E N SELECTING THE RIGHT Laser Source