LPKF Equips German Armed Forces with Circuit Board Plotters

Estimated reading time: 1 minute

More than 50 challenging civilian occupations await young people at the Bundeswehr, and electronics plays an important role in some of them.

The choice of processes used demonstrates the value that the Bundeswehr trainers place on a professional setting. With over 20 newly purchased ProtoMat E44 circuit board plotters, trainers throughout Germany are relying on an environmentally friendly, chemical-free process for manufacturing single- and double-sided PCBs.

LPKF ProtoMats machine conductive patterns out of fully coated substrates by contour milling. Contact and mounting holes are then drilled. The vision system integrated in the ProtoMat E44 helps reliably detect the substrate position on the working surface to ensure that the same area is covered on the front and back sides.

Working with the mechanical milling process yields a number of advantages. The ProtoMats require little maintenance, take up little space in the development lab, and need no etching chemicals. Through the intuitive system software, trainees can quickly convert their own designs into refined PCB production prototypes. 

Perfect for training and occasional PCB prototyping: Thanks to the vision system the LPKF ProtoMat E44 can also produce double-sided PCB with highest precision. 

About LPKF

LPKF Laser & Electronics AG manufactures machines and laser systems used in electronics fabrication, medical technology, the automotive sector, and the production of solar cells. Around 20 percent of the workforce is engaged in research and development.