At CERcuits, we provide laser-cut alumina 96 substrates with a high precision made to your design. Simply complete the form above and click ‘calculate’ to get a quote. If you like the price, you can order immediately or change some parameters.
Alumina, also known as Aluminum Oxide or Al2O3, is a hard-wearing advanced technical ceramic material frequently used in a wide variety of industrial, medical, and electronic applications. After firing, flat substrates can only be precisely machined using laser or diamond methods. The benefits of the materials are high hardness and wear resistance, low erosion levels, high-temperature resistance, high-temperature conductivity, corrosion resistance, and bio-inertness. More information can be found in the material table below.
The following processes are possible:
- Cutting
- Drilling
- Milling
- Laser scribing (click for more info)
- Laser Marking
Dimensions & thicknesses of laser-cut alumina :
Available thicknesses | Max dimensions |
---|---|
0.25mm / 0.010" | Standard: 110 mm x 110 mm / 4.3 in x 4.3 in Special: 160 mm x 110 mm / 4.3 in x 6.3 in |
0.38mm / 0.015" | Standard: 110 mm x 110 mm / 4.3 in x 4.3 in Special: 185 mm x 133 mm / 5.2 in x 7.3 in |
0.50mm / 0.020" | Standard: 110 mm x 110 mm / 4.3 in x 4.3 in Special: 160 mm x 133 mm / 5.2 in x 6.3 in |
0.63mm / 0.025" | Standard: 110 mm x 110 mm / 4.3 in x 4.3 in Special: 160 mm x 110 mm / 4.3 in x 6.3 in |
0.76mm / 0.030" | Standard: 110 mm x 110 mm / 4.3 in x 4.3 in Special: 160 mm x 110 mm / 4.3 in x 6.3 in |
1.00mm / 0.040" | Standard: 110 mm x 110 mm / 4.3 in x 4.3 in Special: 200 mm x 165 mm / 6.5 in x 7.9 in |
1.50mm / 0.050" | Standard: 110 mm x 110 mm / 4.3 in x 4.3 in Special: 160 mm x 110 mm / 4.3 in x 6.3 in |
Quotes for standard max dimensions can be generated via the calculator above. For special (larger) sizes, please contact us.
Tolerances:
Thickness
- 0.25mm: +/- 0.05 (0.015″ +/- 0.002)
- 0.38mm: +/-0.05 (0.015″ +/-0.002)
- 0.5mm: +/-0.05 (0.020″ +/-0.002)
- 0.63mm +/-0.06 (0.025″ +/-0.002)
- 0.76mm +/-0.8 (0.030″ +/-0.003)
- 1mm +/-0.10 (0.040″ +/-0.004)
- 1.5mm: +/- 0.12 (0.050″ +/-0.005)
- 2mm: -0.2 / +0.5 (0.080″ -0.080 / +0.020)
Edge & hole tapering:
- <1mm: =<5%
- >1mm: up to 10%
Discolorations & cutting marks
- standard: allowed
- Special: please contact us
Lead time: An estimated lead time is provided on the quote above, subject to material availability (you can check our stock here). For faster lead times, please contact us.
Machining tolerances
Item | Thickness | Standard tolerance |
---|---|---|
Dimensional L X W | ≤0.635mm | +0.15mm / -0.05mm |
>0.635 & ≤ 1mm | +0.20mm / -0.05mm | |
> 1mm | +0.25mm / -0.05mm | |
Holes & Lines | ≤0.635mm | +0.15mm / -0.05mm |
>0.635 & ≤ 1mm | +0.20mm / -0.05mm | |
> 1mm | +0.25mm / -0.05mm | |
Hole Diameter | ≤5mm | +/- 0.05mm |
>5mm | +/-0.1mm |
We can accept the following file types for your drawings
- DXF, DWG
- Step
- Gerber
Aluminum Oxide (Al2O3) material properties (96% grade) :
Property | Items | Unit | Al2O3 96% |
---|---|---|---|
Physical | Color | - | White |
Material - Aluminium Oxide | % | 96% | |
Water absorption | % | 0 | |
Reflectivity | % | 94 | |
Electrical | Dielectric Constant (1MHz) | - | 9-10 |
Dielectric Loss | *10^-4 | 3 | |
Dielectric strength | MV/m or KV/mm | >15 | |
Insulation/Volume resistance | Ω·cm | >10^14 | |
Mechanical | Density after Sintering (Bulk density) | g/cm3 | >3.7 |
flexural Strength (3 point) | Mpa | >400 | |
Surface Roughness | μm | 0.2~0.75 | |
Camber | Lenght% | ≦2 | |
Thermal | Coefficient of Thermal Expansion (CTE) | ppm/°C | 6.5-7.5 |
Coefficient of Thermal Expansion (CTE) RT~500 °C | ppm/°C | 6.5-8.0 | |
Thermal Conductivity (25°C) | W/m‧K | 24 | |
* Reflectivity test reference thickness of 1mm |
Frequently asked questions about our laser machined alumina services:
How are the ceramic substrates machined?
We use 100% laser processes. This is the best way to ensure precise and clean milling and drilling of the ceramic.
What is laser scribing
Laser scribing is drilling a series of blind holes in a line to create a weak spot in the material and ensure a clean cut when breaking out. We have a full page dedicated to this technique. Read more about laser scribing here.
How can I single out a panel?
If you have chosen to add laser scribing, you can simply break out the individual design from a panel with manual force. it will require a bit of practice initially bit will go very fast after a few rounds. You will notice that designs will snap-off along the scribing line. Remember to always snap off the shortest scribing lines first. Read more here.
If you are unsure about doing it in, build a small jig that holds the rest of the panel in place while snapping off individual designs.
What type of design files can you accept ?
Answer: We prefer Gerber or ODB++ format but can also accept most other vector/CAD formats (DXF, DWG, SVG, AI, ...).
Also 3D designs are possible to be made (.step, .stl, .stp).
And if your design is simple, we can also work of a pdf file or even a simple word document or a drawing as long as you clarify all relevant dimensions.
We cannot work with native files from PCB design files (for example Altium's .pcbdoc, Eagles '.brd or KiCad .kicad files)