SDG #260 Print custom graphics directly to PCB with the Comgrow Z1 Laser

The Comgrow Z1 is a 400 x 400 mm diode laser engraver aimed at hobbyists, and this review looks at it from an unusual angle: using it as a tool for the electronics bench rather than for cutting plywood and leather. The specific goal is marking custom artwork, logos and text directly onto finished PCBs, something that normally has to be designed into the silkscreen layer before the board is manufactured.

Assembly, the bundled hardware and the software workflow are covered first, with the machine driven through LightBurn rather than the more basic bundled options. That matters for anyone weighing up the total cost, since a capable laser controller package is often a separate purchase. A 3D printed jig is used to hold boards repeatably, which is a sensible touch if you plan to mark more than one board at a time.

The more valuable part of the review is the failure analysis. Early attempts produce inconsistent results, and working through the causes covers focus height, laser power and speed settings, and how different solder mask colours and surface finishes respond to a blue diode laser. The eventual fixes are practical and repeatable, which is far more useful to a buyer than a single clean demo run.

The included 24 V power supply is also opened up and inspected, following the channel’s usual habit of checking whether the bundled electronics are safe and adequately specified. Overall this is a realistic look at what a mid range diode laser can and cannot do for small run PCB personalisation, panel marking and enclosure labelling.