LPKF ProtoMat S104

LPKF ProtoMat S104 – Circuit Board Plotter & PCB Milling Machine

The LPKF ProtoMat S104 is a top-of-the-line, automated circuit board plotter engineered specifically for rapid in-house PCB prototyping. Operating as a clean, chemical-free alternative or supplement to traditional wet etching, the S104 handles delicate insulation milling, drilling, contour routing, and solder paste dispensing with extreme accuracy. It allows engineers, researchers, and students to go from a digital EDA layout to a fully functional, dual-sided printed circuit board in a matter of minutes.

Why Use the LPKF ProtoMat S104 in Our Lab?

The ProtoMat S104 removes the friction of waiting days or weeks for external PCB fabrication houses. Designed for high precision, it processes single- and double-sided FR4 copper-clad laminates, RF/microwave substrates, and flexible circuits directly from standard Gerber files. Features like automated tool changing, camera-assisted optical alignment, and a integrated vacuum bed make it accessible while maintaining industrial-grade tolerances.

Key Advantages:

• Rapid In-House Turnaround: Produce prototype boards in-house—a standard 5 × 5 cm board takes roughly 10 minutes per side.
• Automatic Tool Change (20 Slots): The machine automatically switches between micro-drills, contour routers, and insulation cutters during execution without manual intervention.
• Optical Camera Alignment: Integrated fiducial camera registers board location instantly, ensuring perfect front-to-back alignment for double-sided PCBs.
• Integrated Solder Paste Dispenser: Built-in pneumatic dispenser applies solder paste directly onto SMD pads, prepping the board for reflow soldering.
• Chemical-Free Prototyping: Mechanically etches copper layers via high-speed milling (up to 100,000 RPM spindle), eliminating hazardous chemical waste.

Overview at a Glance

• Model: ProtoMat S104
• Manufacturer: LPKF Laser & Electronics
• Machine Type: High-Precision Circuit Board Plotter / PCB Mill
• Category: Prototyping > Electronics & PCB Fabrication
• Machine Status: Ready to use (pre-calibrated for PCB materials)
• Software Pipeline: Accepts Gerber (RS-274X) and Excellon drill files exported from KiCad, EAGLE, Altium, or Fusion 360 into LPKF CircuitPro.

Technical Specifications & Performance

• Spindle Speed: Software-controlled up to 100,000 RPM
• Max. Working Area: 229 × 305 × 22 mm (9″ × 12″ × 0.8″)
• Milling Width / Line Spacing: Down to 100 µm (4 mil) trace/space
• Repeatability / Accuracy: ±0.001 mm (±0.04 mil) / ±0.005 mm (±0.2 mil)
• Substrate Hold-Down: Integrated honeycomb vacuum table with pneumatic clamps
• Vias & Through-Hole Plating: Compatible with chemical-free mechanical via-riveting and LPKF ProConduct chemical-free through-hole plating kits

Pricing & Material Costs

• Billing Structure: Material costs are calculated transparently based on the rectangular bounding box around your board.
• Single-Sided FR4: €0.15 per cm² (e.g., under €4.00 for a 5 × 5 cm board)
• Double-Sided FR4: €0.30 per cm²

Applications & Use Cases

• Rapid PCB Prototyping: Fabricate analog, digital, and mixed-signal circuit boards for immediate testing and iteration.
• RF & Microwave Circuits: Precision milling of high-frequency substrates requiring clean edge geometries and controlled dielectric gaps.
• SMD Surface Preparation: Dispense solder paste on fine-pitch surface-mount pads prior to pick-and-place assembly.
• Custom Enclosure / Panel Fronts: Cut and engrave thin plastic, acrylic, or soft metal faceplates when specialized precision is required.

Important Operating & Calibration Notes

• Dedicated PCB Calibration: To guarantee sub-millimeter depth precision on copper foil, this mill is kept strictly calibrated for standard PCB laminates. For general acrylic or aluminum milling, please use our CNC routers or laser cutters.
• Tool Wear & Spoilboard: Always verify the vacuum table spoilboard is clean before mounting substrate to prevent Z-height discrepancies.
• Dust Extraction: The integrated vacuum exhaust must be operational during all milling runs to collect fine fiberglass dust (FR4).