From: rlombardo3@gmail.com   
      
   When I worked as an applications engineer at Apollo Lasers in Los Angeles in   
   the early 1980s, we manufactured CO2 lasers used specifically for laser   
   soldering.  The laser was a CW 20 watt laser -- that isn't peak power of a   
   pulsed laser, that's a full 20 W laser operating continuously.   
      
   We used solder paste and the laser easily melted the solder.  That's the   
   good news.  The bad news is once the laser melted and wicked around the   
   joint, it became highly reflective and the laser energy was reflected onto   
   the epoxy board causing carbonization streaks to occur.   
      
   Apollo Lasers never made a go of this application.  There was one company as   
   I recall that bought the C02 lasers for this purpose, but they had a special   
   application and did lots of customization to be successful.   
      
    - Russ   
      
   "Those who do not study history are bound to repeat it"   
      
      
   "Bill Martin"  wrote in message   
   news:jojtcs$9p4$1@dont-email.me...   
   > Hi,   
   >   
   > Anyone know where I can find data on spectral reflectance of metal alloy,   
   > specifically typical "solder" tin-lead alloy? I'm looking for a wavelength   
   > that is not reflected strongly, if such a thing exists.   
   >   
   > Thanks,   
   > Bill M   
      
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