Came across an interesting video on Youtube, showing the use of a laser to solder components to a pcb:
Although it’s an old video (2010), the concept of using a laser like this doesn’t seem to have been discussed before. Seems like the kind of thing the J Tech Photonics laser upgrade for S3’s could do:
http://jtechphotonics.com/?page_id=3145
It obviously wouldn’t work for components where the solder pad isn’t visible from above (eg QFN and similar), but for everyday stuff that most hobbyists use, it seems reasonable.
Has anyone with a laser capable CNC tried it yet?