@sprite_tm Last I checked, Ax-Man surplus in St. Paul, MN had a box of 40-pin DIP leadframes. I don't see them on their website but maybe you can call or email them and ask. You may have to describe them or send a photo though.
@sprite_tm Apparently you can also cut through ~1mm copper, brass, or steel with one of those cheaper galvo fiber laser metal engravers, though the process doesn't look very fast or clean. Good excuse for a new tool though.
@sprite_tm $750? where? I'm thinking it wouldn't work below 30 watts or so, and fiber lasers run over $3000 for that.