spacedcowboy@... wrote:
> Hi all,
>
> Just wondering if anyone had used/heard-of the HW-K1000 machine seen at http://www.tradevv.com/chinasuppliers/huawen_p_17944a/china-Professional-Through-hole-Plating-Machine.html
>
> I'm thinking about getting one, and am just trying to see if I'll be breaking new ground, or if someone else can give me the benefit of their wisdom :)
>
> To stave off the inevitable "I don't see why you don't just get a board-house to do it" comments, let me explain: it's about the time, not the expense. Case in point: I once took a week off work, had sent off my board (to PCB-pool) and was all set to work on it over my vacation. Board came back and in 10 minutes I realised I'd mirror'ed one of the module pinouts. There's no easy way to patch 100 pins on a small circuit board, so I had to send it off again - even with the ($$$) quick turnaround, it still only got here on the Friday of my week's
> vacation. Sure - it's entirely my own fault for being careless, but I realised then that it wasn't the cost that was important to me, it was the turnaround time... Besides, if it costs ~$100 including P&P per board, and you do 15 of them, you've covered the cost of the above machine...
>
> My main concern (and I have a question in with the manufacturers) is the chemistry. Since Chinese customs prevents them from shipping the chemistry to me, I'll have to find out what it is they use, and source it in the US. Here's hoping that can be overcome :)
>
> Simon
>
A quick look at the spec's shows 16 mil (0.4mm) minimum hole size and
2.5:1 aspect ratio. Not so hot... A good board house can do 8 mil (0.2
mm) holes with 10:1 aspect ratios all day long.
Just my $0.02.
Bruce