--- In
Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com, "Robert" <oceanartscasino@...> wrote:
>
> anybody know anything about this stuff?
>
> http://www.kimoto.co.jp/english/products/kimotect.html
>
>
>
> Robert
>
I never used this Kimoto product but did use similar films in the past. This type of film is applied with a laminator the the actual film negative or positive to protect it from abrasion and contamination during the photoresist exposure process.
The main application is for exposing liquid photoimageable solder mask coatings. The printed wiring panel is coated with liquid solder mask and then oven cured until it is no longer "tacky" but not fully cured. Even though the solder mask is now "tack free" sometimes the phototool film will still get stuck to the panel while being exposed. This is usually due to the vacuum frame used during the process.
Films like the Kimoto product can be applied to the phototool and even coated with a spray on release agent to allow removal of the photo film from the PWB panel after UV expoure while offering full protection to the main photo film.
The added thickness of the protective film isn't a problem as long as the UV exposure unit has a collimated light soure.