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Subject: Re: [Homebrew_PCBs] Why not use plated-through hole technology to print a circuit?

From: Charles R Patton <charles.r.patton@...>
Date: 2013-08-17

Not very practical. The electroless copper first laid down is very thin
-- just enough copper to get electrical conductivity. Furthermore you
have to have connections to all traces (no isolated traces) to allow the
electroplating to occur. There is a variation though that has been used
over the years.
1) dip the plastic PCB (already drilled) in an electroless solution to
establish a conductive surface.
2) put on a reverse (i.e. traces are exposed, the rest of the bd is
covered) resist
3) electroplate a working thickness 1/2oz, 1oz, or whatever thickness
you're after (and since the holes are also conductive at this point,
they'll be plated, too)
4) strip the resist
5) dip briefly in etchant to strip the electroless flash over the whole
bd (remember it is quite thin and will etch away long before any
significant etching takes place on the traces.)

Regards,
Charles R. Patton


On 8/17/2013 3:00 AM, theminde@... wrote:
>
> Hello group.
>
> When manufacturers of boards plate through the holes they use some
> kind of special fluid solution, this attracts copper thus the hole is
> plated in copper.
>
> So I was wondering if it is possible to use the same solution to print
> the actual pattern, afterwards transferring copper (sulphate?) to
> build up the tracks.
>
> Regards
>



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