Archive of the former Yahoo!Groups mailing list: Homebrew PCBs

previous by date index next by date
  topic list next in topic

Subject: Requesting opinions on cause of striations & pitting.

From: Matt Rhys-Roberts <mattmoose1969@...>
Date: 2014-08-20

Hi, thanks for adding me to the group.

I've just done a quick trial etch, with fair results for my first attempt in years.

A scan of this board is at https://www.sendspace.com/file/5yy3qw , or if that's broken I can repost it again or somewhere else.

I used a 600dpi inkjet transparency (ok I know not great), Mega UVexposure box for 2.5 mins after a 5min pre-heat, sodium metasilicatedeveloper at 20'C for about 3 mins, rinsed, etched with fresh sodium peroxidisulfate at 50'C for about 8 mins, rinsed, then wiped clean withresist stripper.

The main problem I have is that there are fine verticalstreaks of copper remaining on the board, and some track pitting. I canonly think that I should have exposed the board for longer, as perhapsthere was some resist still remaining when I etched the board.

(The bottom of the TQFP footprint got accidentally rubbedaway while I was trying to check if any resist was still clinging, oops!)

I think that the streaking problem is from the resist clinging due to underexposure/underdevelopment, but tell me what you think.

In any case, please would you kindly take a look at the results and give me your opinions?

Many thanks,

Matt.