Homebrew PCBs

I found 
<http://www.lpkfusa.com/RapidPCB/ThroughHolePlating/proconduct.htm> 
very interesting. They have a paste that is essentially squeegeed 
into the holes, vacuumed out to clear the center of the hole,  then 
baked in an oven to cure. They have a kit,l but the active paste is 
available for $240 for 20 of the 2.5 gm packages. Not cheap, but not 
too bad, especially if you can reuse open packets.

Mark


At 02:46 PM 1/20/2009, you wrote:

>The problem seems there isn't any. Manufactures and resellers make a lot
>of money from this. You will only find the 'users manual'. The most
>'newbie' thing out there is Markus Zingg page that is not found
>googling. (available on links here, thanks!)
>My starting point was those manuals and MSDS from megauk, and some other
>manufactures easyly find googling. Then I read what pcb's manufactures
>say about they process in about 250 boardhouse webpages. Then google
>about those process. Found almost nothing, except patents and so. The
>link i give in the last post about pcb hole plating activation history
>is the most valuable thing i found.
>
>So
>http://www.megauk.com/datasheets/5050_Data_Sheet_ABC_Panel_Plating_Instructions_(ver.11.08).pdf
>http://www.thinktink.com/stack/volumes/volvi/copplate.htm
>http://electrochem.cwru.edu/ed/encycl/art-e01-electroplat.htm
>http://nr.stpi.org.tw/ejournal/proceedingA/v23n3/365-368.pdf
>
>These are the things that more worth the time reading.
>
>The baths are desmear-activation-platting, and have rinse and cleaners
>baths between them. But for few homemade board activation and plating is
>enough.
>Activation is the most tricky part but is can be done in chemical bath
>of many compositions i already told a mechanical way that can work...
>and found another way.
>Sodium metal is made from electrolysis of salty water. If you could make
>an electrolysis between the two copper layers in a sodium bath of NaOH,
>NaCO3 etc (NaCl shouldn't work) maybe it can leave the sodium inside the
>hole. You need an high impedance power supply for this, limiting current
>should be used. When the board short circuits it should be plated inside
>the holes. (My guess)
>
>Simao
>
>Juan EA7FNJ wrote:
>  >
>  > Hi guys!
>  >
>  > Well, my problem is the chemistry: I would like to find a good guide
>  > about electroplating, but I don't find anything.
>  >
>  > Do you know about a good guide?
>  >
>  > 73
>  >
>  > --- In Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com, Simao Cardoso <simaocardoso@...>
>  > wrote:
>  > >
>  > >
>  > > I have just remembered other thing, once i read from some already dated
>  > > IPC documents, a way to activate the holes, beautiful for it
>  > simplicity.
>  > > Not much info just named and short explained, and that was still in
>  > > development.
>  > >
>  > > It consists in activate while drilling. The drill bit, make de hole and
>  > > then entered in a metallic bath, when exit the hole will place the
>  > > metallic components in the hole wall, while still rotating.
>  > >
>  > > Because all the dust made while drilling it should be better to drill
>  > > and clean first and then redrill with a tin or silver or other type
>  > > solution, in a soft cloth or so under the board.
>  > >
>  > > It can be an old, forgotten and bad results experiment, i just remember
>  > > to name it here.
>  > >
>  > > Simao
>  > >
>  > > Markus Zingg wrote:
>  > > >
>  > > > Juan,
>  > > >
>  > > > How to use it greatly depends on the chemistry used. The
>  > chemistry even
>  > > > defines howmany tanks you need, wether they are heated, the
>  > processing
>  > > > parameters etc. etc. My best advice to you is to first organize a
>  > > > chemistry, cause it's supplier will be able to tell you the
>  > processing
>  > > > requierements. Then build your station along them.
>  > > >
>  > > > HTH
>  > > >
>  > > > Markus
>  > > >
>  > > > Juan EA7FNJ schrieb:
>  > > > >
>  > > > > Hi guys!
>  > > > >
>  > > > > Ok, great machine! but, I can see how to make one but, where is the
>  > > > > manual 'how to use it'?
>  > > > >
>  > > > > xD
>  > > > >
>  > > > > --- In Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com
>  > > > > <mailto:Homebrew_PCBs%40yahoogroups.com>, "Steve" <alienrelics@>
>  > > wrote:
>  > > > > >
>  > > > > > Have you checked the Links under "Plated Through Holes" yet?
>  > Not many
>  > > > > > links there, but it is something. Markus Zingg's page on
>  > through hole
>  > > > > > plating has been down for a while, but I just found where someone
>  > > > > > mirrored it and put that link in place of the missing site.
>  > > > > >
>  > > > > > http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/Homebrew_PCBs/links
>  > > > > <http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/Homebrew_PCBs/links>
>  > > > > >
>  > > > > > If you find any other links on through-hole plating, please
>  > place
>  > > them
>  > > > > > there.
>  > > > > >
>  > > > > > Steve Greenfield
>  > > > > >
>  > > > >
>  > > > >
>  > > >
>  > >
>
>
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