The Right Approach: Get Ready for ISO 9001 Version 6
Dan’s Biz Bookshelf: ‘Still Broke: Walmart’s Remarkable Transformation'
Driving Innovation: Depth Routing Processes—Achieving Unparalleled Precision in Complex PCBs
Optimize Your Etcher for Best Image Quality
November 3, 2022 | Christopher Bonsell, ChemcutEstimated reading time: 1 minute
When it comes to obtaining high-quality images, many different factors come into play. Typically, most of these factors come down to your imaging equipment and cleanroom; however, there are factors involved in the etching process that can affect the quality of your image. Here are five steps to ensure your etching process is optimized for the best image quality.
1. Be wary of undercut.
When you are etching to obtain your circuitry patterns on a PCB, beware of undercut. Due to your solution’s etch factor—the ratio of sideways etch to downward etch—your image will need to compensate any change and variation that can arise. Naturally, when you create a line with a photoresist to make a feature, the outcome of that feature will be smaller because of the sideways etching. PCB designs typically account for this, but if you are working with thicker copper layers for your PCBs, you will have to be cautious and ensure that the sideways etch does not impact the features you desire.
2. Monitor your etchant quality.
Maintaining consistency of your etch chemistry is the key to ensuring your etcher gives a quality image. As you etch panels, your etchant will decline in quality because it loses reaction potential (from the depletion of reactants), and with that, you will pick up contaminants. To prevent this from affecting your etching process, you will need to implement process controls to maintain the properties of your etchant. Depending on the etching solution you utilize, the factors you need to control will vary. If you are unsure how to monitor or maintain your etch process, it is best to seek experienced help and consult your etch equipment manufacturer.
3. Clean your nozzles regularly.
As I mentioned, etching panels will introduce contaminants into your etching bath. With this, your nozzles can become clogged with debris. Frequently cleaning your nozzles is an easy measure you can take to prevent debris from affecting etch quality. Doing this will ensure that your panels receive a consistent spray pattern throughout the etch chamber.
To read this entire article, which appeared in the October 2022 issue of PCB007 Magazine, click here.
Share on:
Testimonial
"Our marketing partnership with I-Connect007 is already delivering. Just a day after our press release went live, we received a direct inquiry about our updated products!"
Rachael Temple - AlltematedSuggested Items
Closing the Loop on PCB Etching Waste
09/09/2025 | Shawn Stone, IECAs the PCB industry continues its push toward greener, more cost-efficient operations, Sigma Engineering’s Mecer System offers a comprehensive solution to two of the industry’s most persistent pain points: etchant consumption and rinse water waste. Designed as a modular, fully automated platform, the Mecer System regenerates spent copper etchants—both alkaline and acidic—and simultaneously recycles rinse water, transforming a traditionally linear chemical process into a closed-loop system.
Driving Innovation: Depth Routing Processes—Achieving Unparalleled Precision in Complex PCBs
09/08/2025 | Kurt Palmer -- Column: Driving InnovationIn PCB manufacturing, the demand for increasingly complex and miniaturized designs continually pushes the boundaries of traditional fabrication methods, including depth routing. Success in these applications demands not only on robust machinery but also sophisticated control functions. PCB manufacturers rely on advanced machine features and process methodologies to meet their precise depth routing goals. Here, I’ll explore some crucial functions that empower manufacturers to master complex depth routing challenges.
Trouble in Your Tank: Minimizing Small-via Defects for High-reliability PCBs
08/27/2025 | Michael Carano -- Column: Trouble in Your TankTo quote the comedian Stephen Wright, “If at first you don’t succeed, then skydiving is not for you.” That can be the battle cry when you find that only small-diameter vias are exhibiting voids. Why are small holes more prone to voids than larger vias when processed through electroless copper? There are several reasons.
The Government Circuit: Navigating New Trade Headwinds and New Partnerships
08/25/2025 | Chris Mitchell -- Column: The Government CircuitAs global trade winds continue to howl, the electronics manufacturing industry finds itself at a critical juncture. After months of warnings, the U.S. Government has implemented a broad array of tariff increases, with fresh duties hitting copper-based products, semiconductors, and imports from many nations. On the positive side, tentative trade agreements with Europe, China, Japan, and other nations are providing at least some clarity and counterbalance.
How Good Design Enables Sustainable PCBs
08/21/2025 | Gerry Partida, Summit InterconnectSustainability has become a key focus for PCB companies seeking to reduce waste, conserve energy, and optimize resources. While many discussions on sustainability center around materials or energy-efficient processes, PCB design is an often overlooked factor that lies at the heart of manufacturing. Good design practices, especially those based on established IPC standards, play a central role in enabling sustainable PCB production. By ensuring designs are manufacturable and reliable, engineers can significantly reduce the environmental impact of their products.