Peters Leverages Inkjet Technology to Optimize PCB Manufacturing

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Peters has put the second SUSS LP50 ‘Pixdro’ inkjet printer into operation. This machine enables the application of solder resist in digital additive technology by means of the inkjet process, thus providing Peters Research, in this relatively new segment, with more possibilities in research and process technology, in addition to the conventional coating processes (screen printing, curtain coating and spray coating).

By means of this second inkjet printer, the R&D department of the ink manufacturer from the Lower Rhine is able to simulate projects from industrial customers in their own laboratories, push forward the qualification process and make reliable recommendations. “Its print head is the same, so a laboratory project will also work on industrial printers equipped with several print heads of this type,” says Kevin Poth, ELPEPCB® Project Manager at Peters, describing the benefit of a purchase.

“Thanks to the precise positioning and small droplet volumes, inkjet printing is suitable for a variety of applications, such as printed electronics, printed circuit boards or semi-conductor assembly,” explains service engineer Leon van Lieshout from the Eindhoven-based manufacturer SUSS MicroTec. Among the main features of the Pixdro there is robustness, process control, user-friendliness and precision, says the Dutchman who has just set up the printer at Peters with a team of three engineers.

Electrical properties optimized

The bottom line is that with the solder resist for digital inkjet printing, Peters is highlighting its decades of expertise as a supplier of high-quality electronic coatings, and is now continuing to focus on this new card. By means of the Samba Dimatix print head, the ink is sprayed in the same way as with an inkjet printer and selectively applied to the circuit board. Besides protecting against corrosion and mechanical damage, the solder resist optimises the electrical properties of the PCB. The solder resist has already withstood solder processes without any problems and has therefore already fulfilled its first essential service.

Inkjet printers and the ELPEPCB® solder resists from the Elpejet® IJ 2467 series enable new PCB layouts and interesting resist geometries. By the so-called “digital drop-on-demand” technology, the solder resist is applied selectively. Compared to conventional application methods such as screen printing, spray coating or curtain coating in conjunction with exposure and development steps, the process is simplified and accelerated, which reduces the material consumption significantly.

Project manager Kevin Poth (left) with technical staff from the Dutch subsidiary SUSS MicroTec that developed the SUSS LP50 ‘Pixdro’ printer for research purposes and is now setting it up in the Peters lab (from the right): Application engineer IoannisKawadias, system engineer Maria Tracz, service engineer Leon van Lieshout.
Photos: Peters/Axel Küppers