Plating PCBs with copper before etching.

[Tails]

In order to make my own PCB, I need a blank copper-clad circuit board. Is there a way to plate a totally blank PCB with copper instead of buying it?

Thanks.

 

[Nigel Goodwin]

No, it's not 'plated' it's 'glued' on.

 

[Hero999]

Why would you want to do that?

One option is to buy board with very thin copper, etch it and increase the thickness of the track by plating it. This is good because it etches faster and you waste less copper.

 

[dknguyen]

Perhaps because he has some sheets of plastic that he wants to use up?

 

[Mike odom]

Why would you want to do that?

One option is to buy board with very thin copper, etch it and increase the thickness of the track by plating it. This is good because it etches faster and you waste less copper.

that's how the pros do it. When you order a 2oz Cu board, they start with 1oz material then plate it up before etching, but they use a resist layer so they only plate up what's not going to be etched.

 

[RCinFLA]

What you describe is a minority of PCB's made today as surface mount component PCB's dominate. There are multiple processes and evolution as technical needs advance. That process is only used if the final metal will be coated with metals that also acts as an etchant resist, like nickel followed with gold, tin, or tin-lead. Tin-lead is quickly going bye-bye due to RoHS regulations. Gold plating, besides expensive, is a no-no for surface mount component pads because of gold intrusion into solder causing it to become brittle. Pure tin does not have good solderability.