DEPARTMENT OF TECHNICAL EDUCATION

ANDHRA PRADESH

Name : P. Annapurna
Designation : Sr. Lecturer
Branch : Electronics & Communication
Engineering Institute: Govt. Polytechnic for Women, Medak.
Semester/Year : I Year
Sub. Name : Electronic Components & Devices
Sub. Code : EC-105
Major Topic : 6.0 PCBs
Sub. Topic : Methods of Etching ,Cleaning ,Drilling

of PCB (10/15)
Duration : 50 Mints
Teaching Aids : Animation Clips & Images.
EC105.105 1
• Photolithography = process of transferring patterns (on
masks) onto a thin layer of photo resist.

• Photo resist patterns must be transferred once more

onto the underlying layers to produce circuit features.

EC105.105 2
After the end of this Class , the student will be
able to learn

Methods of Etching ,Cleaning &Drilling of PCB

EC105.105 3
• Etching is chemical process by which unwanted
copper is removed.

• The final copper pattern is formed, by the selective

removal of unwanted copper, which is not protected by
an etch resist.

EC105.105 4
• Etching is one of the most important steps in the preparation
of PCBs.

• Dried PCB is washed with Ferric etchants.

• The different etchants available are

• Ferric chloride.

– Cupric chloride.
– Chromic chloride.
– Chromic acid.

EC105.105 5
• Immersing a board in an etchant solution and
agitating.

Insufficient etching results in

1. Excess copper present on the board.

2. Causes short circuit between the tracks.

Over etching results

1. It can results into broken tracks of thin tracks.

EC105.105 6
 COPPER
CLAD

CKT FILM

Fig 1
EC105.105 7
 Fig 2

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 Fig 3
EC105.105 9
 Fig 4

EC105.105 10
ETCH RESIST Screen Photo Solder Metal Tin Metal Gold Metal
ETCHANT resist resist resist resist resist
Ferric chloride
+ + - - +
Cupric chloride
+ + - (+) +
Chromic Acid
+ + + + +
Alkaline ammonia
+)* +)* + + +

Legend :+ recommend - Impossible

(+) Possible but critical )* Except aqueous soluble resists

Table 1
`
EC105.105 11
`
• It has high corrosive power.

• Short etching time.

• Little under etching.

• It matches well to Photo printing and Screen printing.

EC105.105 12
• The impossibility to regenerate it economically

• Therefore it rules out to use in bigger

set-ups where a constant etching speed is must.

EC105.105 13
 Fig 5

EC105.105 14
• After Etching ,
Cleaning process starts………..

EC105.105 15
• In cleaning process ,the ferric chloride contaminated
surface should be cleaned.

EC105.105 16
 CLEANED
PCBs

Fig 6
EC105.105 17
 Fig 7

EC105.105 18
After Cleaning ,

Mechanical Operation process starts………..

EC105.105 19
• Drilling is an important mechanical operation.

• Drilling is used to create the component lead

holes and through holes in a PCB

EC105.105 20
 Fig 8
EC105.105 21
 Fig 9
EC105.105 22
 Fig 10
EC105.105 23
• In addition to component holes , via holes are also
required for providing mechanical connections,
heat sink assembly or connectors to the board.

EC105.105 24
• The drilling can be done before or after the
track areas have been defined depending
upon the manufacturing sequence.

EC105.105 25
Hand drilling machine CNC machine
(professional applications)
(general applications)

Fig 11 Fig 12
EC105.105 26
• Etching is chemical process by which unwanted copper
is removed.

• The final copper pattern is formed, by the selective

removal of unwanted copper, which is not protected by
an etch resist.

• Immersing a board in an etchant solution and agitating.

EC105.105 27
Contd….

• Insufficient etching results in

1.Excess copper present on the board.
2.Causes short circuit between the tracks.

Over etching results

1.It can results into broken tracks of thin tracks.

• Ferric chloride
– Cupric chloride.
– Chromic chloride.
– Chromic acid.

EC105.105 28
• In cleaning process ,the ferric chloride contaminated
surface should be cleaned.

• Drilling is used to create the component lead holes and

through holes in a PCB
……………..

EC105.105 29
 What we have learnt?

Methods of

• Etching ,
• Cleaning &
• Drilling of PCB.

EC105.105 30
• Gather information regarding other enchant solutions
and its characteristics.

• Write the precautions while handling etchant solutions.

• What is the care to be taken while handling drilling

machines?

• What are the precautions to be taken while cleaning and

drilling PCB?

EC105.105 31
 Quiz

• The solutions used for etching are known

as
(a) etchcant
(b) cleaner
(c) solution
(d) solvent

EC105.105 32
2.The etching is the process of -------

(a) removing resist material

(b) removing unwanted copper
(c) forming a film of copper
(d) applying conductive coating.

33
3.The acids used for cleaning PCB ---------.

(a) Cupric chloride.

(b) Chromic chloride
(c) Chromic acid.
(d) All the above

34
Frequently asked questions

4. Explain the cleaning method of PCB’s.

6. What is etching process ,explain in brief the same?

EC105.105 35