Greg: One of the better more practical publications on electroplating is the
Metal Finishers Guidebook and Directory annual issue. Contact them at
www.metalfinishing.com <http://www.metalfinishing.com> .
What you are trying to do may seem simple on the surface but it's much more
complicated than it appears. The basic ingredients are a rectifier, anode,
non-conductive vessel, wiring and the correct chemistry in proper
proportions. However there are required precleaning and activation steps to
the substrate that must be done prior to electroplating.These involve
another layer of complexity. Then the plating itself, involving bath
chemistry and control, current densities, anode/cathode spacing, correct
materials of construction, etc.
I think you'll have a very steep learning curve on this. I would recommend
if you truly want to pursue this, work with a local plating supply vendor or
if there is a metal finishing business in the area see if they would be
willing to help. I have found that local business' many times are willing to
work with you when coupled to universities and programs.
Good Luck
Michael Barmuta
Staff Engineer
Fluke Corp.
Everett WA
425-446-6076
-----Original Message-----
From: Gregory Fridman [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
Sent: Thursday, October 23, 2003 2:15 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: [TN] electroplating newbie
This is for "research". We are fabricating micro coils on silicon and glass
wafers. Basically, evaporate gold, then spin-on PDMS (photoresist), then
pattern it - say, 100micron long 10 micron wide trenches. And then plate
these trenches with (trying different materials... maybe will be something
else in the end):
1. copper
2. nickel
3. cobalt
4. cobalt alloys
these are all 2" wafers - will never go bigger than that.
Adhesion is important... if you ask me, very important... but not
necessarily at this stage... right now I am just trying to understand what
the heck am I doing :-)
Lifetime? Few days will do it for now. Theoretically, in the end I will coat
whatever I will make with Teflon so lifetime will be as good as adhesion.
Thanks a million.
By the way, right now I'm talking to TekNu for a wave-sequencing power
supply, Atotech for chemicals (acid-copper plating solution for now), and
I'll make my plating cell out of a 100ml beaker. Does that make sense?
I'm looking for a link of the type "electroplating for dummies" or "learn
how to electroplate in 15 minutes" :-) I have a test power supply that will
be in my hands in exactly 2 weeks and I need to have everything ready by
then. I need to have some (but little is enough) understanding what I am
doing.
Thank you very much!!!
------------------
Greg Fridman
School of Biomedical Engineering, Science & Health Systems
BioApplications Group, Drexel Plasma Institute, Drexel University
Office: 215-895-0576 Cell: 312-371-7947 Home: 215-387-3161
AIM: zegogga MSN: [log in to unmask]
-----Original Message-----
From: TechNet [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Joe Fjelstad
Sent: Thursday, October 23, 2003 4:15 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: [TN] electroplating newbie
Hello Gregory,
There are a number of potential solutions but you need to answer a few
questions before a good answer can be arrived at.
How big is your part? What is/are the material(s) you wish to plate? How
thick? How important is adhesion? What is the use environment? What lifetime
do you expect?
Kind regards,
Joe
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