Cause for concern when we see plated holes like that. Most likely the deposition process was inadequate to attract ED copper or dryfilm in the holes and/or there's many other chemistries that could cause the poor plating. Subtracting the copper seems a little strange to me unless someone really stupid forgot the panels in a microetch for a long time.

Electrical test was never really design to make sure plated through holes are plated correctly. Maybe if you require some type of hi-pot test that you would see an open relating to poor plating.

www.quickturnflex.com
Thank you, 
Jim Mahoney 
Quick Turn Flex Circuits, LLC 
Applications Project Manager 
P# 603-821-7071
M# 603-305-6250 
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-----Original Message-----
From: TechNet [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of J W
Sent: Wednesday, September 09, 2009 10:41 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: [TN] PTH problem

 Hi TechNet group,

I'm really getting nervous about a China bare board supplier and their
quality and need your opinions.  Please take a look at the picture by
clicking on the link below showing two plated through holes (via's).  The
problem reported originally was a bad ground connection between ground via's
and ground planes.  As you can see, the pictures are very telling, and you
can clearly see the ground plane not connected (several planes not connected
actually).  What I'm also nervous about is the comment listed below the
pictures "The plated copper on PTH surface will be etched thin after OSP
process".  Is that statement correct?  I'm not a bare board expert by any
means, but I believe a PTH should have a little more copper than what is
shown?  I know that OSP is not something new, so are other board suppliers
dealing with the same issue of possible thin PTH walls because of OSP?

I also submitted pictures early last week regarding the same supplier having
problems with the their solder mask process, so to me, I'm thinking this
board shop is not up to standards and we should inform out board assembler
house to look for another supplier...immediately?

Thanks for your help!

Jim

http://stevezeva.homestead.com/PTH_Connection_issue.jpg

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