Randy
Are you seeing these "spots" in the as polished condition prior to microetching the mount" ?  If you are, it can usually mean that there is contamination there that has been plated around.  That would help in trying to find out what it is.

Another thing you can do with your process is to take your panels through drill and etchback processing and then instead of going through the electroless line - put them through the oxide line.  The metallic areas - ends of inner layers - should all darken with the oxide.  If there is resin or non-metallic areas on the ends of the inner layers they won't be coated with the oxide.

The fact that there is an indentation in the inner layer where the "ball" is located really is a concern when trying to troubleshoot what is happening.  If the glass bundles are laying on top the inner layer and are being plated around, I wouldn't expect to see the indentation - almost as though they have been forced into the end of the inner layer.

Susan Mansilla
Robisan Lab ---------------------------------------------------
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