Hi 'samm', The reasons for vibrators on a plating line--actually all the wet processing of plated through holes--is to remove air bubbles from the holes to be plated. At any step an air bubble can an important step to be completed (catalysation, Cu flash, Cu plating). The consequences are outright electrical opens or very thin plating in the center of the PCB (which is actually worse, because you now have a latent defect in your product going to a custormer). Werner Engelmaier Engelmaier Associates, L.C. Electronic Packaging, Interconnection and Reliability Consulting 23 Gunther Street In December: 7 Jasmine Run Mendham, NJ 07945 Ormond Beach, FL 32174 USA Phone & Fax: 973-543-2747 Phone: 904-437-8747, Fax: 904-437-8737 E-mail: [log in to unmask] ############################################################## TechNet Mail List provided as a free service by IPC using LISTSERV 1.8c ############################################################## To subscribe/unsubscribe, send a message to [log in to unmask] with following text in the body: To subscribe: SUBSCRIBE TECHNET <your full name> To unsubscribe: SIGNOFF TECHNET ############################################################## Please visit IPC web site (http://www.ipc.org/html/forum.htm) for additional information. For the technical support contact Dmitriy Sklyar at [log in to unmask] or 847-509-9700 ext.311 ##############################################################