Hi Nicholas, Here's bare bones details, ask if something doesn't make sense. Corrections welcome! First step is common to both make the PTHs conductive - electroless Cu or more recent chemistry. Panel plating Plate the entire panel. Apply the circuit image using Photoresist Touch-up/Inspect circuit image - Strip and try again if it's beyond touch-up Etch Circuit Image Pattern Plating Apply the circuit image using Photoresist Plate the pattern of the circuit Inspect - if it's bad toss it Etch Panel We use panel plating for inner layers (Copper) and pattern plating for outer layers (Copper and Tin/Lead). Pro & Con A problem with Panel Plating is nonuniformity of the plating thickness across the board. We sometimes etch a 'picture frame' from around the circuit/board area. A problem with Pattern Plating is burning (overplating?) isolated runs. To minimize this effect we will add nonfunctional pads to isolated runs if the design allows. I 'Think' of panel plating being better because inner layers have the critical dimensions - 5 mil lines and 5 mil spaces stuff. It really depends on what type/part of the board you are interested in. 'We' (List We) can get into DC versus Pulse versus Reverse Pulse Plating in the advanced course. Because I haven't had the pleasure of using anything but DC, yet. Hans Air Force Material Command - We keep them flying! ~~~~~~~~ Hans M. Hinners WR-ALC/LYPME Bldg. 640 Materials Engineer 380 Second Street, Suite 104 Manufacturing Eng. Sec. Robins AFB GA 31098-1638 912-926-1970 (Voice) 468 - 1970 (DSN) 912-926-7974 (Fax) [log in to unmask] > -----Original Message----- > From: Nicholas LAI [SMTP:[log in to unmask]] > Sent: Tuesday, August 31, 1999 10:06 > To: [log in to unmask] > Subject: [TN] Plating and pattern plating > > Hello > (1)What is the different between panel plating or pattern plating? > > (2)More, I heard that there are two process flows to make the multiayer > baord on > plating. > One is PTH than Panel plating and then pattern plating. > Second is PTH than pattern plating(there is no panel platting.) > Which on is better and what is the pros & cons. > > > Best Regard, > Nicholas Lai > 9/1/99 ############################################################## 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. If you need assistance - contact Gayatri Sardeshpande at [log in to unmask] or 847-509-9700 ext.5365 ##############################################################