Hi Anil,
Well, I see that Roger Hammond was faster and already sent you a very nice and informative answer. I will try to contribute my point of view on the process and feel free to ask further.

I  have been running a SHADOW line since 1997 with a machine built by Advanced Chemill Systems. 
The pros I have found are:
Processing time - the metallization takes about 1/4-1/3 of the electroless time.

Works with much "friendlier" chemicals, although the graphite (as non-hazardous as it is) makes a lot of mess. You will see a lot of black spots around (frequent cleaning eliminates most of them) and above (after a nice accident when the nozzles go spraying around).

From the limited tests that I have done, the end product does seem to be more reliable than with electroless copper. These tests are based on thermall stress, thermal cycling + microsections. I also have an IST test going on, with no results yet.
The process works fine on various substrates: FR-4, polyimide, PTFE and all kinds of ceramic filled RF materials.

If you discover after one pass through the machine that something went wrong - no problem to process again.

Cons:
The process is VERY machine dependent. Issues such as improper conveyor design or placement of hot air blower close to the colloid module can be a real pain. It took me a lot to get through the poor design of my machine and some faults still make my life miserable every day over and over.


As you understand I am very unhappy with the company that designed and fabricated the machine. On the other hand I have only good words on Electrochemicals - good technical responses, frequent and close contact (mostly on E-mail) and a through desire to amke my process work.

Good luck with your process,
Yehuda Weisz

----- Original Message ----- 
From: Anil K.Singh <[log in to unmask]>
To: Orna and Yehuda <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Friday, December 10, 1999 3:12 AM
Subject: Re: [TN] Shadow line


Hi Yehuda,

Shall be grateful if you could mail me your experience with Shadow Line process.
Thanks in advance.

Anil K Singh
Linaks Microelectronics Ltd.
India