this post was submitted on 06 Apr 2024
19 points (100.0% liked)

Ask Electronics

3327 readers
15 users here now

For questions about component-level electronic circuits, tools and equipment.

Rules

1: Be nice.

2: Be on-topic (eg: Electronic, not electrical).

3: No commercial stuff, buying, selling or valuations.

4: Be safe.

founded 1 year ago
MODERATORS
DavideAndrea@discuss.tchncs.de
linker3000@discuss.tchncs.de
19
Making a PCB, using solder mask as etch resist. (discuss.tchncs.de)
submitted 7 months ago by Rolive@discuss.tchncs.de to c/askelectronics@discuss.tchncs.de
5 comments fedilink hide all child comments
 

This is an idea that entered my mind. The traditional way is applying some etch resist like toner or dry film, etching away the copper and then adding solder mask before populating the board with components.

Can the solder mask be used as etch resist instead? It feels like skipping an unnecessary step in the process. Why isn´t this more common? This way you won´t need the step of removing etch resist only to replace it with a slightly different compound.

you are viewing a single comment's thread
view the rest of the comments
[–] SpaceNoodle@lemmy.world 4 points 7 months ago (1 children)

You'd still need to apply a second layer after the etching. There's less risk of misalignment if the solder mask is all applied at once, so might as well use the more appropriate resist.

[–] Rolive@discuss.tchncs.de 2 points 7 months ago

Why is that? I understand there is a tiny layer of exposed copper on the side of the traces but copper tends to form a protective layer of oxide.