General > General Technical Chat
[Article] Solder-less circuits (apparently)
<< < (3/6) > >>
T3sl4co1l:
Doesn't seem like something that would ever be cheaper, but maybe it could be more robust (the whole thing is potted in the process?) or compact (depends how you build the PCB layers I guess?), or maybe some obscure use cases where solder (leaded or otherwise) isn't otherwise applicable.  Which is basically to say, a resin-based, printed/additive alternative to laser-etched ceramic hybrids?  Finer pitch than screen printed (multilayer) ceramics?

I don't see that it would ever be, like, super higher temperature rated, unless the resin is replaced with a low-fire ceramic that manages to not destroy the components (chip resistors could oxidize, chip capacitors could oxidize too, maybe other effects given their precise formulation?), let alone the silicon chips themselves.  (Counterpoint: SiC chips.)  But that wouldn't be printed I think; there are known ceramic-tape deposition methods that could be used to build that.  Although... if it's getting fired, there must be shrinkage, I don't know how you'd get around that.  So nevermind, I guess...  But anyway, just to say, it's probably not an alternative to traditional metal-ceramic builds, with solder, braze or wirebond, for high temperatures.

Tim
eti:
I can’t see soldered PCBs being replaced by this. Ever.
tooki:

--- Quote from: NiHaoMike on December 02, 2022, 12:30:48 pm ---
--- Quote from: ebastler on December 02, 2022, 09:36:02 am ---The basic idea seems to be that they physically attach the components to a carrier, without any electrical connections. Then "encapsulate" them, presumably embedding them in epoxy or such to get a clean planar surface in the same plane as all the component contacts. Then make the connections by adding traces, in a process similar to what is used for making bare PCBs today.

--- End quote ---
PCBs are mostly made using a subtractive process. I suppose it might be possible to deposit copper onto a photoresist mask like is done for making chips.

--- End quote ---
Not really. It’s not like home PCB etching which is purely subtractive. Commercial PCB production is surprisingly a mostly additive process these days. There are some videos by PCB manufacturers going through the detailed steps, and it’s quite different from what one might intuitively expect.
coppercone2:
it could be either one IMO, you just need chemical recycling technology for dealing with the byproducts to remake copper. Always efficency improvements to be made there.
NiHaoMike:

--- Quote from: tooki on December 03, 2022, 02:26:44 pm ---Not really. It’s not like home PCB etching which is purely subtractive. Commercial PCB production is surprisingly a mostly additive process these days. There are some videos by PCB manufacturers going through the detailed steps, and it’s quite different from what one might intuitively expect.

--- End quote ---
The copper layer still seems to be done as a sheet that gets etched away. The solder mask and silkscreen are done with an additive process.
Navigation
Message Index
Next page
Previous page
There was an error while thanking
Thanking...

Go to full version
Powered by SMFPacks Advanced Attachments Uploader Mod