Electronics > Projects, Designs, and Technical Stuff
Transparent clear PCB manufacturer?
(1/3) > >>
daqq:
Hi guys,

For a weird application I need a transparent clear PCB, preferably 2 layer, not particularly high tech (OK with 0.3mm feature size), preferably includes solder mask, can do without. I am OK with using a lower temperature solder.

Ideally it would be on glass-ish or a similar material, but it can also be flexible. I think I remember a thread here some time ago when some guy was building a LED cube using such a PCB (flexible, 2 layer I think), but for the life of me I can't find it.

Any suggestions? So far I've found PCBs on transparent alumina, but the pricing for those was ~4k just for the tooling and an LARGE price per board.

Thanks,

David
Berni:
Well there is a screen printing on plastic technology that is used for making keyboards. But that stuff is not meant for soldering at all, likely needs conductive glue to make a connection.

For this its the vias that are the problem. You can laminate regular glass with copper foil and etch it into a cirucit, but drilling tiny holes in glass is not easy, nor it plating those holes in a DIY circuit etching setup.
daqq:
Thanks Berni. I've looked into that. There are manufacturers that will print (various means) conductive stuff on PVC (even polycarbonate), but, as you've said, soldering is an issue.

Worst case scenario, I can do without 2 layers, but if at all possible, 2 layers.
branadic:
If you were able to reduce the design to 1 layer it is possible to use glass and deposite Cr, Ni, Au on it that can be soldered. Therefore a dry resist is laminated to the glass and processed with direct imaging, afterwards PVD is used to get the layers on it. After lift off you have a one layer circuit on glass. Interested? Contact me.

-branadic-
hv222:
Vias on keyboard transparent foil are possible. If you don't need a high current nets or RF it should work with components mounting with conducting glue. Some ceramic capacitors with flex termination require conductive glue mounting so there should be companies that can do a pick and place process with conducting glue. Problems starts when you need also transparent nets. Then I will contact with companies that making customs LCD's or touchpanels.
Navigation
Message Index
Next page
There was an error while thanking
Thanking...

Go to full version
Powered by SMFPacks Advanced Attachments Uploader Mod