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What is glass PCB etching? Best Guide 2022

PCB (printed circuit board) on glass is a recent development, although it is quite quick, and it is convenient to print. These days etching of PCB on glass is affordable and through several services, this is done. For decades, people did PCB at home with the chemical etching process. But today, because of many services, people do not go through this troublesome work.

There are many ways to do etching on the glass, the most common way is to print the pattern of the circuit on the copper clad board and then etch on the unwanted copper. There is a method that is most useful to etch PCB on any desirable surface. It will be suited on every surface. It is reliable and awesome to transparent PCB on glass.

Step 1: Technique

The toner transfer method is most effective and it is also used in the mass production of PCB. In this method, UV curable glass is used to transfer the circuit on the copper board. Even with the smaller width, it provides fine and amazing output.

Step 2: PCB Glass Material

Piece of glass/ glass, UV photoresist, baking soda, copper foil, ferric chloride, super glue (cyanoacrylate), OHP printout (overhead projector printout ). These are the material that is required in etching the PCB on the glass. These are very effective tools in etching the circuit on the glass.

Step 3: Design the circuit design

After getting the material, firstly, there is a need to prepare the design of the circuit which is going to transfer on the transparent sheet. Many platforms help make designs, one of them is EASY eda. This online circuit design software is very easy to use and free of cost.  After sketching the circuit, model the PC B layout. With the autoroute tool, root the path of the circuit. When you satisfy with your circuit then export the image as PNG.

Step 4: Printing the circuit

OHP printing is used to print the circuit and the advantage of using OHP printing is that it makes a layer that blocks UV light to expose the unwanted areas. Black parts or block parts of OHP do not allow the light to pass through them. But one layer of OHP print does not stop the light to pass that’s why three print attached with glue, is used.

Step 5: Gluing the Copper Foil to the GLASS

After printing the circuit, then copper foil is glued on the glass. A thickness of 0.05mm is perfect for gluing because more thickness of the copper foil is very expensive. Clean the copper foil and glass thoroughly and press the copper foil on the glass with glue. Make sure there are no bubbles between them. If any then remove the extra glue.

Step 6: Applying photoresist

The photoresist has two transparent covers which covered both sides, firstly cutting off the required size piece. Because of sticky material, when covers are removed the photoresist is easily attached to the copper board. Press gently to attached the photoresist with a copper board and make sure there are no bubbles between them.

Step 7: Expose the setup to the light

After photoresist, OHP print attached with the copper board. Make sure to print is attached with the board tightly and use two clips to keep them tight. Then expose the setup to light.

Step 8: Exposure of light

Expose the setup in the front of artificial UV light, sunlight is the natural source of UV light. 5min exposure to sunlight is good. 5-7minute exposure of setup to UV light dissembles everything. And you can see the print cured on the resist.

Step 9: Develop the resist

Resist film has another layer of cover, remove this layer by using baking soda. Make baking soda and dip in it and keep it in for a while. Remove the cover gently. Wash the unexposed areas and in the end, you will end up with a copper board with tracks of cured resistance.

Step 10: Final PCB Glass Etching

Mix ferric chloride powder and 150ml water, the solution will be dark. Dip the board in the solution and shake the board to etch. With acetone and warm water, you can remove the extra resist from the board. Now you have the final product of PCB on glass. It is a very awesome and creative method of PCB on glass.