International Business Machines Corporation
Partial submersion testing for plating defects

Abstract:

A method and a system for detecting defects in plated-through hole by partially submerging a printed circuit board in a fluid bath. The method includes partially submerging a printed circuit board on a first side and measuring a capillary height difference within a plated-through hole and the surrounding fluid bath. The method further includes partially submerging the printed circuit board on a second side and measuring a second capillary height difference within the plated-through hole and the surrounding fluid bath. The method also includes comparing the measured values with predetermined values to determine the quality of the plated-through hole.