Printed Circuit Board Etching

It is the removal of unwanted portion or layer

of conductive materials (that is copper) bonded
to an insulating base called substrate. By
using a chemical reaction to the copper called
ferric chloride it liquefy the uncovered surfaces
of the designed copper clad board that creates
a PCB.
Characteristics of Good PCB Design – 4C’s

1. Clean – It should be clean so that the

representation of the schematic diagram is
easy to mark and troubleshoot the PCB.
2. Compress – Reducing the size for space saving
in chassis.
3. Creative in Design– There is pattern or image
when it is created.
4. Consistency in Component– The components
should be well arranged in group.
• Tools and Materials Needed In PCB Etching
• Designed PCB
• A bottle of the Ferric Chloride - The quantity of bottle will depend upon the
area of the PCB.
• Plastic Basin – It is the medium of ferric chloride
• Popsicle sticks (2 pieces) – Used for hauling the designed PCB.
• Old newspaper – It is placed under the plastic basin for the prevention of
accidental spill of chemical over the table.
• Piece of Cloth
• Plastic Varnish 1 bottle
• 10. Surgical Gloves
• 11. Knife or Cutter
Steps in PCB Etching
• Prepare the necessary tools and materials needed in PCB etching.

• Wear your gloves in order to prevent possible accident.

• lay out the design and cut using your knife
• Pour the ferric chloride in the plastic basin.
• Etch the PCB by immersing it in a basin filled with ferric chloride until
the uncovered part of the copper clad is totally etched.
• After 10 - 15 minutes, check the PCB if all the parts needed to be
removed are totally etched, (use the two popsicle sticks in hauling) if
not, return it into the plastic basin filled with ferric chloride. After 3 –
5 minutes check it again.
• Haul the PCB from the plastic basin and wash it from flowing water to
remove the remaining residue in the PCB.
• With a clean and dry piece of cloth, wipe the wet PCB.
 Criteria Points
25 24 22 20 Total
Workmanship 25% All Tools and PPe were One among theTwo among Most of the Tools
properly used Tools and PPethe Tools and and PPe were not
according to its were not PPe were not properly used
function. properly usedproperly according to its
according to its
used function
function. according to
its function.
Speed 25% Finished task before Finished task Finished task Finished task 30
the time frame within the time 15 minutes minutes and
frame after the more after the
time frame time frame
Finished Design 25% Finished design based Finished design Finished Finished design
from the given was correct but design was was not correct.
schematic diagram there is an correct but
excess copper there is a cut
clad on the or short on
finished design the line.
House Keeping 25% The whole area was The working The working The working area
properly cleaned area was mostly area was was not cleaned.
cleaned. partly