Fortex Etching Station 1 User manual

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Three indepentent acrylic glass tank
Diaphragm pump and air curtain tube inside the
etching tank for producing small air bubbles inside
the etchand
Adjustable heater (glass-heater),Temperature range
between +36°C to +45°C
Adjustable PCB holder for mounting circuit boards of
various sizes
Drain cock in each tank
Glass thermometer
Plastic drip tray
Reserve technical changes
... for prototyping and small batch production of printed circuit boards
Etching Station 1
The Etching Station 1 is used in laboratories and small batch production for making printed circuit
boards as well as for etching metal foils.
The cuvettes are out of cristal clear acrylic glass. A powerful diaphragm pump and an aeration
frame with air curtain tube is used to produce tiny air bubbles in the etching cuvette.
Further the etching device includes the glass heater for heat up the etchand temperature up to 45°C
and one PCB-holder for carrying the printed circuit boards. A small thermometer is showing the
bath temperature.
Beside the etching tank the Etching Station provides two additional tanks for the developer solution
and rinsing water.
Item no. PA310
Technical Data
Dimension (WxDxH) 420 x 325 x 440 mm
Capacity of the tanks
Etchung tank
Etching sulfate needed
Sodium hydroxide needed
max. PCB dimension
Glass heater
Heat up time
Net weight approx.: 10 kg
Weight (with fluids) approx.: 26 kg
Tank 1
Rinsing tank 2
approx.: 4 l
approx.: 8 l
approx.: 4 l
ca. 1000g (auf 4 Liter)
ca. 40 g (auf 4 Liter)
310 x240 mm
150 W
approx.: 30 min
ll
FORTEX Limited Lincoln, LN69AP Unit16 Freeman Road United Kingdom
www.fortex.co.uk

The etching device is mounted completely by Gie-Tec. Only the glass heater
and the thermometer has to plug in the holes at the top of the tank.
Place the etching device into the catch basin. Place the device on a horizontal,
stable and acid-proof table.
The working area should be ventilatable and well illuminated!
1. Start-up
1.1 Placement
ACHTUNG! GEFAHR!
1.3 Handling of the board holder
For adjust different board sizes, loosen the
screws of the board holder below the handle
strip (8).
In case of single-side boards, you can
double the holding capacity by clambing the
boards back-to-back.
If you do not tighten the screws, you can shift the strips easily
without need a tool.
For larger boards, remove the middle strip.
8
1.4 Etching bath
For etching, we recommend only our sodium persulfate. This etching mediums
is odorless, clear, and pollutes the device only insignificantly.
Further sodium persulfate has the positive feature to get blue if solution is
saturated.
It achives etching times of 6-8 minutes at 40-45°C. The etching speed is
between 4 to 7µm/min with a copper reception of approx.: 30g/l.
- Fill the cuvette with water ( about 4 liter)
- Add the etching granulate (1000g Sodium persulfate) slowly and stir in the
water.
Preparing the etching solution:
The etching device is not suitable for ferrous chloride as an
etchant!
In case of using other etching chemicals, we can not take over any
guarantee for the function of the device since these chemicals may
disolve the glue of the glass cuvette and let damage the cuvette.
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Etching station 1 can be used for etching
printed circuit boards and metal foils of
various sizes.
Any other use of the device is not
permitted.
The device is designed for power
supply AC 230V (50- 60Hz) and may
used only in perfect technical
condition.
Using the etching device it is not
allowed by children and people which
are not instructed.
The basis of the etching device (table,
work bench) is supposed to be
horizontally, stable, resistant to
chemicals and easy to clean.
The area in which the devices are used
should be well illuminated and
ventilatable.
Not required tools, devices or
components are to be kept away from
the working area.
Eating, drinking and smoking are
strictly prohibited!
Keep devices and chemicals out of the
range of children and foods.
Store not required chemicals in the
original container in a dry place.
Assembly and using of the device has
to be done only according the
declaration of conformity.
Carry corresponding protective
clothing (acid and alkal-proof
protection gloves, protective goggles,
overall or apron) when applying the
bath or when working with the device.
The device must not exposed to high
humidity, strong vibrations or
explosive gas.
Keep this manual careful. Personnal
working at this equipment has to be
instructed about the dangers.
If you don´t provide this manual, loss
of property or risk of injury may
happen.
Pay attention to the disposal remarks
for waste materials.
Never pour water on the etching
granulate! First fill the cuvettes with
water and after add granulate, then
mix the liquid.
5
4PVC trip tray
5Glass heater, 150W
6Duaphragm pump
7drain cock
1Developer fluid tank
2Tank for rinsing water
3Etching fluid tank
8PVB holder
9Thermometer
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7
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2
Reserve technical changes
ll
FORTEX Limited Lincoln, LN69AP Unit16 Freeman Road United Kingdom
www.fortex.co.uk

Before etching, set the temperature of the heating regulator.
1. Switch-on the power supply of the glass heater only when
the tank is filled and the pump is activated!
2. The water level should be about 20mm
above the marking of the heating rod so the
heater regulation can work correctly.
3. Do not heat the bath to a temperature above 50°C
since this can cause a deformation of the acrylic
tank and a malfunctioning of the thermometer.
4. Connect the power cord of the glass heater to mains
voltage (AC 230V/50-60Hz). Turning the adjustment
knob in plus-direction increases the temperature, the
temperature is reduced by turning into the minus
direction
5. To adjust the temperature please turn the knob to
maximum (+).
Control temperature rise while heating up. When Temperature of 45°C is
reached, turn adjustment knob slowly in direction (-) until the indicator lamp
ist deactivated and the glass heater is OFF.
1.6 Adjustment of the temperature of the etching bath
ATTENTION!
Pay attention to the temperature of
etching bath. Temperaure higher than
+50°C may result in deformation of
the acrylic tank and may damage the
glass heater.
Reserve technical changes
mark
A solution of 50g of sodium hydroxide (etching sodium bicarbonate) is needed
for delopment in 5 liters of water.
Store the prepared solution until the granulate has been completely dissolved.
The prepared solution is a soda lye of approx. 1%.
The bath is useless, if a development time of more than 7 minutes is needed,
it has to be renewed
1.5 Developer bath
ATTENTION!
Never pour water on the etching
granulate! First fill the cuvettes with
water and after add granulate, then
mix the liquid.
Sodium hydroxide is a heavily caustic
lye and reacts under violent heat
development if the granulate has
contact with water!
Note all safety references and wear
protective clothing
1. Switch-on the membrane pump by connecting the feeder to mains voltage.
2. Plug in the power cord f the heater to mains voltage. When bath
temperature of 45°C is reached you can start etching.
3. Clamp the board in the board holder and make sure, that the board is fixed
well.
4. Immerse the board holder with the board into the tank.
5. After 5 to 10 minutes, the copper is removed.
6 Rinse the printed circuit board in water and dry the board
Please notice:
The bath is saturated if the color of the liquid changes to a deep blue and
the etching times extend to more than 30 minutes. It has to be renewed.
The etching liquid can remain in the cuvette without losing it´s effect for a
few days. Liquid losses due to evaporation can be compensated using
water.
2. Etching procedure
ATTENTION
Carry corresponding protective
clothing (acid and alkal-proof
protection gloves, protective goggles,
overall or apron) when applying the
bath or when working with the device.
At skin contact, rinse immediately
with lukewarm water and soap.
If you don´t want to use the etching
device for a longer time, please
discharge the tank. Fill the etching
fluid in a plastic canister and store
them out of range of children and
foods.
After this, fill water (approx.: 1l) in the
tank and switch on the membrane
pump for a few minutes to clean the
air curtain tube.
ll
FORTEX Limited Lincoln, LN69AP Unit16 Freeman Road United Kingdom
www.fortex.co.uk

5. Spare parts
ATTENTION
Before cleaning the air curtain tube,
switch-off the glass heater.
ACHTUNG!
According the water law of Germany
(BGBI (186/1996) dated 19.04.1996),
the remainder content of copper is
limited to 0,5mg/l that may be dispose
to the seewer.
Because of new limits appointed by
the goverment, it is suitable to inquire
corresponding information of the
appropriate government agencies.
Use only plastic container for storage
etching fluid.
Make sure that no etching fluid get
inside the safety valve. Running back
etching medium destroys the
maembrane pump.
Not required tools, equipment and
parts take away from working area.
Switch-off the device after use.
Cover the cuvette with the board
holder.
Glass heater for etching
station (150W)
Item no.: 411186
Glass thermometer (0 - 50°C)
Item no.: 141900
Aerating frame, etching station
Item no.: 149175 1000
PCB holder for etching station
Item no.: 149170
Membran pump for
etching station
Art. Nr.: 411156
Air curtain tube 2, (l=1m)
Art. Nr.: 141901
To drain the etching liquid (saturated solution or by prolonged non-use of the
etching bath), use the drain cock.
For storing the etching liquid, only use closable PVC or glass bottles.
The etching solution is saturated hazardous waste (trichloroethane). Please
dispose of this according to the regulations locally applicable.
Etchants Keep always out of reach of children!
3. Sewage treatment
4. Maintenance and cleaning
According to the application frequency, you should regularly clean the
etching device in order to guarantee a perfect working. This specially
affects the part pump, connecting tube, board holder etc.
For cleaning the etching device, empty the cuvette by using the drainpipe.
After fill in again about 0.5 l hot water. Now switch on the pump.
Make sure that the heater is not switched on!
Blowing in air the pores of the highly porous air curtain tube are largely
cleaned. If pores are clogged by crystals you can try gently them with a
small wooden / PVC bar.
For cleaning the cuvette you can use a wooden or PVC strip with a foam
stripe on top (eg. Tesa Moll).
When not using the etching tank for a long time it makes sense to release
the connection hose from the non-reverse valve.
Acrylic tank big
Item no.: 141060 1002
Acrylic tank small
Item no.: 141060 1001
Drip tray for etching station
Item no.: 411199
Reserve technical changes
ll
FORTEX Limited Lincoln, LN69AP Unit16 Freeman Road United Kingdom
www.fortex.co.uk