Homebrew PCBs

spacedcowboy@... wrote: 
> 
> Just wondering if anyone had used/heard-of the HW-K1000 machine 
> I'm thinking about getting one, and am just trying to see if I'll be
> breaking new ground, or if someone else can give me the benefit of
> their wisdom :)

Simon,

If you find yourself careless about connectors pinouts i won't recommend
that you run a pcb plating setup yourself... About time, i would point
something close to 100 the number of hours needed in
reading/understanding to operate the thing without trouble. There is a
big lack of specifications or description for such machine, or either it
pleases be to buy it. Conventional pcb copper plating setup with big
dependency in addictive aren't easy or cheap to maintain. The most
hazard chemical in todays activation/plating chemistries is the copper
sulfate, can't see why it can't go thought customs. If you need to find
yourself and depend on another supplier for chemistry the machine is
worthless, or by other words, depends on your knowledge if it will work.

If it help, i think these suppliers are/can be found on US:

http://www.os-tech.com/chemistry.htm 
http://www.floridacirtech.com/Databases/pdfs/OMEGA%20II%20VERTICAL.pdf 

The holder of the palladium based direct plating chemistry patents
worldwide is SOLUTION TECHNOLOGY SYSTEMS, 538 E Stuart Ave, Redlands,
California 92374-3544 US. The product was HN504, it's said it can be
found from OS-TECH as OS-522R Cleaner / Conditioner, OS-523 Predip,
OS-524 Activator, OS-525 Accelerator (look at the pdf catalog at the
main page).

Many other suppliers around but the only other (better) chemistry you
may like to try is Neopact from Atotech, but won't be available in small
quantities. 

Good luck,
Sim�o