When I did an etch of a very small board, it took me quite a while to get the copper off, much longer than I expected. Obviously, part of the problem was that the FeCl got too cold and didn't work very fast. It occurred to me that given the iron content, it should be possible to heat it up with an induction burner, thus speeding up the process quite a bit. Has anybody tried that? I have been wanting to get a stand-alone induction burner anyway, this would be a good occasion for it. Thanks in advance, -Lars https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?13,21488,21488#msg-21488 Fri, 06 Mar 2026 13:15:53 -0500 Phorum 5.2.23 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?13,21488,21952#msg-21952 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?13,21488,21952#msg-21952 www.maplin.co.uk] about 14 years ago. I don't think they sell the same stuff these days. They have dumbed down somewhat since then.]]> nophead Controllers Wed, 04 Mar 2009 04:33:52 -0500 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?13,21488,21947#msg-21947 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?13,21488,21947#msg-21947 Thanks]]> pingiscoolest Controllers Tue, 03 Mar 2009 21:04:48 -0500 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?13,21488,21594#msg-21594 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?13,21488,21594#msg-21594 BDolge Controllers Thu, 19 Feb 2009 22:36:37 -0500 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?13,21488,21538#msg-21538 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?13,21488,21538#msg-21538
A photography developing tray on top of a heater plate set to 48C

All of that was mounted on a see saw plate driven by a small motor.

Using the Anhydrous feric has a small chemical heating effect with water.

In the UK Maplin sell Feric in the Anhydrous form.



I use an electric wine warming plate and agitate by the etch bath hand tilting it gently. I have used both Feric and Sodium persulphate this likes to alo be at about 48C to work effectivly. Maplin in the UK sell both of these for home use.]]> BodgeIt Controllers Tue, 17 Feb 2009 14:08:46 -0500 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?13,21488,21496#msg-21496 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?13,21488,21496#msg-21496
See also this topic on etching: [hackaday.com]]]> Mr. Seeker Controllers Sun, 15 Feb 2009 16:56:25 -0500 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?13,21488,21495#msg-21495 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?13,21488,21495#msg-21495
FeCl gets slower and slower if you reuse it but when fresh it is reasonably quick.]]> nophead Controllers Sun, 15 Feb 2009 15:24:23 -0500 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?13,21488,21494#msg-21494 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?13,21488,21494#msg-21494 larsrc Controllers Sun, 15 Feb 2009 15:19:07 -0500 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?13,21488,21493#msg-21493 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?13,21488,21493#msg-21493 [attachment 1418 etcher.jpg]

The tank holds the board vertical so the sludge sinks to the bottom leaving clean FeCl where the board is.

The immersion heater on the right heats the solution. A thermometer on the left lets you see the temperature, IIRC 40-45C is best.

An aquarium pump bubbles air up through the tank to agitate the solution. All pretty simple low tech stuff, not too expensive.

The immersion heater is just a test tube with nichrome wire wound on a mica support. Cheap and 100% efficient so no need for an induction heater.

When I was a kid I did it on the cheap by floating a plastic dish in a sink full of hot water and manually agitating it.]]> nophead Controllers Sun, 15 Feb 2009 15:01:39 -0500 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?13,21488,21491#msg-21491 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?13,21488,21491#msg-21491 Forrest Higgs Controllers Sun, 15 Feb 2009 13:34:27 -0500 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?13,21488,21490#msg-21490 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?13,21488,21490#msg-21490 larsrc Controllers Sun, 15 Feb 2009 13:18:03 -0500 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?13,21488,21489#msg-21489 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?13,21488,21489#msg-21489 Mr. Seeker Controllers Sun, 15 Feb 2009 12:43:47 -0500 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?13,21488,21488#msg-21488 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?13,21488,21488#msg-21488
Thanks in advance,
-Lars]]> larsrc Controllers Sun, 15 Feb 2009 07:57:09 -0500