ENCYCLOPAEDIA OF ELECTRONIC PRODUCTION.

The only effective way to ensure that the plating in pcb holes is complete, makes an internal 'barrel', and is free from pinholes, is to cut it and examine it under a microscope. To do this it is necessary to carry out a microsectioning program. Several specifications call for microsectioning. These include BS9762, MIL-P-55110, etc. Microsections are made by encapsulating the subject in resin, which can then be cut and polished through a particular plane, permitting examination which otherwise would not be possible. The process producing acceptable microsections is not difficult, but it does require care in the choice of the cutting plane.