Homebrew PCBs

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Piers Goodhew" <piers@...>
To: <Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Monday, March 09, 2009 12:43 PM
Subject: [Homebrew_PCBs] terminology question:


> Hi All,
>
> What is the term for the process where your traces are simply
> "outlined" by etching, and as a result, most of the copper is left on
> the board, and you presumably use a lot less etchant (and maybe get
> some 2D RF shielding as well).
>
> What I'm talking about is used by SparkFun a lot, as in: 
> http://www.sparkfun.com/commerce/images/products/00718-02-L.jpg
>
> I suppose I have two questions really:
>
> 1 - what do you call this?
> 2 - is there a handy one-click way to do it in major CAD packages?

It's called "isolation milling" when done with CNC. There isn't an easy way 
to do it with most PCB packages.

Leon