Engraving

Engraved boards look different from photodesigned boards in that the tracks are isolated from the remaining copper laminate.A cutting tool is used to physically remove copper and isolate the track from the surrounding material.

Acids are used to remove copper in a conventional board.

Engraved board and conventional boards

PCB Layout and isolation tracks

For example, the red tracks would be distinct tracks on the board and all the surrounding copper would have been etched or removed from the design. Note that some designs may have ground planes around the tracks but the board would have been manufactured with special UV films and etching baths.

The engraved pcb is different because the track is just engraved around the outside of its paths and isolated from the surrounding copper board.

Advantages of photographic process

• fast
• requires negatives or phototooling
• easy for multilayers
• commercially practical

Disadvantages

• schools must use acids, alkalis and chemicals
• setup times, printing can be tedious

Advantages of engraving

• NO “Bridging” of tracks due to faulty etching.
  NO Dangerous chemicals and messy etch tanks.
• NO Chemical disposal problems.
• NO Multi-stage manufacturing processes.
• NO Expensive photo etch board.
• NO Guessing exposure times (and getting it wrong!).

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