I like mechanical Etching because I don't have to handle acid.
The acid method produces finer traces than mechanical etching can so
that is a must for some people. The milling machine can mill and drill
the board. For the average person both methods produce a usable board.
Not having a copier I can't do Toner Transfer.
--- In
Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com, "lcdpublishing"
<lcdpublishing@y...> wrote:
>
> Okay, as you all know I am far from experienced with PCB making. I
> have gone through a variety of trials with the toner transfer method
> and can appreciate it. I can somewhat see it's limitations with
> regard to how small of a trace I could do using this process.
> However, if I ever need more detail, I could do the photoresist
> process. The chemicals work good and efficient, all around, etching
> works very good.
>
> Now about 6 months ago, I was wanting to do isolation milling as I
> believed it to be better. However, I am pretty much now in the
> belief trying isolation milling will not show any advantages over
> what I am doing now. I seriously doubt it would be faster than
> chemical etching. I don't think the tool bits would last very long,
> so I would guess that the tooling costs would negate the costs of
> the chemicals. Even though you would be cutting with a very small
> diameter pointed tool, I don't think you could get better results
> (finer pitches and traces) using a milling process.
>
> Is there something that I am not seeing in that process that would
> give it advantages over chemical etching?
>
> Thanks guys
>
> Chris
>