[volt-nuts] PCB Artist

[Dr. David Kirkby (Kirkby Microwave Ltd)]

On 14 Dec 2016 14:14, "Dan Kemppainen" <dan at irtelemetrics.com> wrote:
> If it's a one off board, with a handful of components anything should
work. You can always redraw it later in something else. If you have 500
components, differential signals, and controlled impedance stuff that's a
different story.

A handful of surface mount components can easily exceed 500!

But like you,  I find the idea of using an open source program much more
attractive.

Someone mentioned earlier about making PCBs on a milling machine. That
needs a different approach than to etching.  To reduce tool wear one should
leave as much copper on the board as possible,  removing only that which is
essential to keep.

Thinking of it logically,  leaving as much copper on the board as possible
will preserve the useful life of the etchant, but most people leave remove
as much copper as possible, except for RF boards.

Dave.