Routing is like milling but the whole way through in one cut.
Maybe in ‘american’ it’s CNC?
Chris
CNC is still milling, just advanced. Computer Numerically Controlled Milling Machines are fast becoming the de facto standard in production plants it would seem.
A router is usually considered to be a hand held device that is far more powerful than a dremel but works on a similar principle, with larger more capable bits and usually a wood working tool. I think it was just meant that previous samples were cut through with square edges, not stamped with a compressed or rolled edge.
Or simpler: stamped sinkpad=> StinkPadTM
So sounds like sinkpad is starting to cut corners and quality is going down?
I’ve only used Noctigon before, never a Sinkpad. But I thought Sinkpad design has always been that way since the beginning? They simply use a standard sheet, then stamp and punch.
IIRC there was even a thread where PilotPTK measured (or was it some fancy computer aided simulation thingies) very little thermal capability lost with that design.
PS: And I don’t know how Noctigon got its shape, but I don’t think milling was economically viable for it. I think it must have used pressure press to push the copper into shape, similar to coins.
It's flat as flat it can be and you can see the grooves are at an angle on the edge, that is not stamping.
I’m thinking a whole sheet stamped by pressure plate having holes to create multiple protrusions (for the thermal pad), second process to polish/finish/layer the top surface and third process of stamping to cut out as desired size.
Hank claims that the Noctigons are sanded flat before plating. Maybe they are completely machined, maybe there is a trick to them we dont know yet.. but they work well, just as Sinkpads work well, even if they are stamped. At least they are stamped from the bottom, a lot of cheap PCBs are stamped from the top -> very bad thermal contact (only the edges make contact). The Sinkpad makes a lot more contact, only the edges are floating.
The simulation did not judge the bent up edges on these cheaper quality boards.
It was only to judge the effect of the center impression on the bottom.
I had two sinkpad(one copper one alu) on which the copper trace got loose after reflowing, the edge stood up…
Never had this on a noctigon…
Thermal conductivity of copper is better than gold，but gold is good appearance and not easy to oxidize. Mainly to see what you are inclined to. I can also do "copper" MCPCB, Please look at the picture below. !{width:100%}[IMG]http://i64.tinypic.com/rhmmmc.jpg[/IMG]! !{width:100%}[IMG]http://i63.tinypic.com/2h572om.jpg[/IMG]! !{width:100%}[IMG]http://i66.tinypic.com/6oipz6.jpg[/IMG]! !{width:100%}[IMG]http://i63.tinypic.com/33jmx7a.jpg[/IMG]! !{width:100%}[IMG]http://i66.tinypic.com/s4ug5z.jpg[/IMG]! !{width:100%}[IMG]http://i68.tinypic.com/30stsp3.jpg[/IMG]!