Insulate Milling

Insulate milling is the process of removing not needed copper from coated base material by surface milling. CircuitCAM provides predefined batch jobs that supports up to four different kind of tools.

• The mandatory primary tool is used for the primary insulation channel around all layout copper. Typically a universal milling tool with a diameter of about 0,2 mm is used. But as needed also end-mills with e.g. 0 mm might be used.
• The optional small tool, must be smaller than the primary tool, e.g. 0,15 mm. It is only used in places that are too narrow for the primary tool. This is important because the durability of such a small tool is typically rather low.
• The optional big tool must be bigger than the primary tool. It is used for removal of copper when possible. A typically example would be an end-mill of 0,8 mm.
• The same is with the optional bigger tool that must be bigger than the big tool. A typically example is an end-mill of 2,0 mm.

With the combination of up to four different kind of tools residual copper effectively be removed. User can choose if copper is to be removed only in specific rubout areas or for the complete board.

Video: Defining rubout areas for insulate milling calculation