A photoplotter is a specialized electro-opto-mechanical machine that exposes a latent image on a medium, usually high-contrast monochromatic (black-and-white) photographic film, using a light source under computer control.[1] Once the film has been exposed, it must be processed before it is ready for use.
Photoplotters are used primarily for industrial production of printed circuit boards (PCB) and integrated circuit (IC) packaging. In the PCB industry, photoplotting is the first step of making photolithography masks for printed circuit boards. These masks are called photoplots and are limited in resolution by the technology in use; in 1998 photoplots with resolvable details of 2.5 μm or more were possible.[2] Integrated circuits are made in a similar fashion utilizing photomasks with sub-micrometer feature sizes; photomasks are traditionally made by photoreducing photoplotter output.[3]
Other application of photoplotters include chemical milling and specialized graphic arts.[4]
^Raymond H. Clark (6 December 2012). Handbook of Printed Circuit Manufacturing. Springer Science & Business Media. pp. 17–. ISBN 978-94-011-7012-3.
^Electronic Products. United Technical Publications. 1989.
^Electronic Packaging and Production. Cahners Pub. 1987.
^Carill Sharpe (1994). Kempe's Engineers Year-book. Morgan Bros.
A photoplotter is a specialized electro-opto-mechanical machine that exposes a latent image on a medium, usually high-contrast monochromatic (black-and-white)...
for all bare board fabrication equipment needing image data, such as photoplotters, legend printers, direct imagers or automated optical inspection (AOI)...
algorithms for these. Many tools, such as plotting or drilling machines, photoplotter, etc. operating in the plane, are usually controlled by two motors in...
advanced shops used geometric software to generate tapes for a Gerber photoplotter, responsible for generating a monochromatic exposure image, but even...
have sometimes come to be called "plotters" as well. Chart recorder Photoplotter Polar plotter CAD/CAM Principles and application. P. N. RAO. "Cutting...
with photo-sensitized boards, then etch. (Alternatively, use a film photoplotter) Laser resist ablation PCB milling Laser etching Hobbyist Laser-printed...
photographic film. The world's most accurate printing technology, the "photoplotter" reduced the cost and time of fabricating circuit boards and enabled...
development Society for Imaging Science and Technology, (IS&T) Film recorder Photoplotter Federal Agencies Digital Guidelines Initiative Glossary Brown, Barbara...
symbols, ultimately being used to produce the map printing plates with a photoplotter. The stereoplotter serves an important need of allowing aerial photos...
available. Bell Telephone Laboratories, for example, had a high-resolution photoplotter. The integrated circuit industry left Rubylith behind for technologies...
were soldered. "Preparing the Manufacturing Data: Gerber Files for Photoplotters with Variable Aperture Wheels". EAGLE - Easily Applicable Graphics Layout...
Automation and Electrometry, developed laser circular recording systems (photoplotters) CLWS-300 and CLWS-300M, which were exported to Italy, Germany and China...
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