[MrWild]

Something I've noticed on several PCB layouts is the use of radial arms connecting the colder points to the traces. I see nothing like this with surface mount (too small to make radial arms I guess), but do they serve a purpose? It'd be interesting to me to learn why they are there. The last PCB I tried making had all the openings between the radial arms blacjked out for a full pad. Was I wrong to do this?

[martinw]

Something I've noticed on several PCB layouts is the use of radial arms connecting the colder points to the traces. I see nothing like this with surface mount (too small to make radial arms I guess), but do they serve a purpose? It'd be interesting to me to learn why they are there. The last PCB I tried making had all the openings between the radial arms blacjked out for a full pad. Was I wrong to do this?

Dear MrWild,

Try this...
http://www.speedingedge.com/PDF-File...E%20DESIGN.pdf

Best wishes,
Martin