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Please, how to create a peelable mask layer?

Andy123UK

Hi.

I'm extremely new to Allegro, I've just bought 17.4 and over the course of the last 2 weeks have managed to generate a board,  produce the artwork and then create the Gerbers.

However the customer wants me to generate a peelable mask layer, essentially big circles of thick gunk covering the mounting holes so the solder doesn’t fill the holes when the board is placed in the solder wave machine.

I already know how to change the padstack for the mounting hole by using the padstack editor. Its obvious what to do for the drill, copper layers, solder screen and solder paste modifications.
I can see two other layers, there is a filmmask and coverlay. Prior they were set up as none so I thought I could utilise these for the peelable mask layer and so I added the necessary circles but try as I might I cannot see these additional layers at all even when global visibility is on and even if I add the layers as part of the cross section editor. That is Question 1, what are the filmmask and coverlay and why can’t I make them visible??

I know how to create additional layers of artwork by selecting the visibility of various attributes of the design and use 'add' in the Artwork Control Form' but I just can't manage to add a layer of a total of 4 circles, one for each mounting hole.

So question 2 is :- If for some reason the filmmask and coverlay are not the correct manner to generate the peelable mask layer how do I do it??

Many thanks. Andrew.

  • redwire

    Try this:  Add a subclass to board geometry layer, let's call it Peelable_Gunk  (Setup->Subclasses...and the rest is easy).

    Then set your color geometry up to show the symbol outlines of the mounting holes (I hope you have these!).  Use z-copy, expand 1mm, and copy to layer: Board Geom:Peelable_Gunk

    You should end up with a filled circle on that layer representing the gunk mask layer.  Then create an artwork layer to show just that new geometry and you should be all set..

    There are hundreds of ways to do this by the way, this is just how I thought to get there quickly!

  • Andy123UK
    in reply to redwire

    Many thanks. I will try this. I first need to understand z-copy but I think there is plenty of information already on the web about this. I'll let you know in due course how I get on.

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