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What Do Know About Soldermask?

John T

Should PCB designers supply exact soldermask information in the artwork files when ordering boards? And should this be 1:1 with pad-size?


After some time at Cadence, a vast difference is very apparent between various designers. Some PCB designs exhibit strict rules regarding soldermask openings, gaps and sizes.

However, many other designers simply export soldermask artworks with an exact 1:1 replica of each components’ copper pad sizes. What are the pros and cons; and what about paste mask artworks?

Please let us know what you expect or do? Should designers: 
A. Supply 1:1 soldermask. Let the PCB Fabricator decide.
B. Supply exact custom soldermask. The Fabricator must follow the artwork precisely. 
C. Supply exact custom soldermask AND solder-paste information should also be supplied.  

Example of SM gap control affecting copper exposure

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  • avant

    B. We don't want any changes between multiple board runs or from different fabricators. 

    If a soldermak change is made, some designs might require requalification and testing from our customers.

    Some of our components such as 0201 capacitors, do not have a soldermask bridge between the pads.

    The soldermask parameters are determined and controlled by our manufacturing team working with our fabricators.

    We don't provide paste stencils to our bare board fabricators. 

    I'll add that we manufacture hundreds of thousands of OEM assemblies per year, so our manufacturing parameters are strict.

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  • avant

    B. We don't want any changes between multiple board runs or from different fabricators. 

    If a soldermak change is made, some designs might require requalification and testing from our customers.

    Some of our components such as 0201 capacitors, do not have a soldermask bridge between the pads.

    The soldermask parameters are determined and controlled by our manufacturing team working with our fabricators.

    We don't provide paste stencils to our bare board fabricators. 

    I'll add that we manufacture hundreds of thousands of OEM assemblies per year, so our manufacturing parameters are strict.

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