Kicad solder mask. May 8, 2023 · Hi, A popular (I think) method for creating mounting holes with no copper or solder mask around the hole in KiCAD 6 involves adjusting the pad and solder mask clearance settings in the footprints properties dialog. Can I stop it? Yes. @chicken - It is a bug. Many thanks in advance. I understand that the F. Oct 3, 2020 · 11,087. It may seem like a nice idea, and hierarchical and logical and nice and what not. This video shows how to implement solderpaste patter I deleted the old layers under edit->global deletions (zones, current layer only, for both). The solder mask clearance is almost twice the size of the pads on my SMD 0402 capacitor copper pads (they extend 0. The solder mask layer protects the copper layer ( our circuit layer ) from oxidization and solder bridges when soldering. 1- Line on Edge. The May 16, 2020 · As far as I know the effect of removing the solder mask to improve thermal radiation is negligible. Exploring the preferences pays off . So the amplitude at 1mm is sin (90st*1/75)=0,021 of maximum amplitude. Hello, I’m not sure if this is supported in KiCad, or if it’s a kind of new feature request. 05mm Apr 28, 2023 · I think you will get your answer here: 3D PCB Viewer Features | KiCad EDA. (For SMT pads you want F. 9 KB. . 152 as well. I know 2 valid reasons for removing the soldermask over traces: Guard rings. Sep 4, 2019 · When I look at the board in KiCAD (PcbNew), I see a reasonable mask - a bit larger than the copper as expected. It’s probably just fine. 6 subscribers. The drill provides a central via. Vias are covered by soldermask by default, i. Cu and B. If you followed a link to another thread, JLCPCB rejects board due to empty back solder mask, you saw that it’s impossible to make them understand once they have misunderstood. The solder mask clearance setting, renamed mask Apr 5, 2019 · So its amplitude is 0 at GND, and full at 1/4 of wave length from plane. Dec 10, 2022 · Removing solder mask. Hi there, I’m searching a way to remove solder mask over tracks that will need to stay with visible copper. 749×284 13. ] This is a portion of the PcbNew screen: However, all external tools see the (open) mask area merged due to what seems like excessive expansion. Everywhere you draw on the mask layer will not get mask on the board. Written by The KiCad Development Team. If you do not have copper there then you will see the pcb base material. 0508mm), which pairs well with our production tolerances. such as below. I found lots of threads and infos but I still can’t make it. In this video, I show you how to change solder mask in KiCad quickly. For pads defined with copper layers, the solder mask and solder paste clearance calculations remain the same. By default the gerbers are created accordingly. You have to use the ‘choose color’ option as shown in the video embedded in the above link’s video. In my case only minority of vias need mask removed. KiCad is capable of creating printed circuit boards with up to 32 copper layers, 14 technical layers (silkscreen, solder mask, component adhesive, solder paste, etc), and 13 general-purpose drawing layers. Basically, the situation is, that I would like to remove solder mask from the underside of a board, so that I can better attach it to a heatsink (using a soft SIL-PAD). It was set to 0. Tinning whole tracks for better current conductivity. Those must match. Mask and B. Solder mask clearance: the suggested soldermask clearance in GERBER is 2-4 mils. The surface area of the copper is much more important. In this video, I show you how to change solder mask in Mar 30, 2015 · Open up mask-holes. I have a couple of QFN parts where the distance between pads is less than 0. 5-L-DV-A-S-TR from Samtec. Paste mask layer define the stencil cutouts. Apr 1, 2021 · Sounds like I should try the nightlies, but to attempt to clarify: Minimum trace/space are both 4 mils (so “track width” and “clearance” are both 4 mils) Solder mask must be expanded by 4 mils relative to pads (“solder mask clearance” = 4 mils) Masked copper must be 4 mills from the mask edge. I have positive values for solder mask clearance and min width under dimensions->pads mask clearance, and a positive value for solder mask clearance under dimensions->pads->local clearance and settings. For example, a value of 0. 1mm, meaning that there will be an 0. Uncheck the F. Show off your designs, learn how to utilize the tools, and talk about the future of this wonderful open source package. There are also multilayer Aluminum PCBs but we’ll be taking a look at a 1 Layer one for now. A four pad set with double strain relief. If you need solder mask front and back, use a through-hole pad set to square. May 20, 2019 · After following your suggestion, I got no gray on my antenna. 2mm so they won’t accept my board. You’d have to make separate pads for something like what is shown in the datasheet you linked. Create one more pad, in this case, pad number should be empty and copper should be none. 15 mm thick) less than 0. (The darker ring is the absence of copper, Pad clearance, which is displayed fine) Here are the settings applied: Capture d’écran_2023-04 Nov 27, 2019 · eelik November 27, 2019, 10:37pm 3. I’ll try to remember to do that later. 05 mm. I’m using KiCad version 4. And here, the green solder mask is present. Mask or B. Sep 24, 2014 · Using the “Add filled zones” tool on the appropriate mask layer (top or bottom depending on where your track is), draw an outline around the track that you want exposed. There seems to be a difference between Gerbv from Geda and Gerber viewer from KiCad. 5 mm hole. Even if there were solder mask between the pads, the pads will still have Aug 3, 2021 · Solder Mask Missing Entirely. Paste layer and make your own as desired . As you suggested, rounded corners of pads lead to rounded corners of solder masks and would solve the issue (if corner size is equal or bigger than the corner size of the copper zone). 3mm by setting the hole size to 1. The land pattern shows the copper areas (F. I found out to do that in KiCad, but its tedious to have a mask for all traces. “Tenting” isn’t a specific option in KiCad. Normally all exposed copper is plated. Dec 14, 2022 · Auto Mask Zone Cutouts. Rene_Poschl February 26, 2018, 10:12am 3. You can bookmark it for later Jul 30, 2023 · paulvdh July 30, 2023, 11:28am 3. You should create a normal 2-layer board and have graphics in the bottom solder mask layer where the through hole pads are. Mask layer (top soldermask layer) Now place the pad in the location of your choice. It is also saying “All component holes should have soldermask relief”. This is a problem because having the cutout coincide with the edge of a copper feature can lead to delamination. DRC reports 6 violations: for each pad of R1, there is a clearance violation between the pad and the zone, another clearance violation between the pad’s through hole and the zone, and a third violation where the pad’s solder mask opening exposes the copper of two different nets (the GND fill and the trace connected to the pad). Subscribed. Check your manufacturers requirements for minimum soldermask clearance and set your board to that. 2mm or at least 0. What you probably want from KiCad is to use the solder paste layers. 1. A buried via is not visible from the outside of the PCB. 1mm. I had to edit the Jan 31, 2021 · In KiCad-nightly V5. Solder Mask Expansion Web Width should usually be set to 0. One tip, if you know that you want (for example) 1mm of no mask along all the edges of the board, copy all the Edge. I get many errors (209 to be accurate), and most of them seem to be “ErrorL Front solder mask aperture bridges items with different nets”, whatever it means. Feb 25, 2019 · Which is why KiCad didn't put solder mask between the pads for this particular IC. (The pads will include a mask cutout, copper and most importantly a pin number unique to every pad. 3. If you use THT components - as can be seen in the that “KiCAD Quick-Start” still image - the back solder mask isn’t empty. It might help if you hide all the layers except silkscreen and resist. Hello, newbie here looking for help on understanding Pad Clearance and Solder mask clearance. Mask are subtractive, meaning the assume the mask is everywhere, and Jul 29, 2017 · Those silkscreen lines are (if normal 0. [image] IMPO Mar 17, 2016 · Soldermask clearance. But in OpenGL view it is being displayed and you can see right away that It is set to some higher value than that which is selected in PCBNew r/KiCad A place to discuss the KiCad software packages, on all supported systems. If I try to enlarge the solder mask to 1. However, some considerations regarding the performance of the PCB should be done while choosing solder mask color: PCB Nov 6, 2023 · There are two values for solder mask in Board Setup: clearance and minimum width. Mask). Soldermask is a “negative” layer in which the solder mask will only be removed if you draw features on it. Below is a photo of what I mean. You can choose to uncover all vias when exporting the gerbers. nicholas March 17, 2016, 1:33am 1. pad: select pad and click [E] > Local Clearance and Setting. @eelik : Can the Solder Mask FAQ be updated to explain the new third solder mask setting Solder mask to copper clearance: eelik March 17, 2023, 10:05pm #2. This is the same area as shown by an online Oct 23, 2015 · Footprint editor > Dimensions > Pad Setting > Local Clearance and Setting. Feb 15, 2023 · Set the grid to something coarse (20mm) or so. [image] IMPO The crucial piece I was missing is right at the top: In KiCad (and other EDA) the graphical layer which represents solder mask is negative. Published 2018-05-01. bilucco September 12, 2019, 5:42pm #1. e. Since I would like to support higher currents, I need to put solder on the traces. In KiCad if you disable the mask then nothing will be exposed, but if the mask is enabled then the marks are generated when you create the Gerber files. Feb 6, 2024 · If i select a footprint for a SMD resistor from the defaults provided in kicad i get something like this. Where there is graphics in this layer, the physical solder mask isn’t applied and there will be a hole in Apr 29, 2020 · paulvdh April 29, 2020, 2:14pm 2. Oct 3, 2020. When IC pin pitch gets too narrow, there is just no room left for solder mask in between. Just like @Seth said in his answer, in PCBNew, I can click Setup->Pads to Mask Clearance and change the "Solder mask clearance" and "Solder mask min width" to allow the solder mask to appear. 15 mm silkscreem), if in doubt (=current grid would nudge it closer) even a tad more - at Jan 4, 2017 · ArtG January 4, 2017, 12:53pm 1. So the question is should it or should it not be there? 1279×913 40. DonPancoe August 3, 2021, 3:34pm 1. Jun 27, 2019 · SMD pads can be used to get maximum copper size while still having enough space for solder mask between pads (solder mask min width) If solder mask ends too near to a height step you get increased delamination probability. 1920×1080 318 KB. Must be a setting somewhere for that, but I can’t find it. However, when I uploaded the layout to our PCB manufacturer’s web site and looked at their stack-up image, it looks like the antenna is protected by the solder mask, as I want it to be: 700×210 1. 10, the slightest misalignment of the solder mask exposes copper of the surrounding copper zone. ) Edit: I just looked at your project within the same repository. 2-Line on F. You can disable them in Preferences->Preferences->3DViewer->General. This makes sense if you don't want to externally short a via to a surrounding polygon in an area without soldermask. Is this setting broken in 5. New replies are no longer allowed. You might have better luck with this since you’re trying such a complex pattern. Jan 25, 2018 · 2. Paste and F. Gray is actually paste in the 3D view. This idea of global value for this and KLC forbids to put a value in footprint is just plain wrong. Draw directly on the mask layer with the graphics tools. Previously, when solder mask was not displayed during footprint editing, I never payed attention to it. To get the solder mask covering only the tracks, you need to properly prepare the soldermask layer - you need a cooper pour around all the tracks, then you need to remove the tracks from it - what will be used as the mask layer will give exactly the effect I want to get. 99 there are many improvements in the DRC and “Silkscreen clipped by solder mask” is one of the settings (Can be set to “Error”, “Warning”, “Ignore”. Feb 16, 2023 · Yes I am using Gerbv from Geda. 1mm as their default as well. then you need to untick the F. eelik June 30, 2019, 7:56pm 2. You would add a pad (+ strain reliefs) to the PCD design and connect to the GND net. If you have generated normal gerbers, also B. Apr 24, 2021 · First, we need to understand how Aluminum PCBs work. 3 * 106 // Shapes used to define solder mask apertures don't have nets, Apr 23, 2020 · KiCAD can’t seem to decide whether the antenna is above or below the solder mask. If you do not enable the soldermask layer (F. Mar 11, 2023 · That said, I’m interested in trying to translate the specs to Kicad. May 1, 2018 · Mask Clearance Generation Changes. So if you have copper below in an area where you define something on the mask layer you should get this area plated. Which means the mask (cutout) is not bigger than your pad. When I don’t use thermals with copper pour it means pads connected to ground via ground . Another benefit of this would be that the 3D viewer would hopefully correctly display vias; currently vias are always shown without a golden annular ring (assuming ENIG, of Nov 12, 2015 · According to the KiCad calculator they are good for 3 amps (with a 20°C temperature rise). For example, if you have a 4 layer PCB and have a via that connects only layers 2 and 3 (the inner two layers) you have a buried via. Hello, I’m trying to understand how the solder mask works. 1 mm minimum. (Meaning yes you need to have copper in that area to get it gold coloured. The purpose of the solder mask expansion is to ensure that there is enough solder mask material between adjacent copper features to prevent shorts and other assembly problems. Duplicate your existing pads and move them a few grid points. You may find after “Updating” , your footprints may be reversed with respect to the symbols. For additional information, see Understanding Stop Mask Expansion. KiCad's solder mask clearance has a default of 0. g. And solder does not stick to the PCB itself and the lack of solder mask will not influence the chance of solder bridges. Feb 20, 2022 · Hey, so yesterday i was confused to set the Soldermask clearance in KiCad 6. This way during reflow, all liquid tin remains on the pad. I’ve tried setting “solder mask minimum width” to 0. In your case, because the PCB is complete, simply mirror the symbols to get the correct pad/pin associations, then Update again. 5OZ (17um). When I create the Gerber plot file, the solder mask only covers the pads completely. The stack-up diagram below shows how a 1 Layer Aluminum PCB works. Repeat for the bottom. Jul 9, 2018 · Currently my workaround is to use normal vias and add solder mask clearance with graphic circle on needed mask layer. One pad for the copper and solder-resist part (it’s a good idea to Jul 22, 2021 · With KiCad 5. Mask, for a THT pad you do not want F. PCBWay can accept the minimum distance between IC pins is 0. Jul 10, 2022 · Tomasz_Barwinski July 11, 2022, 11:13am 7. Jun 5, 2015 · The “solder mask” is a negative layer, so you only have marks where you want the copper exposed. I am working with a LSHM-140-02. Save. 884×525 16. Sep 23, 2023 · Hi, I was happy to find in 7. Mask) then your pads will get covered with solder mask. I have the attached part. Dec 21, 2016 · Did you by any chance somehow set the mask clearance to 0 in your kicad template project? (The footprint editor shows the clearence of the standard template. This can be found in: Pcbnew > Menu > Setup > Pads to Mask Clearance. 2 * This program source code file is part of KiCad, a free EDA CAD application. As a result, the 3D viewer shows them covered by solder mask (see image below) This is not what I want, and I suspect that this is not what the majority of users out there expect. 2mm per side. Yes. straubm May 23, 2022, 7:15am 2. Because the mask layers are “negative” layers, anywhere that is part of the filled zone will actually be a hole in the mask. 1mm per side in Eagle. poco May 23, 2022, 9:12am 3. However, such exclusions will be plated just like pads or uncovered vias. 0. Therefore I cannot have solder mask on them. [Solder mask clearance is set to 0. Cu etc) and also a mask for the solder resist (F. Having said that - I can't see an issue with your screen shot. Mask which is empty, and they don’t understand they should cover the backside with May 31, 2023 · In KiCad (and other EDA) the graphical layer which represents solder mask is negative. May 10, 2019 · SembazuruCDE May 10, 2019, 10:31pm 2. 2mm. itsko March 17, 2023, 8:12pm #1. 2mm but this creates some really strange geometry on exported Gerbers. Dec 5, 2014 · Stencil is solder-paste (F. I believe that this be OK, but as I am planning to send the board to JLC PCB to get it done, I would like to avoid beginners issues. Go to File > Export RS274x (Gerber) Merge, and save it as the top mask file. #2. Done! If you’re on a command-line friendly system, you can replace a couple of these with GerbV’s helpful command line options as well. You could also cut text into copper, to spread how you pass the information, using only Cu and Mask layers. However I’d like the other part of the paths to be covered by solder mask. The Silkscreen goes on top of the solder resist - the mask defines where there isn't any solder resist. MikesElecticStuff is always fun to watch: Mar 14, 2021 · Follow the below steps to customize the solder mask layer. Solder Mask Openings: the place without solder mask calls solder mask opening. 2. 1mm border on all sides of the pad and the solder mask opening will be 0. 1731×1134 71. The silkscreen definition in the footprint (at least in the generic kicad libraries) can’t account for this extra distance as every user can set a different value. When looking at where exactly the problem arises, I get this: So I suspect there is something with the thin line and the purple background of this line. there are no round graphic items on them in the Mask layer. I tried lowering the drill size from Feb 13, 1993 · If the design has a soldermask polygon that goes over a footprint with a series of pads that have different nets, Kicad now flags it as DRC. Through hole plated holes (including vias) are plated, a common thickness is about 0. This number is an inflation applied to all directions. 0-rc2 (commit 93c7f65d to be precise), there is a change in way the solder mask and solder paste clearances are determined. There you set the solder mask clearance to 0. If both are set to ‘0’ then you got a bug, otherwise your footprint or local pad settings are in charge. You can add further THT pads as stitching vias. As of version 5. I created a new zone but it still covers the pads. 15mm each side). In KiCad's Pcbnew, open the ZOPT220x Breakout and click on Dimensions -> Pads Mask Clearance. Select all the duplicated pads, right click and Paste Default Pad properties to Selected. 0-rc1-stable. 1 Like. So the maximum amplitude is at 75mm from ground plane. The 2 long pads at the bottom are for soldering cables on them, so they shouldn’t be covered in solder mask (right?). 0:00 / 2:40. 2mm, we recommend to do solder mask openings. 1 KB. Feb 26, 2018 · bobc February 26, 2018, 8:05am 2. Most fab houses will use 0. The problem was the setting ‘Solder mask min width’. 2mm (check the below picture), if the distance less than 0. Arrows point Jul 22, 2023 · That way one would have control over how small or big the solder mask clearance of a via is, for example (setting solder mask clearance to 0 would result in a tented via). 1mm here will cause the solder mask aperture to be inflated by 0. My rule of thumb is 0. silkscreen. We recommend you change this value to 0. Should I? 2. I have the following warnings. I’ve recently imported an Altium file into KiCAD and both top and bottom solder masks are missing, at least in the 3D view. This topic was automatically closed 90 days after the last reply. 2mm wider than the pad when measured along a given axis. Jul 7, 2023 · m852: this is the problem that i don’t understand how to do it in kicad. flotul December 10, 2022, 7:07pm 1. ”. Paste). It is easy to create a hole surrounded by bare FR4 such as can be seen on a raspberry pi PCB. That is a strange problem. 9? Mar 10, 2022 · The solder stop mask layer caps off the PCB and provides a protective film over copper on the surface layers. After designing a board in Kicad with an SMT32L0 on it, I sent it to seeedStudio and when I received it, I noticed that some of the pads on the stm32 are missing soldermask: I checked the gerber file for the soldermask and there is no apparent hole in the stm32 pads : I noticed that the pads missing the soldermask are tied together, but in Custom amounts of solderpaste allow better board assembly and allows you to follow datasheet guidelines. Khang Phạm Thanh. 9 mm hole, and another larger hole for strain relief. Hello all. You don’t need to do anything special for . I do this as final step of layout. Oct 13, 2021 · When I create the pad in kicad, I can put the drill dimension to 1. Mask, B. You can create multiple adjoining or overlapping pads as required to achieve most shapes. This is what I’m looking for a better Apr 15, 2023 · eelik April 15, 2023, 3:52pm 2. Jan 26, 2022 · Just three examples from the 290 available wire pad configurations:-. May 15, 2018 · My Kicad PCB is almost ready to be made by 4PCB but I am using their free DFM and I am getting 52 errors on Missing Solder mask Clearance. This removal of the solder mask from a pad on the top layer should extend some distance around the edge of the pad, creating either NSMD Jun 16, 2021 · “Buried Via’s” are something diffferent. Mar 17, 2023 · Solder Mask FAQ : New setting added. It shows how to change the PCB’s color. Silkscreen gerbers inside Gerber viewer look as expected (no difference between previously mentioned two cases of gerbers - checked box / unchecked box “Subtract solder mask from silkscreen” ). paulvdh March 17, 2023, 10:12pm #3. To create the plot file, I go to File, Plot, select the layers I need and click on Aug 25, 2016 · keruseykaryu August 25, 2016, 5:25pm 3. Solder mask needs to be pulled back from landing pads on the surface layer so that you have a surface where components can be mounted and soldered. For 1GHz the wave length is 30cm. 1018×1020 39. The physical mask substance is green in the 3D view but in the layout editor it’s an inverted layer - the green mask is removed from where there is graphics in the layout layer. Change one of the duplicated pads and Copy Pad Properties to Default. Apr 8, 2017 · But, if there is a way to have solder mask all over the board except for the pads and a few tracks (added manually) that might be nice, solder resist is helpful to avoid shorts etc. Share. Apr 18, 2018 · The suggested idea is that you make a “normal” footprint with 4 pads the size of the suggested masked area. 15 mm from the soldermask edge and just barely 0. Paste mask is always smaller than copper pad because of the phenomenon of surface tension. Feb 16, 2016 · The thermal pad in the footprint needs to be extended so at least a sliver of copper sticks out beyond the part’s body. It’s basically an inverse of what the solder mask should be. Mask layer to draw zone or any available graphics item to unmask some portion of your PCB. (And actually, please review your files before passing to fabhouse, it Nov 21, 2018 · With great help from fab house support the problem was found. This no longer works in KiCAD 7. 25 mm for center of silkscreen to edge of copper (for 0. tcoder October 18, 2015, 5:21pm 1. shabaz December 14, 2022, 6:32pm 1. ajanulis December 22, 2016, 12:28am 4. I tried drawing over the traces on the mask layer but I can only get 6 mil traces. Since you have plated through holes, it should act like a 2-sided board regardless of whether there are any other nets on the back side. 5 KB. 0 and can't find the tutorial anywhere, and then i decided to record it fot you, Apr 19, 2023 · However, the solder mask expansion is not showing on both the layout editor and the 3D viewer: Here the purple disc (solder mask) is only the size of the hole. Arrows point Apr 17, 2023 · Hello! I have a problem with errors and warning when I check the DRC rules. My default solder mask clearance value is of primary concern. Feb 27, 2017 · The PCB fab houses uses solder mask layer to prepare offset printer sieve when applying a covering paint. Cuts. (beware of grid offset). Warning: Silkscreen clipped by solder mask. gbr and the top mask layers. (This is in Kicad 5. These are usually used to make the masks. Here is the link to the data sheet: The default soldermask clearance is 0. Sep 12, 2019 · Solder mask clarification. Jun 20, 2023 · Although they are switches, each pin and each pad have a number. KiCad only generates bits and bytes. To my surprise, these symbols are only drawn on the copper layer, and there is nothing on the solder mask. I interpreted the a little bit differently, but admit that there’s a good amount of space for interpretation because of the multiple definitions (e. Solder Mask Expansion: changed from 0 to 0. Aug 11, 2021 · My board house requires a minimum solder mask width of 0. 25 mm (0,009842519685 inches), Kicad installation default. May 23, 2022 · I don’t really want to see solder mask layer in 3d mode. 54 KB. Jun 30, 2019 · JLCPCB rejecting gerber due to missing solder mask. 0 libraries a plethora of copper only symbols (KiCAD, OSHW). Oct 18, 2014 · The second video is about importing it to the silkscreen layer but it also shows how you can change the layer to the top or bottom copper. So you need a clearance between the copper (pad) edge and the solder mask cutout edge. KiCad can not make Metal things. There are two values for solder mask in Board Setup: clearance and minimum width. Create a pad, and enter the pad number and size. How do you know there is no solder mask? DRC reports 6 violations: for each pad of R1, there is a clearance violation between the pad and the zone, another clearance violation between the pad’s through hole and the zone, and a third violation where the pad’s solder mask opening exposes the copper of two different nets (the GND fill and the trace connected to the pad). Pcbnew can generate up to 32 layers of copper, 14 technical layers (silk screen, solder mask, component adhesive, solder paste and edge cuts) plus 4 auxiliary layers (drawings and comments) and manages in real time the hairline indication (rats nest) of missing tracks. Hello I am using a Pin Header that I would like to stick out of the board. 15 solder mask area. If you need non-plated areas - only copper - you should contact your PCB manufacturer how Jul 24, 2019 · bdh July 24, 2019, 12:29am 1. This can be decreased as needed, but increasing this value is not recommended. This video ( Removing Soldermask and Copper Fill (Part 2/2) - YouTube) should help but I don’t get how he does Apr 21, 2022 · Solder mask is typically a much coarser resolution than copper pads, so any fine pitch SMD footprint will fail this check, looking like the left hand one in @straubm example above image 1720×1242 169 KB Nov 24, 2023 · This value increases the size of the solder mask around a pad → therefore decreases the distance between designed silkscreen (in the footprint definition) and the pad mask. There are a bunch of video’s of making solder paste stencils from mylar sheets on Youtube. Cuts board edges to the mask layer, and change the width of the Dec 18, 2022 · The manufacturer (TI) recommends tenting the thermal vias in the thermal pad to reduce solder loss: “As an alternative, if the thermal vias are not plugged when the copper plating is performed, then a solder mask material should be used to cap the vias on the component side with a dimension equal to the via diameter + 0. I have a fairly complex RF board and need to remove the solder mask from the RF traces - but not from around the footprints as the parts will be hand soldered. Where there is graphics in this layer, the physical solder mask isn’t applied and there will be a hole in the solder mask. Apr 30, 2018 · Solder mask covering pads, why? Hey everyone, I’m relatively new to KiCAD and I can’t quite understand what’s happening here: I am using through hole components, and the footprints are set to use the pads on both the top and bottom copper layers, but when I export the board, and in the 3D viewer, it seems as if the solder mask is covering Jul 18, 2018 · First, 1) the Solder Mask layer, then 2) a LPD Text layer, for over bare PCB cases (where negative text is ok) and finally a 3) subtract/negative layer, LPC, that cuts into block areas carefully placed in file 1. If the central pad also specifies a similar sized solder paste area . , three different minimum annular widths for vias, npth, pth). ) 1 Like felis_silv January 31, 2021, 6:46am Oct 18, 2015 · Solder mask only covers pads. If I understood correctly, you can use F. Change Solder Mask in KiCad. Paste layers in KiCad). 3V and GND) are different from default design rules, have 20 mil track width, 40 mil via diameter, and 20 mil via drill size. Mar 10, 2024 · 1090×716 77 KB. By default it's just in the same place as any pads or holes in your board. Single pad with a 0. 152 and it will make the solder mask 1. All power traces (3. 3 wide, which means that there should be 0. 3mm it works, but also puts copper on the pad (just not inside the hole according to the 3D preview). ) When you then use that footprint in pcb_new you can create 4 zones of the size and shape you desire. Layout. The lower frequency the better result. There is only 1 place where soldermask clearance should be defined and it is in the footprint. I’ve used this technique for connecting Apr 14, 2019 · The pads are 0. Normal pads have Mask and Paste checked so that you have Mar 3, 2023 · A positive value means that the solder mask will cover a larger area than the copper, while a negative value means that the solder mask will be smaller than the copper. However, the footprint i am using which if i remebder correctly i brought across from EasyEDA has a defined solder mask expansion. Rene_Poschl October 15, 2017, 1:34pm Solder Mask Expansion should usually be set to 2mil (0. 576 views 3 years ago. remember a custom footprint need to go in a custom library. Paste and B. 15 mm from the copper, for the areas where you got in trouble. yr sa qx im bl ka pu gv uf ih