How do you change the solder mask expansion in Altium?
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Expansion settings Select a pad/via and choose Properties from the right-click context menu, or double-click and select the desired pad/via. The solder expansion for an individual pad/via is specified through the Via/Pad dialog.
What is the solder mask layer in Altium?
PCB solder mask (also called solder resist) is an epoxy or photoimageable polymer layer that protects copper on the surface layer of the PCB. This layer covers exposed traces on the surface of the board, preventing oxidation and providing an extra protective barrier against mechanical damage.
What is solder mask relief?
Solder mask relief (.004″ per side) Solder mask relief is an area on the surface of the PCB that does not have solder mask — these locations typically surround SMT pads, through hole pads, test points and vias as a margin of error during fabrication.
How do you remove the green solder mask?
This mask can be removed with one or a combination of these techniques: scraping and sanding, machining, chemical stripping or abrasion. 1 Scrape the solder mask layer away from the PCB carefully with the razor blade. Always wear safety glasses to avoid injury during this process.
How do you remove white solder mask?
Often the use of a knife, scraper or pick in the hands of a skilled technician is the most controlled technique for removing solder mask. No special setup is needed, but operator fatigue can be a drawback on large projects. Mechanical erasers, like the type an old draftsman would use, can speed up the process.
What is the difference between solder mask and paste mask?
Solder mask is used for solder mask ink, while solder paste is used for paste. 4. Solder mask is applied as fabricating your circuit board, however, solder paste is used for SMT PCB assembly.
Is solder mask necessary?
If you’re hand building your own boards, it may be a viable option, but it can lead to so many other problems down the road, we recommend always having a soldermask. Always. Without soldermask, solder can migrate off the pad, on to the traces or down into vias.
What is top solder layer in Altium?
Top Solder is the top (primary component side) solder mask, as you describe, it is the one which is commonly for the green color material (though you can get many different colors).
Can you scrape off solder?
Grinding and Scraping Often the use of a knife, scraper or pick in the hands of a skilled technician is the most controlled technique for removing solder mask from areas where you don’t want it.
What is this solder mask expansion?
Soldermask Expansion defines the clearance of Solder Mask to Copper. If you want Copper to Copper clearance, you need to set up a Clearance rule. The “bone white” that you see is your PCB. The outer gold is probably your ground plane.
How do I choose the right solder mask for my design?
Placing the right solder mask takes the right set of CAD tools for printed circuit board design. The CAD tools in Altium Designer are built on a single rules-driven design engine with a unified data model. This lets you easily define your solder mask clearance and pad opening.
What are the CAD tools in Altium Designer?
The CAD tools in Altium Designer are built on a single rules-driven design engine with a unified data model. This lets you easily define your solder mask clearance and pad opening. You’ll also have a complete set of design tools for PCB manufacturing and assembly, both for rigid and flexible printed circuit board designs.
What is Altium Designer on Altium 365?
Altium Designer on Altium 365 delivers an unprecedented amount of integration to the electronics industry until now relegated to the world of software development, allowing designers to work from home and reach unprecedented levels of efficiency. We have only scratched the surface of what is possible to do with Altium Designer on Altium 365.