Lecture 15 – Final PCB Check: mixed

Rules
A.Y. 2023/2024 Rel. 3.0
Prof. Eros Pasero
Outline
 Common mistakes in PCB layouts: ORCAD and
ALLEGRO are different!

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tab-routed panel
 Tab-routing a PCB means
that when the individual
PCB’s are put into a panel
for automated assembly, a
router bit cuts the edge of
the PCB up until it reaches
a tab, where it will pull out
of the PCB, skip the tab,
and then carry on with the
rest of the routing process.
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V-Score
 A v-scored PCB means that when the individual
PCB’s are put into a panel for automated
assembly, a small v-shaped groove is cut into
the top and bottom of the PCB along its edge
 V-Scored PCB’s tend to leave a
bit of a rough edge after they
are separated from each other.

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Poor characters in silk screen

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 What are the differences between solder mask and
paste mask?
 Solder mask, also known as solder
resist is a strong, permanent layer that
protects copper traces and the
interfaces between them on printed
circuit boards (PCBs). The main
function of a solder mask is to prevent
conductive solder bridging between
different electronic components and
causing short circuits.
 Paste mask layer is generally
called stencil in the industry.

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Solder mask and Paste mask

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What are the differences between solder mask and
paste mask?
1) The openings on solder mask layer have no solder
mask ink, but the openings on paste mask layer have
paste.
2) The solder mask layer is one part on the circuit board,
but the paste mask layer is not. Paste mask layer is just
for the stencil.
3) Solder mask is used for applying solder mask ink, but
paste mask is used for applying paste.
4) Solder mask is applied when making PCB board, but
paste mask is used when assembling.
5) Solder mask has many available colors, but paste
mask is usuallyElectronic
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 Soldermask TOP/BOTTOM—you should make
the opening in the soldermask a little bit larger
than the pad size, usually by 2 mil (0.05 mm) each
direction. Ask your PCB supplier for the correct
value.
 Pastemask TOP/BOTTOM—the size of the
opening in solder paste stencil depends on the
assembly house. Normally it is a little bit smaller
that the pad size, about 1 mil (0.025 mm) each
side. For the large pads, it’s recommended to split
the pastemask opening to several smaller
openings, which will cover not more than 50% of
the pad area
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  Filmmask top and bottom (like silkscreen) are
reserved for extra information that you could use, e.g.,
you could reserve it for glue, gold or whatever you may
need.
 A flexible circuit coverlay serves the exact same
function as solder mask that is used on a rigid printed
circuit board. The difference with a flex coverlay is the
needed element of flexibility and durability it provides
to the flex PCB design.
 The coverlay consists of a solid sheet of polyimide with
a layer of flexible adhesive that is then laminated
under heat and pressurized to the circuit surfaces. The
required component feature openings are
mechanically created using drilling, routing, or laser
cutting. Electronic System Engineering - Prof. Eros
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