![]() Since we posted this info, we’ve found KiCad output to be the most trouble free of any package that we get, and now we get more business from KiCad than any other package.Before designing the PCB, you have to draw the schematic. In case it helps, here’s our guide for configuring KiCad for getting great output (note that it’s specific to us - don’t use this for OSH Park, their specs are not as tight): It’s harder to manage multiple suppliers and demand the same minimum specs, but it’s better for the customer. What I’ve learned from this business (we do assembled electronics, and blank PCBs) is that, for almost all suppliers, that if you go below their specs, they’re going to change it without informing you. IMHO, a supplier should simply state what they can do, and have you configure accordingly. This is considered to be a semi-premium offering as far as our PCB suppliers are concerned. We suggest 4mil Solder mask clearance, 4mil Solder mask min width. I added a comment and clicked the “it is affecting me” link It may help to get the default changed if you click the link on that page to tell them the issue is affecting you. It looks like this may be the issue we have run into. I created a new project from scratch and see the same default. Solder Mask ClearanceĐ.007874015748" = 0.2mmĭo I need to adjust my pours from. I didn’t notice any visible changes in KiCAD when I redrew the pours/planes (keyboard b). I will re-order one of them and see how things look. I have made the following changes, thanks to on the 4 boards I had issues with. What I find very interesting is that 0.007874015748" = exactly 0.2mm… I don’t remember setting that value and it is really odd that Steve, and I have the exact same value. 007…" on my new boards and 0 on my old boards. ![]() When factoring in a 6 mil ground pour isolation, you’ll always have at least 1 mil of purple solder resist protecting your ground plane from shorts." ![]() With a 2 mil mask expansion, combined with our 3 mil mask shift, the exposed area around each pad will never be more than 5 mil from the pad edge. This is generally not the ideal solution, but is sometimes needed for smaller footprints. Increase the ground plane isolation so it’s (mask expansion + 3mil).There’s two relatively quick and easy ways to prevent this on future designs: Here’s a image of what the design calls for, with the green circle being the exposed area.īecause of this, it’s very easy to inadvertently short the ground plane to other signals, even if you’re careful with soldering. However, the stop mask aperture is so large that it can expose the nearby ground plane. "The issue on this is that the board itself is fabricated without shorts, as expected. I was able to get 1 of each board working so far, but it has been pretty time consuming. I would really appreciate it if someone could help me understand which KiCAD settings I need to change and then I will re-order the PCBs. In trying to decipher the explanation I am googling for “Stop Mask Expansion” in KiCAD and I cannot figure out how the advice applies to KiCAD. I asked OshPark about it and they were very helpful explaining to me what I had done wrong. This is causing an issue for me if the solder makes a bit outside of the pad, it will cause the pad to short to the ground or power plane. Something I have done has caused the solder mask to very slightly separate between the pad and the plane. The last 3 boards I have ordered have had the same issue.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |