circuitnet
Sponsor
BEST-Inc.

Training for Certified IPC Specialists
BEST's 7711 Training Rework Kit is designed for certification/re-certification of Certified IPC Specialists (CIS) so employees can be tested for speed, accuracy and quality.
BEST Inc
AI-Technology-Inc
Sponsor
Circuit-Technology-Center

Eliminate Lead Tinning Issues Before They Become Reliability Failures
Learn lead tinning methods, causes of tinning defects, and solutions from the experts at Circuit Technology Center to help ensure dependable solder connections.
Circuit Technology Center
Ask the Experts
INDEX
ASK
PANEL
JOIN
COMMENT
SEARCH
August 15, 2011 - Updated
August 15, 2011 - Originally Posted

Stepped Stencil Limit



I've used stencils with 1 and 2 mil steps successfully, but recently I've seen a problem with a 3 mil step (8 mil foil stepped down over most of the printed area to a 5 mil thickness). The problem I'm seeing is that the stencil tends to warp around apertures, particularly in areas like fine pitch QFPs, where there are long apertures close together, and the remaining material is a thin strip. This warp makes the stencil act thicker and allow more paste to be deposited, leading to bridges in the fine pitch QFPs. Is there a rule of thumb regarding the amount of step that can be etched into a stencil?

B. B.

Expert Panel Responses

IPC 7525 recommends 35 to 50 mils keep-out for each 1 mil of step.

image
Bill Coleman
Vice President Technology
Photo Stencil
For over 18 years, Dr. Coleman has been the vice president of technology for Photo Stencil, working closely with customers to understand their printing requirements. His efforts have resulted in several new stencil products.
Submit A Comment

Comments are reviewed prior to posting. You must include your full name to have your comments posted. We will not post your email address.

Your Name


Your Company
Your E-mail


Your Country
Your Comments



Free Newsletter Subscription
Circuitnet is built for professionals who bear the responsibility of looking ahead, imagining the future, and preparing for it.

Insert Your Email Address

Sponsor
kyzen

How pH Cleaning Agents Affect Production Performance
Establishing a reliable cleaning process requires a good understanding of all influencing factors, including pH, and defining the correct balance to meet final product reliability.
KYZEN
Uyemura