PCBTok is Your Phenomenal Soldermask PCB Supplier

PCBTok has been supplying Soldermask PCB for over a decade and two already; we have acquired the necessary experience to deliver you a superb item through your doorstep. We at PCBTok work very hard for your fulfillment!

  • Before we manufacture, we provide you with a full CAM.
  • Our payment methods are versatile.
  • A hundred percent assistance to your PCBs.
  • Sample items are provided before ordering in huge quantities.
  • Highly-skilled team assistance is accessible around the clock.
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Soldermask PCB by PCBTok is Crafted with Passion

We at PCBTok always make sure that our Soldermask PCB is brimming with passion while creating it. This will ensure a product that is worth having and it makes the product exceptional compared with others.

PCBTok’s primary aim is to fulfill the customer’s specifications to their liking; this makes our customer’s kept coming back.

If this is what you’re seeking, grab the opportunity today!

Through PCBTok’s dedication to producing superior Soldermask PCB, we have received a tremendous amount of appreciation internationally. With this, you can see our passion to serve you with all our might

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Soldermask PCB By Feature

Soldermask PCB

The Green PCB is the most popular and widely used color of PCB solder, this is because of its great contrast between the planes, traces, and vacant spaces. It gives the components good visibility.

Blue Soldermask PCB

The Blue PCB is ideal if there are many-part numbers in your board since it also gives off a good contrast between the solder mask and the screen printing. This is the second most widely used color.

Red Soldermask PCB

The Red PCB provides a good contrast to in between the spaces, planes, and traces just like the others. However, there’s a need to use the magnifying tool if you want to inspect for defects in this color.

Black Soldermask PCB

The Black Solder Mask when compared to others, it doesn’t give off a great contrast between its traces and spaces; making it hard to utilize. Nevertheless, it is perfectly suited for the back panels of LCD.

White Soldermask PCB

The White PCB is way much tougher to handle. This color exhibits way more cons in it, but there are still a few pros to this solder mask color. One of its pros is its great silkscreen contrast.

Orange Soldermask PCB

The Orange PCB is not considered to be part of the standard colors of solder; however, we offer this as a customized color. Nonetheless, the color doesn’t affect that much in the overall performance.

Soldermask PCB By Surface Finish (5)

  • HASL Soldermask PCB

    The HASL PCB surface finish belongs to the metallic surface finishes. Some of its advantages are its capability to prevent copper corrosion, long shelf-life, and inexpensive. Furthermore, this finish deploys a Tin-Lead element.

  • ENEPIG Soldermask PCB

    The ENEPIG PCB surface finish still belongs to the metallic surface finishes. This finish features high reliability in terms of wire bonding. In addition, it doesn’t possess the risk of corrosion and degradation, and it has a longer shelf lifespan.

  • ENIG Soldermask PCB

    The ENIG PCB is recognized to be comprised of two metallic layers; nickel and gold. Some of its advantages include its suitability for lead-free soldering, the durability of its surface, and its suitability for wire bonding situations and applications.

  • OSP Soldermask PCB

    The OSP PCB is a kind of surface finish that is just applied through spraying; thus, making it fairly simple and cheap to apply. Furthermore, this surface finish belongs to the category of organic surface finish together with carbon ink.

  • Lead-Free HASL Soldermask PCB

    The Lead-Free HASL PCB is considered to be a sub-category of a HASL surface finish; made to satisfy RoHS compliant since it utilizes lead-free alloys rather than the tin-lead eutectic alloys that are harmful.

Soldermask PCB By Solder Thickness (5)

  • 0.4 mils Soldermask PCB

    The 0.4 mils Soldermask PCB is considered to be the very low utilized thickness in the industry; however, the thickness of the solder depends on your applications, materials, purpose, and product class.

  • 0.5 mils Soldermask PCB

    The 0.5 mils Soldermask PCB is considered to be the standard value starting thickness. This is the typical value of a solder mask that is ideal for the traces in your board. Furthermore, it may still vary depending on your purpose.

  • 0.8 mils Soldermask PCB

    The 0.8 mils Soldermask PCB is recognized to be the ideal value for thickness, it is not too thick and not too thin. This is the recommended thickness for every Soldermask PCB; however, the application is still part of the consideration.

  • 1.2 mils Soldermask PCB

    The 1.2 mils Soldermask PCB is known to be the standard value for external layers that has a 2 oz weight of finish copper. Additionally, this is commonly deployed whenever the copper weight is around 1 o to 2 oz of values.

  • 1.6 mils Soldermask PCB

    The 1.6 mils Soldermask PCB is considered to be the highest possible thickness value you can customize.  This thickness is rarely deployed in applications since most of their purposes only require the standard thickness.

Importance of Soldermask PCB

All PCBs have their own dedicated solder masks on them. The following are some of the Soldermask PCBs when deployed in certain applications.

  • Oxidation – Soldermask PCB minimizes the risk of this in the traces of copper.
  • Connections – When there’s a tight connection, it reduces the risk of cutting connections between components.
  • Dirt and Dust – In electrical connections, this prevents these sorts of scenarios that might cause damage to the entire board.

Soldermask PCB is a crucial phase in every PCB process of manufacturing both for connections and performance. Send us a message for further information!

Importance of Soldermask PCB
Materials Deployed in a Soldermask PCB

Materials Deployed in a Soldermask PCB

There are various possible materials that you can deploy in a Soldermask PCB depending on your budget, purpose, board dimensions, size of holes, etc. These two materials are the most popular ones among consumers.

  • Dry Film Resist – If the surface you’re intending to apply a solder mask on is smooth and even, this is the perfect alternative.
  • Epoxy Liquid – This material is a widely utilized solder mask due to its affordable cost and its efficiency even with a series of connections and components.

If these two materials don’t apply to your requirements, you might want to send us a message to know more about the materials we offer for your Soldermask PCB.

Various Types of Soldermask PCB

There are four various types of Soldermask PCB; and, all of these are accessible through PCBTok. These are the top and bottom, epoxy liquid, liquid photoimageable, and dry film photoimageable.

These four have their own distinct pros and cons, and unique characteristics and advantages that they can offer depending on your application.

We are capable of providing you with suggestions that are perfect for your applications; we have years of experience in performing this.

If you want to know more about these different types, just send us a message and our experts will respond in less than an hour.

Various Types of Soldermask PCB

Select PCBTok’s Exceptionally Crafted Soldermask PCB

Select PCBTok’s Exceptionally Crafted Soldermask PCB
Select PCBTok’s Exceptionally Crafted Soldermask PCB

Soldermask PCB by PCBTok is carefully manufactured. We always treat our PCBs just like our own purchased products.

We have a series of accreditations and certifications fulfilled in order to produce a Soldermask PCB that is satisfactory and that will exceed all of your expectations.

Just like how we treat our Soldermask PCBs like our own, we also treat our valuable consumers with respect and care since you’re the core of our business.

If this makes you feel comfortable and make you feel less worried, then we are the right ones for you. Shoot us a message if you have any concerns or if you want to know more about what we are capable of providing you; we’ll be delighted to assist you!

Soldermask PCB Fabrication

Soldermask PCB Quality Evaluation

Just like any other PCB product, our Soldermask PCB went through a series of evaluations and inspections too.

All of the required inspections to be performed on every circuit board are also performed with our Soldermask PCB; AOI, E-Test, etc.

We are strict in this phase since this will greatly affect the overall performance of your circuit board, and we don’t want you to be burdened with its low performance.

After all, the primary goal of thorough testing and inspections is to make your Soldermask PCB notable and free from any errors.

Does this excite you? Grab your Soldermask PCB with us immediately!

Soldermask PCB Assembly

There are a series of phases before your Soldermask PCB is perfected; it undergoes a series of processes to apply it through your board.

The process: board cleaning, solder mask ink coating, pre-hardening, imaging and hardening, developing, and final hardening and cleaning.

Each of these process phases has its own unique purposes that can contribute to your Soldermask PCB perfection, and can improve its overall performance of it.

We developed this process of applying solder masks with adequate research and testing to make sure they are effective.

Enquire today and we’ll let you see each of these processes being performed!

OEM & ODM Soldermask PCB Applications

Soldermask PCB for Aerospace Applications

Aerospace devices should be constructed to last for years; hence, it is vital to utilize a PCB that can withstand years and certain temperatures.

Soldermask PCB for Telecommunications

Telecommunication devices require complicated connections and flexible board applications. Through Soldermask PCB, these are made possible without any errors occurring.

Soldermask PCB for Medical Applications

Medical devices require uninterrupted services since most of it is made to sustain one’s life. Fortunately, Soldermask PCBs are meant for applications that are of critical nature.

Soldermask PCB for Military Applications

High reliability is the primary requirement for military applications since they are used heavily in this industry. With Soldermask PCB, these are made possible.

Soldermask PCB for Automotive Applications

Automotive applications require progressive requirements, and a device error can mean a lot in this application. Thanks to Soldermask PCB, these won’t be a problem.

Soldermask PCB
PCBTok - China’s Professional Soldermask PCB Producer

We at PCBTok acknowledge the feelings and needs of our customers; hence we only serve astounding Soldermask PCB

We have over a decade of proven track record in delivering quality PCBs

Soldermask PCB Production Details As Following Up

NO Item Technical Specification
Standard Advanced
1 Layer Count 1-20 layers 22-40 layer
2 Base Material KB、Shengyi、ShengyiSF305、FR408、FR408HR、IS410、FR406、GETEK、370HR、IT180A、Rogers4350、Rogers400、PTFE Laminates(Rogers series、Taconic series、Arlon series、Nelco series)、Rogers/Taconic/Arlon/Nelco laminate with FR-4 material(including partial Ro4350B hybrid laminating with FR-4)
3 PCB Type Rigid PCB/FPC/Flex-Rigid Backplane、HDI、High multi-layer blind&buried PCB、Embedded Capacitance、Embedded resistance board 、Heavy copper power PCB、Backdrill.
4 Lamination type Blind&buried via type Mechanical blind&burried vias with less than 3 times laminating Mechanical blind&burried vias with less than 2 times laminating
HDI PCB 1+n+1,1+1+n+1+1,2+n+2,3+n+3(n buried vias≤0.3mm),Laser blind via can be filling plating 1+n+1,1+1+n+1+1,2+n+2,3+n+3(n buried vias≤0.3mm),Laser blind via can be filling plating
5 Finished Board Thickness 0.2-3.2mm 3.4-7mm
6 Minimum Core Thickness 0.15mm(6mil) 0.1mm(4mil)
7 Copper Thickness Min. 1/2 OZ, Max. 4 OZ Min. 1/3 OZ, Max. 10 OZ
8 PTH Wall 20um(0.8mil) 25um(1mil)
9 Maximum Board Size 500*600mm(19”*23”) 1100*500mm(43”*19”)
10 Hole Min laser drilling size 4mil 4mil
Max laser drilling size 6mil 6mil
Max aspect ratio for Hole plate 10:1(hole diameter>8mil) 20:1
Max aspect ratio for laser via filling plating 0.9:1(Depth included copper thickness) 1:1(Depth included copper thickness)
Max aspect ratio for mechanical depth-
control drilling board(Blind hole drilling depth/blind hole size)
0.8:1(drilling tool size≥10mil) 1.3:1(drilling tool size≤8mil),1.15:1(drilling tool size≥10mil)
Min. depth of Mechanical depth-control(back drill) 8mil 8mil
Min gap between hole wall and
conductor (None blind and buried via PCB)
7mil(≤8L),9mil(10-14L),10mil(>14L) 5.5mil(≤8L),6.5mil(10-14L),7mil(>14L)
Min gap between hole wall conductor (Blind and buried via PCB) 8mil(1 times laminating),10mil(2 times laminating), 12mil(3 times laminating) 7mil(1 time laminating), 8mil(2 times laminating), 9mil(3 times laminating)
Min gab between hole wall conductor(Laser blind hole buried via PCB) 7mil(1+N+1);8mil(1+1+N+1+1 or 2+N+2) 7mil(1+N+1);8mil(1+1+N+1+1 or 2+N+2)
Min space between laser holes and conductor 6mil 5mil
Min space between hole walls in different net 10mil 10mil
Min space between hole walls in the same net 6mil(thru-hole& laser hole PCB),10mil(Mechanical blind&buried PCB) 6mil(thru-hole& laser hole PCB),10mil(Mechanical blind&buried PCB)
Min space bwteen NPTH hole walls 8mil 8mil
Hole location tolerance ±2mil ±2mil
NPTH tolerance ±2mil ±2mil
Pressfit holes tolerance ±2mil ±2mil
Countersink depth tolerance ±6mil ±6mil
Countersink hole size tolerance ±6mil ±6mil
11 Pad(ring) Min Pad size for laser drillings 10mil(for 4mil laser via),11mil(for 5mil laser via) 10mil(for 4mil laser via),11mil(for 5mil laser via)
Min Pad size for mechanical drillings 16mil(8mil drillings) 16mil(8mil drillings)
Min BGA pad size HASL:10mil, LF HASL:12mil, other surface technics are 10mil(7mil is ok for flash gold) HASL:10mil, LF HASL:12mil, other surface technics are 7mi
Pad size tolerance(BGA) ±1.5mil(pad size≤10mil);±15%(pad size>10mil) ±1.2mil(pad size≤12mil);±10%(pad size≥12mil)
12 Width/Space Internal Layer 1/2OZ:3/3mil 1/2OZ:3/3mil
1OZ: 3/4mil 1OZ: 3/4mil
2OZ: 4/5.5mil 2OZ: 4/5mil
3OZ: 5/8mil 3OZ: 5/8mil
4OZ: 6/11mil 4OZ: 6/11mil
5OZ: 7/14mil 5OZ: 7/13.5mil
6OZ: 8/16mil 6OZ: 8/15mil
7OZ: 9/19mil 7OZ: 9/18mil
8OZ: 10/22mil 8OZ: 10/21mil
9OZ: 11/25mil 9OZ: 11/24mil
10OZ: 12/28mil 10OZ: 12/27mil
External Layer 1/3OZ:3.5/4mil 1/3OZ:3/3mil
1/2OZ:3.9/4.5mil 1/2OZ:3.5/3.5mil
1OZ: 4.8/5mil 1OZ: 4.5/5mil
1.43OZ(positive):4.5/7 1.43OZ(positive):4.5/6
1.43OZ(negative ):5/8 1.43OZ(negative ):5/7
2OZ: 6/8mil 2OZ: 6/7mil
3OZ: 6/12mil 3OZ: 6/10mil
4OZ: 7.5/15mil 4OZ: 7.5/13mil
5OZ: 9/18mil 5OZ: 9/16mil
6OZ: 10/21mil 6OZ: 10/19mil
7OZ: 11/25mil 7OZ: 11/22mil
8OZ: 12/29mil 8OZ: 12/26mil
9OZ: 13/33mil 9OZ: 13/30mil
10OZ: 14/38mil 10OZ: 14/35mil
13 Dimension Tolerance Hole Position 0.08 ( 3 mils)
Conductor Width(W) 20% Deviation of Master
A/W
1mil Deviation of Master
A/W
Outline Dimension 0.15 mm ( 6 mils) 0.10 mm ( 4 mils)
Conductors & Outline
( C – O )
0.15 mm ( 6 mils) 0.13 mm ( 5 mils)
Warp and Twist 0.75% 0.50%
14 Solder Mask Max drilling tool size for via filled with Soldermask (single side) 35.4mil 35.4mil
Soldermask color Green, Black, Blue, Red, White, Yellow,Purple matte/glossy
Silkscreen color White, Black,Blue,Yellow
Max hole size for via filled with Blue glue aluminium 197mil 197mil
Finish hole size for via filled with resin  4-25.4mil  4-25.4mil
Max aspect ratio for via filled with resin board 8:1 12:1
Min width of soldermask bridge Base copper≤0.5 oz、Immersion Tin: 7.5mil(Black), 5.5mil(Other color) , 8mil( on copper area)
Base copper≤0.5 oz、Finish treatment not Immersion Tin : 5.5 mil(Black,extremity 5mil), 4mil(Other
color,extremity 3.5mil) , 8mil( on copper area
Base coppe 1 oz: 4mil(Green), 5mil(Other color) , 5.5mil(Black,extremity 5mil),8mil( on copper area)
Base copper 1.43 oz: 4mil(Green), 5.5mil(Other color) , 6mil(Black), 8mil( on copper area)
Base copper 2 oz-4 oz: 6mil, 8mil( on copper area)
15 Surface Treatment Lead free Flash gold(electroplated gold)、ENIG、Hard gold、Flash gold、HASL Lead free、OSP、ENEPIG、Soft gold、Immersion silver、Immersion Tin、ENIG+OSP,ENIG+Gold finger,Flash gold(electroplated gold)+Gold finger,Immersion silver+Gold finger,Immersion Tin+Gold finge
Leaded Leaded HASL
Aspect ratio 10:1(HASL Lead free、HASL Lead、ENIG、Immersion Tin、Immersion silver、ENEPIG);8:1(OSP)
Max finished size HASL Lead 22″*39″;HASL Lead free 22″*24″;Flash gold 24″*24″;Hard gold 24″*28″;ENIG 21″*27″;Flash gold(electroplated gold) 21″*48″;Immersion Tin 16″*21″;Immersion silver 16″*18″;OSP 24″*40″;
Min finished size HASL Lead 5″*6″;HASL Lead free 10″*10″;Flash gold 12″*16″;Hard gold 3″*3″;Flash gold(electroplated gold) 8″*10″;Immersion Tin 2″*4″;Immersion silver 2″*4″;OSP 2″*2″;
PCB thickness HASL Lead 0.6-4.0mm;HASL Lead free 0.6-4.0mm;Flash gold 1.0-3.2mm;Hard gold 0.1-5.0mm;ENIG 0.2-7.0mm;Flash gold(electroplated gold) 0.15-5.0mm;Immersion Tin 0.4-5.0mm;Immersion silver 0.4-5.0mm;OSP 0.2-6.0mm
Max high to gold finger 1.5inch
Min space between gold fingers 6mil
Min block space to gold fingers 7.5mil
16 V-Cutting Panel Size 500mm X 622 mm  ( max. ) 500mm X 800 mm ( max. )
Board Thickness 0.50 mm (20mil) min. 0.30 mm (12mil) min.
Remain Thickness 1/3 board thickness 0.40 +/-0.10mm( 16+/-4 mil )
Tolerance ±0.13 mm(5mil) ±0.1 mm(4mil)
Groove Width 0.50 mm (20mil) max. 0.38 mm (15mil) max.
Groove to Groove 20 mm (787mil) min. 10 mm (394mil) min.
Groove to Trace 0.45 mm(18mil) min. 0.38 mm(15mil) min.
17 Slot Slot size tol.L≥2W PTH Slot: L:+/-0.13(5mil) W:+/-0.08(3mil) PTH Slot: L:+/-0.10(4mil) W:+/-0.05(2mil)
NPTH slot(mm) L+/-0.10 (4mil) W:+/-0.05(2mil) NPTH slot(mm) L:+/-0.08 (3mil) W:+/-0.05(2mil)
18 Min Spacing from hole edge to hole edge 0.30-1.60 (Hole Diameter) 0.15mm(6mil) 0.10mm(4mil)
1.61-6.50 (Hole Diameter) 0.15mm(6mil) 0.13mm(5mil)
19 Min spacing between hole edge to circuitry pattern PTH hole: 0.20mm(8mil) PTH hole: 0.13mm(5mil)
NPTH hole: 0.18mm(7mil) NPTH hole: 0.10mm(4mil)
20 Image transfer Registration tol Circuit pattern vs.index hole 0.10(4mil) 0.08(3mil)
Circuit pattern vs.2nd drill hole 0.15(6mil) 0.10(4mil)
21 Registration tolerance of front/back image 0.075mm(3mil) 0.05mm(2mil)
22 Multilayers Layer-layer misregistration 4layers: 0.15mm(6mil)max. 4layers: 0.10mm(4mil) max.
6layers: 0.20mm(8mil)max. 6layers: 0.13mm(5mil) max.
8layers: 0.25mm(10mil)max. 8layers: 0.15mm(6mil) max.
Min. Spacing from Hole Edge to Innerlayer Pattern 0.225mm(9mil) 0.15mm(6mil)
Min.Spacing from Outline to Innerlayer Pattern 0.38mm(15mil) 0.225mm(9mil)
Min. board thickness 4layers:0.30mm(12mil) 4layers:0.20mm(8mil)
6layers:0.60mm(24mil) 6layers:0.50mm(20mil)
8layers:1.0mm(40mil) 8layers:0.75mm(30mil)
Board thickness tolerance 4layers:+/-0.13mm(5mil) 4layers:+/-0.10mm(4mil)
6layers:+/-0.15mm(6mil) 6layers:+/-0.13mm(5mil)
8-12 layers:+/-0.20mm (8mil) 8-12 layers:+/-0.15mm (6mil)
23 Insulation Resistance 10KΩ~20MΩ(typical:5MΩ)
24 Conductivity <50Ω(typical:25Ω)
25 Test voltage 250V
26 Impedance control ±5ohm(<50ohm), ±10%(≥50ohm)

PCBTok offers flexible shipping methods for our customers, you may choose from one of the methods below.

1. DHL

DHL offers international express services in over 220 countries.
DHL partners with PCBTok and offers very competitive rates to customers of PCBTok.
It normally takes 3-7 business days for the package to be delivered around the world.

DHL

2. UPS

UPS gets the facts and figures about the world’s largest package delivery company and one of the leading global providers of specialized transportation and logistics services.
It normally takes 3-7 business days to deliver a package to most of the addresses in the world.

UPS

3. TNT

TNT has 56,000 employees in 61 countries.
It takes 4-9 business days to deliver the packages to the hands
of our customers.

TNT

4. FedEx

FedEx offers delivery solutions for customers around the world.
It takes 4-7 business days to deliver the packages to the hands
of our customers.

FedEx

5. Air, Sea/Air, and Sea

If your order is of large volume with PCBTok, you can also choose
to ship via air, sea/air combined, and sea when necessary.
Please contact your sales representative for shipping solutions.

Note: if you need others, please contact your sales representative for shipping solutions.

You can use the following payment methods:

Telegraphic Transfer(TT): A telegraphic transfer (TT) is an electronic method of transferring funds utilized primarily for overseas wire transactions. It’s very convenient to transfer.

Bank/Wire transfer: To pay by wire transfer using your bank account, you need to visit your nearest bank branch with the wire transfer information. Your payment will be completed 3-5 business days after you have finished the money transfer.

Paypal: Pay easily, fast and secure with PayPal. many other credit and debit cards via PayPal.

Credit Card: You can pay with a credit card: Visa, Visa Electron, MasterCard, Maestro.

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  • “As always, PCBTok never fails to amaze me. I’ve been their solid customer for years now, and not even once did they deliver an ugly damaged product to my home. It’s always been a top-notch product that arrives in my home. Also, their treatment of me is constant; it’s full of respect and done professionally. I’ll be forever grateful to PCBTok.”

    Heather Cox, Component Hardware Technician from Central Australia
  • “As an engineer and expert in my field, I know what I should look out for in purchasing high-grade PCBs. I’ve built a personal standard list that I use whenever I purchase a circuit board for my operations. I tried ordering from the other manufacturers in China, but no one surpassed the product and service that PCBTok offered to me. Between the battles I’ve created among the PCB manufacturers in China, PCBTok has won over my heart and mind when it comes to PCB products and services. It has been a pleasure of mine to be working with PCBTok. Cheers to more purchases!”

    Robert Price, Process Engineer from British Columbia, Canada
  • “No zigzags, no flowery words; I received so much from PCBTok. This means that they surpassed my expectations towards them and the product that I’ve ordered from them. I’d like to give credits as well to the staff that assisted me with care and in a respectable manner. They didn’t treat me just like an ordinary customer; I feel like I was treated like a VIP when I talked to them. I feel so comfortable talking and negotiating business with them, they really are trained for their roles. Nonetheless, it is evident in my purchased circuit boards that it is made with professional hands and talented people. Keep up your services and quality products!”

    Cody Pruitt, Engineering Technologist from Iowa, USA

Soldermask PCB: The Completed FAQ Guide

To get the most out of your Soldermask PCB, you should learn the fundamentals of solder masks. Copper or other conductive substrates are covered with solder masks, which are conductive materials. The IPC-SM-840C standard establishes roles for the board fabricator, materials supplier, and board user. The final responsibility for the functionality and acceptability of completed boards rests with the board user. Materials for solder masks must be compatible with the post-soldering process, including conformal coating.

What Is Soldermask PCB?

If you want an easily identifiable PCB, you should learn more about solder mask layers. The final step in PCB production is the application of solder mask layers. These are protective films that are sprayed on both sides of the board and are made from copper alignments. These are the most common types of solder mask layers, but other types exist as well. Specific interconnects are used to create these multilayer boards.

The epoxy liquid is the least expensive type of solder mask. Epoxy is a thermosetting polymer with many applications. Screen printing is a method that involves weaving a mesh onto a PCB. Silk is used for artwork, while synthetic fibers are more commonly used for electronics. To complete the process, a heat curing process is used. The solder resists layer adheres to the board and prevents it from being tampered with after application.

There are UV-curable solder resists available for a variety of applications. These masks harden when exposed to UV light. They are simple to use and can be purchased at electronics stores or online. Those who want to make their own masks should look for a UV-curable resin that hardens when exposed to UV light. UV-cured solder resists can be purchased at any local electronics hobbyist store or online.

Soldermask Printing

Soldermask Printing

Photo imaging solder resists are another type of solder mask. This resist is screen printed on the PCB using an ink formulation. The pattern is then exposed to the resist and developed on the resist. However, because this type of soldermask is difficult to remove once applied, the process must be performed in a clean environment. This is also called pre-hardening.

What Is Solder Mask Layer?

The solder mask layer has several advantages over the other layers in electronics manufacturing. The most obvious advantage of the solder mask layer is that it improves the appearance of the board. However, it also has some other responsibilities. This article will look at a few of them. Let’s get started. What role does the solder mask layer play? as well as how it is designed And, of course, the answer is that it has a number of them.

The solder mask layer in electronics manufacturing protects the copper traces on the PCB from solder. The solder cannot reach the sealed area, and the wicking effect prevents solder bridges from forming during reflow. It also aids in the reduction of glare. However, there are some instances where the solder mask layer may cover something that it should not. To avoid this, ensure that your solder mask layer is properly installed.

While solder masks appear to have high contrast with the board, this is not the case. For displaying white silk printing on a PCB, the yellow solder mask is not the best option. It does, however, complement the immersion gold surface. While yellow solder masks are slightly more expensive, they are better for highlighting routes and making light-colored residues easier to clean.

Soldermask Ink

Soldermask Ink

What Exactly Is a Solder Mask Layer? is an essential component of PCB production. The solder paste mask is used to cover copper pads and prevent tin from reaching the copper foil on the PCB. It is critical that the solder paste mask does not overlap the component’s pad because soldering under it will be impossible. Despite their similarities, the solder mask and paste mask are not the same.

How Many Types of Solder Mask?

Solder masks are available in a variety of styles. Modern printed circuit boards require photo-imaging solder resists, usually made of liquid epoxy resin. Depending on the topography of the board, the either dry or liquid application is required. The dry application ensures consistent thickness across the board and is best suited for flat surfaces. While liquid application provides better contact with the laminate and copper, it may not achieve the uniform thickness required for printed circuit boards.

Solder mask film is the most commonly used material. This low-cost material effectively protects printed circuit boards, even if they contain many components. For these applications, the dry film is preferred and works best when the PCB surface is flat. Green solder mask is typically made from 4 mil film, while other colors are made from 5 mil film. Copper will not oxidize with the film.

Black Soldermask PCB

Black Soldermask PCB

Another factor to consider is color. PCB solder masks are usually matte or glossy and are available in a variety of colors. Colors can be used to differentiate between different printed circuit boards as well as to complement a specific color palette. Matte masks have fewer options than glossy masks. Matte masks can be used on a variety of surfaces, but are more likely to show dirt.

Green soldermask is best for most PCBs, but other colors can be used. For best performance, manufacturers use a variety of colors. Green solder resists are generally easier to apply and have better adhesion than other solder resists. They are also more visible during the day. Green solder resists are best suited for prototype applications. Since these boards are not produced in large quantities, color selection is critical.

What Is Soldermask Made of?

You may be wondering what a soldermask is and how it is used. It is a component used in electronics to shield and protect copper traces from oxidation. There are several types of solder resists, each with unique applications. Solder resists are the most common type. These solder resists are reasonably priced and reliable, even with many components on the board. These resists are typically made of 4 mil film, but colored versions are also available. In any case, the solder resists film preventing oxidation of the copper traces.

Selecting a soldermask is an important step in PCB manufacturing. The type of mask to be used depends on the physical size of the board, components and conductors, and the final application. When selecting a solder resist layer, consult the industry standard for PCB solder resists. Online soldermask information is not as reliable as industry standards, so read product descriptions and specifications before deciding on a type.

Thermoset polymers can be used to create solder resists. Glycol monoalkyl ether acetate, with a boiling point of 300 to 400 degrees Fahrenheit, is the best choice. Fiber solvents, diethylene glycol monomethyl ether, and diethylene glycol monobutyl ether are other solvents suitable for solder resists. Higher boiling point esters are preferred.

What Is LPI in PCB?

LPI stands for Light Sensitive Ink and is often used as a curtain coating for printed circuit boards. LPI ink blends are a mixture of polymers and solvents that form a thin film and adhere to the target area. Because the LPI coating is eventually removed, the process is not permanent and requires a high-quality surface finish. UV light will be used to cure and harden the LPI coating.

One of several methods is used to apply the LPI coating to the board. Screen printing is the most common of these methods. It is the most common method used today, but it has some drawbacks. The screen printing process often results in an uneven coating due to the “blocking effect” along the leading edge of the trace. As the solder resist layer on the trailing edge decreases, the alignment may exhibit an unusual blocking effect.

Blue Soldermask PCB

Blue Soldermask PCB

Epoxy is the cheapest of these methods. Epoxy makes better contact with the PCB and is more durable than other methods because it uses a braided mesh. In either case, the PCB must be thoroughly cleaned before applying the solder resist. other methods include physical scrubbing or immersion in a cleaning solution. LPI inks are also more versatile than DFSM and less expensive than epoxies.

What Is the Difference Between Solder Mask and Paste Mask?

There are numerous distinctions between solder paste and solder mask in the field of electronic soldering. The former is used to protect pads from the tin formation during wave soldering. The latter is used more frequently to apply the paste to pads and components. The primary distinction between the two is their application methods. Solder paste prevents tin buildup better than paste and is used in applications where the soldering process is critical.

Red Soldermask PCB

Red Soldermask PCB

Solder paste is a common practice in PCB manufacturing. Solder paste connects PCB pads to each other, allowing for better adhesion. Typically, the paste mask is applied using stencils, syringes, or jet printing. Paste masks have adhesive properties and allow components to be placed on a PCB without affecting the overall appearance of the board. As the paste mask melts, a more dependable electrical bond is formed.

As a result, solder masks are more common than pastes. When using solder paste, exposed copper remains on the PCB. To prevent shortcuts, the exposed copper must be plated with a surface finish after the solder paste has been applied. Hot air solder leveling is one of the most popular surface finishes, but there are other options depending on your needs.

Why Is Solder Mask Green?

When you order a printed circuit board, you will usually notice that it is green in color. Why is this? The most common response is that the solder resists layer is green, which is the most affordable and widely used color for PCBs. It is also the most popular color for printed circuit boards in the 21st century. Green was the standard color for U.S. military PCBs until green soldermask became more widely used because of its high tolerance to adverse environmental conditions. Because the military always had an ample supply of green solder resists, manufacturers often kept them on hand for non-military customers.

Despite being the most popular color on the market, green solder resists are in high demand. They have the highest contrast ratio and are ideal for maintenance and repair. In addition, green soldermask can be used in almost any PCB manufacturing facility. Because of these benefits, they are the most common color for circuit boards worldwide and a popular choice for many. Green solder resists are ideal for the smallest solder bridges because of their thin coating.

Green Soldermask PCB

Green Soldermask PCB

There is another reason why green soldermask is so popular. Although green soldermask is the most common, some manufacturers prefer to use a different color in some cases. Other colors (such as red and blue) have lower resolution, while black and yellow have the highest resolution. It is important to remember that solder resist layers with high transparency have higher resolution. You should always keep these factors in mind when choosing a solder-resist color for your PCB.

How Thick Is Your Solder Mask?

This is a common problem when designing and manufacturing electronic components. The thickness of a PCB may vary depending on the material used to manufacture it. If you intend to use copper foil as a cover layer, you must also consider the thickness of the copper foil. Solder resist layers are typically 0.8 mils thick. alternatively, you can use a 0.3 mil thick binding cover and a 0.5 mil thick solder layer to cover the entire PCB.

When choosing the correct solder resist layer, make sure it fits the shape of the board. Some masks include additional relief on the pads that hold the central IC in place. The soldermask relief will be smaller and red. You can read the instruction manual for more information. It will also explain the thickness of the solder resist layer. However, please keep in mind that the thickness of the solder resist layer will vary depending on its size and application method.

When selecting a solder resist layer, it is critical that you choose a color that complements the board design. If your project requires miniature, compact circuits, it is best to use a more transparent mask. If you are going to use an opaque mask, make sure it has the proper resolution. In addition to thickness, color can affect the performance of the solder resist layer.

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