Stencil Generation

Stencil Preperation helps to create stencil with openings for each paste depot.

 

Advanced Stencil Preparation

Increase in Efficiency and Productivity

 

  • PCB-Investigator automates data preparation while allowing the flexibility customers needs. Taking care of all different types of stencils and components.
  • Standard Stencil design / Step-Stencil Technologies.
  • Train your CAD System for best results.
  • Use knowledge getting from components Adding the experience from internal production. Set up a looped process to learn with each product
Area Editor -> Stencil Generator -> Stencil Analysis
Switch from predefined to rule bases creation. This makes automation independent more reliable. Bring the production technology into the foreground.
 

Stencil Area Editor

Edit base settings for each area

editbase

 

Context Menu
You have several options available to modify your file, including changing the thickness,
side, or description, as well as setting a color for the zone. Additionally, you can export
the file as a list or HTML and such much more opti
 
 
 
 
Set Area around Selection with cutouts
This function allows you to define a stencil area by selecting a group of objects and creating a cutout area around them. The cutout area can be used to create stencil pads for solder paste application.

 

Add zones by predefined drawings

 

Edit the Shape

editshape

 

Add a new zone by drawing a rectangle

Note: For high quality, it is recommended not to cut pin pads. You can combine areas e.g. from different parts to get ideal areas.

 

 

Zone function

zonefunc

 
Add new zone with cutting out a previous tone by drawing a rectangle
This means creating a new zone by drawing a rectangle on the PCB design and cutting out a portion of a previous tone that intersects with the new recatangle.
 
 

 

combine  Combine different zones to one zone 
Combining by bounds or intersecting available, depending on the zone size maybe the form has to be an rectangle or it is possible to set special area outlines.

 

Manage zone settings

zonesettings 

 

 

-->Zone settings can be saved in ODB attributes, exported as xml and imported from xml.

 

 
If you are done generating, you should do the stencil analysis. Click Here!

 

Stencil Generator

 

The Stencil Generator uses all zones defined by the Stencil Area Editor. If there are no zones the outline will be used as main zone. Use default rules for your company. Setting a package group, enables the Wizard to set the rules regarding it. SOICs, Chips, BGAs and any definition needed. The Wizard is delivered with predefined settings. To adjust all data preparation to your product you can setup own data preparation Scripts to adjust to your equipment.

 

Set Package Group is only necessary if your data don’t contain a proper information. Customers with EPL (“Easylogix Part Library”) can resolve trusted data from EPL. The Wizard also process layouts with multiple mask layers in the stack-up. Set “Keepouts for Chips” is only available if you have MPN packaged defined. It will handle the usable area for you. You also can set plugged drills as free usable area.

 

Check stencil by using current rules

 

Rule preview

You have the possibility to set rules by package, set extra rules for components in defines zones or to set a rule for each component.
To set another rule to your component, select one in the given list. 

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In the following the rules are explained:

Undersize original pads

Create undersize for each pin pad with option to switch between fix value in mm and percent value.
The base is the copper pad under the pin cutted with the mask opening.

 
Create donut pads

You can create Donut with X parts.




  • Count Bridges is here the count of gabs in the donut
  • Offset X/Y to move the symbol away from the pin position
  • Undersize for the pin pad size (distance from the pad edge to the donut edge)
  • The size of the inner area are in percent

 

Create house pads

You can create pads in form of small houses.

 

Corner Radius - enables users to round all corners of the house-shaped pads.

House Distance Cut Size feature - is specifically tailored for adjusting the roof splashes of the house. By modifying this value, users can control the extent to which the roof of the house extends beyond the base.

Invert Direction feature - HouseBuilder offers the ability to change the orientation of the roof. Users can switch between the roof facing the inside or outside of the pad, providing options to align with specific design requirements or personal preferences.

 
 
 
Handle pad creation by package group

This rule specifically addresses the process of creating stencils for different package groups, each with its unique characteristics and requirements.

When it comes to the package group, PCBI distinguishes between different types, such as CHIP, SOIC/QFP, and BGA.
Each package group has specific guidelines for stencil creation, and the software handles them differently to ensure optimal results.
 
  • CHIP - offers the option to create stencils that resemble a house or an inverted house shape
  • SOIC/QFP - treats each pad as a rectangle, but cooling pins are handled as an array.
  • BGA - applies an undersize rule to each pin. This means that the stencil pads for the BGA package's pins are intentionally created slightly smaller than the actual pin size
 
 
 
Array Pads

Create array pads with customizable parameters like fixed size, corner radius, distance between fields and more. These pads are cut by mask opening, and you can choose to ignore mask intersecting. Additionally, you can set a minimum array field size and adjust the offset and undersize to move the array and make the complete area smaller.


 
Array Pads fixed count

Create array pads with fixed size options, corner rounding and distance between pads. Offset and undersize ooptions can be used to adjust the array size.


 

 

Use pin intersecting with solder mask

 

Use component pins and mask to create stencil pads. This method does not use copper, but rather uses the pin definition and intersects it with the mask opening.


 
 
Change Symbol

Inserts symbols from job or from library. Click on the three points at symbol to add one.


 
Inverted house pad

 

Created house-shaped pads and split larger elements using the maximum size of one element. The corner radius will round all corners.

 

 

 


 

Add own rules to your stencil automation

You can add your own rules by clicking on the setting symbol.

 

 


 

Panel

Send the stencil data in your preferred format to your supplier
Result of the rule-base stencil wizard
Before and after
Stencil pad details