What do you need to know about PCB solder masks?
This is where PCB Solder Masks come into play. Solder masks resist solder and act as a protective layer that rests on top of the copper traces. It’s the green stuff found on most common PCBs. Solder masks can take high temperates, so it can handle the intense heat from the tip of a soldering iron.
How do you spread resin on a PCB?
Grab a second piece of blank transparency film and lay it over the glob of resin. This will help spread the resin across the surface of the PCB. Lightly press down on the piece of film and let the resin spread. A piece of glass or acrylic can then be placed on top of the blank film to further evenly distribute the resin.
Is there a way to prolong the life of PCBs?
The best way to prolong the life of your PCBs is to give them a protective coating. This is where PCB Solder Masks come into play. Solder masks resist solder and act as a protective layer that rests on top of the copper traces. It’s the green stuff found on most common PCBs.
What kind of printer do I need to print solder masks?
Getting the solder mask artwork onto a transparency film can be done with either laser toner printer or an inkjet printer. The inkjet printers are more common and require a special “Quick-Dry” type transparency paper. One side has a coarse texture which is the side we’ll need to print on.
How does a solder mask affect the Zo?
Aside from the lossy nature, solder mask has a high dielectric constant relative to air and poorly controlled thickness, so the characteristic impedance will be harder to control with solder mask applied. Zo decreases by about 1 Ohm / mil of soldermask thickness. LPI solder mask affects Zo by about 2 ohms and dry film by as much as 7 ohms.
What kind of solder is used on PCBs?
It’s the green stuff found on most common PCBs. Solder masks can take high temperates, so it can handle the intense heat from the tip of a soldering iron. UV curable solder mask is a special type of resin that hardens when exposed to ultraviolet light.
Is it OK to use solder mask on RF traces?
Solder mask dielectric constant introduces dielectric loss to high-speed RF traces. By now, it’s obvious that solder masks and high-frequency traces aren’t the best companions. If you’re having RF traces on the outer layers, you’ll want to avoid placing solder masks on it.