Contents
What is solder mask in Altium?
PCB solder mask (also called solder resist) is an epoxy or photoimageable polymer layer that protects copper on the surface layer of the PCB. This layer covers exposed traces on the surface of the board, preventing oxidation and providing an extra protective barrier against mechanical damage.
How do I see layers in Altium?
Click the button at the bottom-right of the workspace then select the View Configuration option. Click the color swatch on the Layer Sets control at the bottom left of the workspace. Press the L shortcut key to open the panel with the Layers & Colors tab displayed.
What is top solder layer in Altium?
Top Solder is the Soldermask (you need to interpret it as a negative layer, violet means no soldermask, empty means soldermask), not your actual pad (that’s the Top Layer, positive Layer, red = copper, empty = no copper).
What is the difference between solder mask and paste mask?
Solder mask is the part of PCB, but the solder paste is not, as solder paste is only for the SMT stencil. Solder mask is used for solder mask ink, while solder paste is used for paste. 4. Solder mask is applied as fabricating your circuit board, however, solder paste is used for SMT PCB assembly.
How do I add a layer to PCB Altium?
To add or edit a mechanical layer (image on the left), right-click in the Layers region on the Layers & Colors tab of the panel then select Add Mechanical Layer.
How do I change the color of my PCB in Altium?
To change, simply click the color swatch and select a new color from a variant of the 2D System Colors dialog (which only allows changing the color for that specific layer).
What is solder mask layer?
Solder mask is a thin layer of polymer that is put on a circuit board to protect the copper from oxidation and shorts during operation. It also protects the PCB from environmental influences such as dust and several other contaminants that may lead to shorts in the long run.
What are the different layers in PCB?
PCB Layers Explained
- Substrate Layer. The substrate layer of any PCB is usually made from fibreglass, which gives the board its rigid form.
- Copper Layer. Next is a thin layer of copper foil which is laminated to the board using heat.
- Soldermask layer.
- Silkscreen layer.
What is solder layer?
Soldermask is a protective layer of liquid photo image able lacquer applied on the top and bottom side of a Printed Circuit Board. The function of the Soldermask is to protect the copper, apart from the solder pads, from: Oxidation. Creating shorts during. Soldering (bridges)
What does a solder mask on a PCB do?
PCB solder mask (also called solder resist) is an epoxy or photoimageable polymer layer that protects copper on the surface layer of the PCB. This layer covers exposed traces on the surface of the board, preventing oxidation and providing an extra protective barrier against mechanical damage.
How to expand solder mask in Altium Designer 21?
Solder mask expansion can be defined for pads and vias on an individual basis. While browsing properties for a pad or via through the Properties panel, options are available to follow the expansion defined in the applicable design rule, or to override the rule and apply a specified expansion directly to the individual pad or via in question.
How to expand the bottom of a solder mask?
Expansion bottom – this constraint is used to specify the value applied to the initial pad/via shape (or hole) to obtain the final shape on the bottom solder mask layer. Use the button to toggle between single, or separate expansions for the top and bottom sides of the board.
How to view board layers and colors in Altium?
To access 2D view-related tabs, either ensure the workspace is in 2D Layout Mode prior to accessing the dialog, or select a 2D configuration in the Select PCB View Configuration region, once the dialog is accessed. This region of the tab displays a list of signal layers for the board. Each layer in the list is presented in terms of: