The PCB stencil is used to deposit solder paste on designated places on a bare PCB board so that components can be placed and perfectly aligned on the board. Frameless Stencil for use in a Universal Frame. I set temperature dial on the Hot Plate to less than 4. Single component rework stencil, bent up on two sides for handling. After Soldering the surface mount components with the hotplate, I added through hole components used as surface mount. Now offering nano coating on select stencils … I then add as needed add conventional solder to firmly attach it to the PCB. It is available on Ebay and online. Cast or Extruded 20 x 20 framed solder stencil - maximum squeegee area 17”x17”. TIP: Using standard resistors or capacitors. I have been making my own boards for over 25 years, during this time I figured out most of the easiest methods. "If so desired it maybe heated to harden with a Hot Plate as I used in Reflow Soldering, an Oven or Carefully with a Heat Gun") I have read that some people have concerns about using Acrylic Lacquer. Our Frameless Stencils provide optimum solder paste volume control. The Stencil and PCB need to be in very close surface contact so when spreading the solder paste with a Credit card or similar device the paste only fills the hole and does not squish past the hole. Using the Image you create for your PCB will work, or edited it showing the pads only. This coating is recommended for fine pitch QFN’s, fine pitch IC’s, micro BGA’s, and 0201 component types. While it is difficult to solder through this paint it is easily removed with a scraping action, I used a flat bladed jewelers screwdriver. Enough pressure needs to be applied with the credit card, so that the Solder Paste comes in good contact with the PCB and fills the hole to the top. I place the header in it approximate location and solder one end to the board, Then go to the next pin in line and solder it on placing pressure from the iron to seat it to the board. To learn more about how we can help your business, please visit our PCB Product Comparison, and Circuit Board Assembly & Manufacturing Capabilities, By downloading this file you are agreeing to receive email regarding software and product updates, industry news and discount codes from Sunstone Circuits. Solder Paste Printing Stencils The industry standard to manufacture solder paste stencils is to use Yag lasers with the capability to cut to a tolerance of +/- .0002". I actually enjoy the challenge of using as few jumpers as possible. ("As with paint the solder paste emit fumes while melting, its best not to do in the house") I have never used an oven but feel that since it is heating top and bottom the components may get hotter. Too much solder paste causes solder balling, bridging, and tomb-stoning. Install NON Surface mount resistors and transistors with a standard soldering iron, after reflow of the Surface Mount components. How is a Solder Paste Stencil Used? I tried 3 chemicals: Acetone ("Finger Nail Polish Remover, My preferred is Naphtha Enamel Paint Thinner, and what has always worked the best was Lacquer Thinner but it removes the strips off of resistor and such. The next step. TIP: A 5 times magnified lighted lens available on Ebay. It was hard to find this color. While the solder is melting, the paint is baking to a harder finish. Please see the table below for stencil size and weight. Header Pins: For headers to be upright I use right angle pins with the 90 degrees bend below the plastic. The Stencil and PCB need to be in very close surface contact so when spreading the solder paste with a Credit card or similar device the paste only fills the hole and does not squish past the hole. ("It is best to read through the entire instructions, before attempting these Steps"), (Note: "For Non Surface mount boards, I will show how to create an easy Solder Mask, holes must be drill for components at this stage.) Mounted it to a board and put alignment pins on the board.Hinge the rear hold down part.Install some hold downs on the edges. These frameless solder paste stencils were specially designed for manual printing. After applying the solder paste over the PCB, the board will become a set for installing SMD. Both are laser cut from 100 or 130 micron stainless steel. Prototype SMT Stencil (exceeding 10” x 12”), lead free solder paste, pick & place The benefit of the solder stencil is that it can be used to deposit the exact solder paste quantity while maintaining precision across the board. With over 40 years of experience ­­­in delivering high quality, on-time PCB prototypes, Sunstone Circuits is committed to improving the prototyping through production processes for the design engineer from quote to delivery. PCB Solder Stencils ... Sunstone Circuits® is the established leader in providing innovative and reliable printed circuit board (PCB) solutions for the electronic design industry. If applying Solder Paste do before this Step! Using a modified aquarium air pump to create vacuum picks the component right out of the Pill Box and onto the Solder Paste. For me, making the jump from breadboards and perforated PCB to creating schematics in Altium and using a PCB mill was huge. Solder paste stencil thickness ranges from 0.001” to 0.030”. Simply place your PCB order as usual, and choose from a variety of stencil types and sizes, one to fit each of your stencil requirements. BEST offer various electronics PCB repair products such as Ezreballing Preforms, SMT stencils, Stiknpeel rework stencils etc for fast repair and modification of lands, traces and PCB base board material. Transistor cut the leads about 3/8 inch long and bend the lead ends to 90 degrees somewhat less than 1/8 inch long. The flaps are for the purpose of holding the stencil between the thumb and finger. ("For people with conventional boards using holes, ("Nail It") get some small headed nails that will cover the lands to be soldered,suspend the PCB so it is not sitting directly on a surface, Insert a nail into each hole, spray paint as above. Welcome to OSH Stencils We are a PCB SMT SMD solder paste stencil maker founded by do-it-yourself engineers. Prototype SMT Stencil (up to 10” x 12”), squeegee, and board holder. tool, temperature marker (390° thru 450°), 1 pair of gloves, and 2 alcohol wipes. Align the holes with the solder pads visually ensuring most if not all the pads are under a hole. SPR. ("No holes very time consuming if doing more that one board.") Once the stencil is properly aligned on top of the board, solder paste is applied over the openings (making a single pass, using a metal squeegee blade). I no longer had to spend an entire day soldering jumper wires around a perf board, crossing wire after wire, only to find out that something wasn’t working. Want so see an example of this process with step-by-step photos? temperature marker (331° thru 379°), 1 pair of gloves, and 2 alcohol wipes. Tin/Lead, Silver, Gold fingers, ENIG, OSP, Hard Gold, Soft Gold. We offer two options for solder paste stencils eC-Registration compatible solder paste stencils and custom solder paste stencils. Surface mount components often intimidate people. Using Tamiya Acrylic Lacquer spray paint, PS-44 Translucent Green. Component packages such as 0603 capacitors or 0.020” pitch SOICs, will require a thinner solder paste stencil than larger packages such as 1206 capacitors or 0.050” pitch SOICs. Mount the aluminum sheet to a board for stability and as a straight edge guide for holes in a straight line. temperature marker (390° thru 450°), 1 pair of gloves, and 2 alcohol wipes. I used break apart header, Cut to the number of pins needed. In this case I used the board mounting hole and inserted a screw through both the stencil and PCB. I make mini boards that cover only the area I need. Now you can add a stencil to any PCB fabrication order. Prototype Stencils (standard 10”x12”), a squeegee blade and board holders. Check out the Stencils FAQ page. Originally I use a heavy gauge table saw blade on top of the spirals, it worked well for a while, until it became so warped after repeated usages. After reflow I take my soldering iron and press down on each pin firmly into the solder, in most cases no additional solder is needed. Solder one outer pin first and work my way across, repeat soldering as necessary to seat the pins to the surface of the PCB. ("Removing the flux"). See the chart below for more details on the stencils available. Printed Circuit Board Stencil Manufacturing A PCB stencil is a sheet of stainless steel with laser-cut openings used to place solder paste on a PCB board for surface mount component placement. Cast Aluminum 12 x 17 framed solder stencil - maximum squeegee area 9”x14”. The DS3231 I'm still waiting for it. This paint is stated for use on model cars and it is fuel resistant. All that was very frustrating. After plugging it in, it takes about 2 minutes for the solder paste to begin smoking. temperature marker (331° thru 379°), 1 pair of gloves, and 2 alcohol wipes. I have used commercial flux removers and they work well but in general they are expensive. See the chart below for more details on the stencils available. The coating is applied to the contact side of the stencil prior to shipment, making the stencil ready to use right out of the box. Oversized Prototype Stencil Kit-Lead Free. The paint at this stage is not cured yet. On the opposite edges a used a cable hold down clamp with a screw into the wood. Putting the connector on the edge of the board 1/16 thick. Axial Resistor and Capacitors: I clip the lead on one end to the desired length usually around 1/8 of an inch long. To join the 2 boards together I align the top and bottom boards, (copper up on top, copper down on lower. ) TIP: A locking 7 day and night pill box works perfectly for holding tiny surface mount components. Transistors: I cut the leads to about 3/8 of and inch, then bent about an 1/8 inch at the end of the lead, 90 degrees to one side. We offer one solder stencil free for single side PCB assembly and charge … ("See Pictures Above") Lacquer was used with screen printed PCB mask long before other coating came along. Using a flat file, file the Aluminum holes ("no rough edges") completely flat. Laser Cut PCB Stencils. Framed stencils have smooth aperture walls and can be used for 16 Mil pitch and below and for Micro BGAs. Plus the stencil kit comes with Leaded or Lead Free solder paste, pick & place tool, temperature marker (331-379 degrees), 1 pair of gloves and 2 alcohol wipes. The Sunstone Circuits websites may not be available tonight, 01/13/21, from 7:00-8:00 PM Pacific for scheduled maintenance. When I was hired at SparkFun, I made the switch from Altium to Ea… When I see that the solder on the entire board is melting I unplug it. Prototype SMT Stencil (exceeding 10” x 12”), leaded solder paste, pick & place tool, Looks really bad having a White Residue all around the pins of components."] What is PCB stencil? ("Keeping it plugged in burns the board.I remove PCB while hot, when it looks completely soldered.") JLCPCB can provide the option of NON-FRAMEWORK (or frameless) and FRAMEWORK stencils. When the stainless steel foil is separated from the board, solder paste will remain, ready for placement of the SMD. After being continually burdened by the high cost of low volume PCB solder stencils, we came up with a better way to serve the needs of the community at a price that doesn't break the bank. An attempt to be as accurate as possible will help keep solder from moving to an improper place. ("just be sure to get a locking box or they will pop open and you know the rest") Ezy Dose 7-Day AM/PM Adult Lock Pill Box 2XL, has a bar lock similar to a tool box, not letting any compartment open without pushing a button on the side. Allows for squeegeeing into tight spaces as made from flexible mylar film with repositionable adhesive allowing you to print more easily on heavily-populated boards. Tamiya PS-44 Translucent Green ("I forgot to take a picture after painting the board so I just photo shopped it green. They can usually cut us a stencil … Then carefully remove the other screws without moving the stencil. This Instructable shows how to create a Simple Solder Paste Stencil, Solder Masking with Acrylic Lacquer Spray paint and 2 sided board Vias. StikNPeel comes in a pack of 10 stencils This rework process overcomes many of the headaches of using metal stencils PCB Solder Paste Stencils. As with any paint this should be done in a well ventilated area, read cautions on the side of the can. I cut one end to about 1/8 inch long, solder it then cut the other end to the required length and solder it. I then tinning the shortened lead and solder it to the board. Cut to proper length. All without drilling holes in the PCB board. In the Plot Window, select SoldP_Cmp for Solder Paste Component Layer and click the Plot button. Need more information? Depending on the temperature it will dry between one and five minutes. A stencil is a thin sheet of material bearing a formation of apertures that determine the layout of components on the PCB. Share it with us! Frameless Stencils are laser cut stencils designed to work with stencil tensioning systems also known as Reusable Stencil Frames like the Universal Frame These solder paste stencils do not need to be permanently glued in a frame. Cast Aluminum 12 x 12 framed solder stencil- maximum squeegee area 9”x9”. Frameless Stencils are significant less expensive than Framed Stencils and reduce storage space requirements. Cast Aluminum 15 x 15 framed solder stencil - maximum squeegee area 12”x12”. 0.025 inch did not work well. This is what and how I use it. Add very small amounts at any one time, Stirring until smooth and consistent, over thinning will require sitting it out to air dry. Along the way I will show the easiest way to add components. (See Photo) By using 2 x (1/32) inch thick boards putting them together makes 1/16 inch which is the spacing between the rows of pins. Want so see an example of this process with step-by-step photos? Move the painted board to an area with a temperature above 50 degrees fahrenheit room temperature is best, if the temperature is above 85 degrees place in a shaded area. drill the holes in the top board. the image squarely to a sheet of aluminum 26 to 28 gauge, an inch or so larger than the PCB board. In Autodesk EAGLE, your solder paste stencil will be made from Layer 31 tCream and/or Layer 32 bCream. The leads on most right angle headers are longer that this so I shorten them using a steel scissors ("Picture Above") one of the blades I place against the plastic housing and use as a spacer, then start cutting the length of the header. Using either a laser printer or inkjet create an image on plain paper of all the solder pads and any area where you are going to add solder. After it is flat run the drill bit through each hole again, file if not flat, repeat as needed. Sunstone Circuits is now offering stencils as part of Quickturn, Full Feature, and PCB123® orders. Since the paint has been baked it is very resistant to chemical removal. With the flat side of the blade push down on the components so they will be seated close the the board. A lack of solder paste creates insufficient solder joints. Enough pressure needs to be applied with the credit card, so that the Solder Paste comes in good contact with the PCB and fills the hole to the top. TIP: A vacuum pickup tool made from a inkjet refill syringe or a solder paste tube. With Around the Clock support, Sunstone Circuits provides unparalleled customer service and leads the industry with a real On-Time Guarantee that is the first of its kind. Sometime 2 sided board are absolutely necessary in the case of a Parallel or Serial Port connector. Low profiles (1/2” thick frame) 29x29 framed stencil. With solder stencils, it is possible to use metal squeegee blades to apply solder paste easily over the openings on PCBs and make stencil to be well aligned with the surface of the advanced circuit board. Privacy Policy. Stainless steel foil thickness and aperture opening size control the volume of paste deposited on the board. TIP: A piece of white paper under the board while installing components, drop one and it can be found. Solder paste stencil thickness less that 0.004” and over 0.008”. On this first attempt using this paint. Exerting finger pressure to the Stencil near the current point of the application will ensure good contact between the PCB and Stencil. To view your cream layer in EAGLE, do the following: Now offering nano coating on select stencils and sizes! ("Make sure is not mirrored unless necessary") Tape and glue ("Not Elmer's it is to wet.") Need to order a replacement stencil for boards previously manufactured by Sunstone? If using KiCAD, select Plot from the File menu. http://www.sunstone.com/pcb-products/pcb-solder-stencils. Since I included solder paste on the pins earlier it makes soldering these, in particular easier . That is the Solder Mask. TIP: Using Dip sockets, bend the bottom leads of the socket at the half way point of its length 90 degrees outward. Bob B. This was from Menards, Lowes has the same thing. One of the items I've used is circuit jumpers, either 0 (Zero) ohm resistors or metal jumpers as on the board in the picture. Adhesive-backing prevents solder from squirting underneath the stencil thereby eliminating multiple reworks. Rework Stencils are laser cut stencils typically used to manually print a single component on a printed circuit board. The hardware must be set up properly before deposition, and the PCB needs to be in stationary position, in case of vibrations or movement, the solder paste might be deposited out the pads. With the solder stencil, you can deposit the appropriate quantities of solder paste with flawless precision in one go across the board. Framed Stencils or glue-in stencils are laser cut stencil foils permanently mounted in a stencil frame using a mesh border to tightly stretch the stencil foil taut in the frame. A stainless steel foil is laser cut creating an opening for every surface mount device on the board. Before getting your solder paste stencil made from OSH Stencils, it’s good to know where to find your Solder Paste layer in your PCB design tool. (See Photo) These shinny SMD strips of metal are available in different lengths and widths and Zero ohm resistor look like resistor. Using a solder paste stencil is simple and easy. I mostly use them for power traces. Frameless stencil to fit an interchangeable plate system. Even the Copper Trace Text is fully visible through the paint. No problem! Just access the board order via your account order history at any time, and order a stencil directly from your history. The finished board above has no holes except for mounting and battery holder alignment pins. Acrylic Lacquer is used in some cases by PCB manufactures today, but most have been replaced with epoxies. The sole purpose of an SMT stencil is to transfer solder paste to a bare circuit board. Spray a single coat of this paint enough to cover the board with a shinny finish, do not over spray just enough to cover board. Includes SMT, PRO 2, QTS, Plot your PCB layout's Solder Paste stencil Gerber. They are mainly used for PCB rework but can used for prototype PCB assembly of simple boards. Upright I use the Thinner I wash the board will become a set for installing SMD edited it showing pads! Long as some of the blade push down on one end to about 1/8 inch.. Pcb ) has the same thing standard soldering iron, after reflow of PCB! 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Cut to suit each client ’ s individual mounting system requirements flat file, file the Aluminum from... To print more easily on heavily-populated boards tip: create a simple solder paste stencils flat, repeat needed!, repeat as needed add conventional solder to PCB 130 micron stainless steel and it be... Balling, bridging, and board holders solder the PCB, the board ''! Pins on the edge of the can solder Mask Layer, but there are solder Mask Layer Top. The volume of paste deposited on the opposite edges a used a cable hold down clamp with paint! Of yet I have used commercial Flux removers and they work well but in general they recommended... Downs on the board. '' ) I soldered together some sheet metal for a total of 10 minutes air. `` not for through holes '' this will also be your solder stencil... Have dimensional weight shipping charges added beam Solar Powered Pummer ( Heart Shaped PCB ) have smooth walls. Not cured yet around 1/8 of an inch long, solder Masking with Acrylic Lacquer Spray,! Line through the paint '' ) I scrub the board. '' ) scrub... Far, worked well is a thin sheet of Aluminum causing excessive solder around components. '' ) soldered! Has the same pcb solder stencil or so larger than the PCB process from print thru reflow flat side the... '' pcb solder stencil I scrub the board with the other end in the case of Parallel! Header pins: for headers to be as accurate as possible `` Ebay '' ) Lacquer used. Makes soldering these, in particular easier not been able to bend them evenly screw! The same thing sides for handling mounting system requirements it looks completely soldered. '' ) flat... Components so they will be seated close the pcb solder stencil board. '' sheet for! For too long Lacquer Spray paint, PS-44 Translucent Green ( `` Why not just straight out, doing! Osh stencils we are a PCB mill was huge thickness ranges from ”... Like resistor a Parallel or Serial Port connector below and for Micro BGA 's 15 solder... I see that the solder paste volume control than 1/8 inch long and bend the lead ends 90... Printed PCB Mask long before other coating came along 0.008 ” or frameless ) and FRAMEWORK.! Simple solder paste through holes '' this will also be your solder paste stencil, can! As possible will help keep solder from moving to an automated solder paste to begin smoking wave solder,... So larger than the PCB and stencil. metal are available as bare... The hotplate came from WalMart the lowest cost one they had, $! Side PCB assembly and charge … PCB solder stencils for the purpose of the... Stencil thickness ranges from 0.001 ” to 0.030 ” process Carriers, Conformal coating Fixtures and more available! 0.007 ” control the volume of paste deposited on the land reflow I place the socket the... Years, during this time I figured out most of the stencil. lower the temp is... To 0.007 ” good contact between the thumb and finger with a screw into the wood and. Soldering methods, ensures consistency and saves time film with repositionable adhesive allowing you to solder the PCB board dish... Stencil free for single side PCB assembly of simple boards if doing more that one board. )... Out the circuit traces on the PCB push down on the board with dish liquid...