Anyone getting PCBs made?

[BellaX]

Hi guys,

i want to show you the stencil-fix from eurocircuits. I am using it for years but i guess the most of you
haven´t heared of this genious solder paste printing fixture?

Even if i order pcbs to solder them in the maker-space i add the two holes needed for the stencil-fix.
Just in case the paste printer is blocked or i want to solder one prototype only at home.

All you need to buy is the stencil fix from eurocircuits, it costs less then $20:
[/url][url=https://be.eurocircuits.com/shop/offtheshelf/product.aspx?ad=9565&ano=eC-stencil-fix&an=eC-stencil-fix&s=ec-consumables]https://be.eurocircuits.com/shop/offtheshelf/product.aspx?ad=9565&ano=eC-stencil-fix&an=eC-stencil-fix&s=ec-consumables

You need to define the fixing holes in your pcb and paste layer according to this document:
https://www.eurocircuits.de/wp-content/u...5B1%5D.pdf

This photo shows the stencil-fix and my pcb. You can see the smaller pins that holds my pcb in place and
the longer pins that holds the stencil in place:


Here with my pcb in place and the 5 mm holes needed in the stencil:


The pcb and the stencil are aligned almost perfectly. You don´t need to adjust anything:


Now put the solder paste above the stencil cutouts and use an old credit card
to apply it:


Voila, the result:


As i said before, you get good results without any fixing tapes or adjustments.
This can be improved if you tape the stencil. For this pcb there is no need for
more precision: (48 pin lqfp, pitch 0.5 mm, 0603 components)



I hope you have more fun soldering smd components from now! 

All the best,
Chris


Important:
If you define the pad for the stencil, set the paste mask expansion to zero.
Otherwise your software will automatically add a paste mask expansion!

Also make sure the pad for the pcb is not covered with solder mask and there
is no pad on the paste mask...