The Solder Mask Checks action checks solder mask layers for potential manufacturability defects. Its findings are collected in categories that are detailed below. Solder mask layers are always assumed to be negative, that is, all positive features describe clearances or the absence of solder masks. This action also checks if solder paste has been deposited on all SMD pads. The action operates on a single solder mask layer per side (single top, single bottom) at a time.
This action also checks solder paste layers to detect SMDs without paste and compare the negative annular ring (gasket) of the SMD pad with the paste pad.
This action uses a solder mask layer, and the drill and external copper layers associated with it.
The following tests can be applied to solder mask layers, as listed in the Action Screen and below:
1. Drill - reports close distances to solder mask openings of PTH/NPTH annular rings, and where NPTH touches mask.
2. Pads - reports close distances to solder mask openings of all pads, including undrilled pads. It also reports on a special group, Gaskets, which finds width of solder mask overlap on features.
3. Coverage - reports lines that are too close to clearances (that is, not adequately covered).
4. Rout - reports close distances between solder mask and rout features.
5. Bridge - reports different net pads without solder mask bridges.
6. Sliver - reports slivers between solder mask clearances.
7. Missing - reports missing clearances.
8. Spacing - reports close spaces between clearances (wider than sliver).
A summary of Feature and Component attributes used during the Solder Mask check is shown below.
Attribute Name |
Description |
.smd |
This attribute should be attached to outer layer pads that are lands for SMD components. It is set by the ‘Set SMD Attribute’ Cleanup Action. |
.drill |
This attribute is attached to hole features in drill layers. It defines the type of the drill and is used extensively during fabrication analysis. |
Attribute |
Description |
dra_ar_pth |
DRA for annular ring PTH |
min_ar_pth |
Minimal annular ring PTH measurement value |
typ_ar_pth |
Typical annular ring PTH value |
dra_ar_npth |
DRA for annular ring NPTH |
min_ar_npth |
Minimal annular ring NPTH measurement value |
typ_ar_npth |
Typical annular ring NPTH value |
dra_ar_via |
DRA for annular ring via |
min_ar_via |
Minimal annular ring via measurement value |
typ_ar_via |
Typical annular ring via value |
dra_ar_smd |
DRA for annular ring SMD |
min_ar_smd |
Minimal annular ring SMD measurement value |
typ_ar_smd |
Typical annular ring SMD value |
dra_ar_pad |
DRA for annular ring pad |
min_ar_pad |
Minimal annular ring pad measurement value |
typ_ar_pad |
Typical annular ring pad value |
dra_ar_pth_pad |
DRA for annular ring PTH pad |
min_ar_pth_pad |
Minimal annular ring PTH pad measurement value |
typ_ar_pth_pad |
Typical annular ring PTH pad value |
dra_ar_npth_pad |
DRA for annular ring NPTH pad |
min_ar_npth_pad |
Minimal annular ring NPTH pad measurement value |
typ_ar_npth_pad |
Typical annular ring NPTH pad value |
dra_ar_via_pad |
DRA for annular ring via pad |
min_ar_via_pad |
Minimal annular ring via pad measurement value |
typ_ar_via_pad |
Typical annular ring via pad value |
dra_ar_ndrl_pad |
DRA for annular ring non-drilled pad |
min_ar_ndrl_pad |
Minimal annular ring non-drilled pad measurement value |
typ_ar_ndrl_pad |
Typical annular ring undrilled pad value |
dra_neg_ar_smd |
DRA for negative annular ring SMD |
min_neg_ar_smd |
Minimal negative annular ring SMD measurement value |
max_neg_ar_smd |
Maximum negative annular ring SMD measurement value |
typ_neg_ar_smd |
Typical negative annular ring SMD value |
dra_neg_ar_ndrl_pad |
DRA for negative annular ring non-drilled pad |
min_neg_ar_ndrl_pad |
Minimal negative annular ring non-drilled pad measurement value |
max_neg_ar_ndrl_pad |
Maximum negative annular ring non-drilled pad measurement value |
typ_neg_ar_ndrl_pad |
Typical negative annular ring undrilled pad value |
dra_neg_ar_pth_pad |
DRA for negative annular ring PTH pad |
min_neg_ar_pth_pad |
Minimal negative annular ring PTH pad measurement value |
max_neg_ar_pth_pad |
Maximum negative annular ring PTH pad measurement value |
typ_neg_ar_pth_pad |
Typical negative annular ring PTH pad value |
dra_neg_ar_npth_pad |
DRA for negative annular ring NPTH pad |
min_neg_ar_npth_pad |
Minimal negative annular ring NPTH pad measurement value |
max_neg_ar_npth_pad |
Maximum negative annular ring NPTH pad measurement value |
typ_neg_ar_npth_pad |
Typical negative annular ring NPTH pad value |
dra_neg_ar_via_pad |
DRA for negative annular ring via pad |
min_neg_ar_via_pad |
Minimal negative annular ring via pad measurement value |
max_neg_ar_via_pad |
Maximum negative annular ring via pad measurement value |
typ_neg_ar_via_pad |
Typical negative annular ring via pad value |
dra_coverage |
DRA coverage |
min_coverage |
Minimal coverage |
typ_coverage |
Typical coverage |
dra_npth2m |
DRA for NPTH to mask |
min_npth2m |
Minimal NPTH to mask |
typ_npth2m |
Typical NPTH to mask value |
dra_sm2r |
DRA for solder mask to rout |
min_sm2r |
Minimal solder mask to rout |
typ_sm2r |
Typical solder mask to rout value |
num_no_bridge |
Number of no bridge distance between pads |
min_sliver |
Minimum sliver width |
num_sliver |
Number of slivers |
num_smd_miss |
Number of missing SMD clearances |
num_pth_miss |
Number of missing PTH clearances |
num_via_miss |
Number of missing via clearances |
min_pad_to_pad |
Minimum pad to pad distance |
num_pad_to_pad |
Number of pad to pad measurements |
min_pad_to_non |
Minimal pad to non-pad measurements |
num_pad_to_non |
Number of pad to non-pad measurements |
min_non_to_non |
Minimal non-pad to non-pad measurements |
num_non_to_non |
Number of non-pad to non-pad measurements |
dra |
Overall DRA of a board is the minimum of all DRAs for all categories for which a DRA is defined: dra_sm2r, dra_npth2m, dra_coverage, dra_neg_ar_via_pad, dra_neg_ar_npth_pad, dra_neg_ar_pth_pad, dra_neg_ar_ndrl_pad, dra_neg_ar_smd, dra_ar_ndrl_pad, dra_ar_via_pad, dra_ar_npth_pad, dra_ar_pth_pad, dra_ar_pad, dra_ar_smd, dra_ar_via, dra_ar_pth, dra_ar_npth, |