PCBs use solder masks to prevent this from happening. Solder mask is not always used for hand soldered assemblies, but is essential for mass-produced boards that are soldered automatically using reflow or solder bath techniques. Once applied, openings must be made in the solder mask wherever components are soldered, which is accomplished using photolithography. Solder mask is traditionally green but is now available in many colors.

In this passage, you can get everything about the information of solder mask usages. If you are interested in the uses of solder mask, please check and read the content below for more knowledge.

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How the solder masks influence PCB?

Now that we have delved into the solder mask process, let’s examine how this process affects your PCB. As previously stated, the solder mask impacts PCB assembly and board quality. The most notable impacts of solder mask are listed below:

Prevention of solder bridges

·  Provides a solder dam between solder joints and other conductive areas of the board where Solder bridges may form, potentially leading to short circuits or board damage.

·  Reduction of solder paste consumption

·  Allow less solder paste to be used during solder process.

·  Additional insulation of the components from PCB

·  Serve as an insulator between board components.

What the solder mask should be used?

An appropriate solder mask depends upon the physical dimensions of the board, components, holes, and conductors, the surface layout, as well as the final application for your product.

You will need a photoimageable solder resist for most modern PCB designs. The surface topography will depend on whether to use a liquid or dry application. And a dry application is that lay down a uniform thickness across the entire surface. But it will be the best for dry mask adheres of your PCB surface is very flat. And if there are complex surface features, you’d better select with a liquid (LPISM) so that there will be a better contact with the copper of your traces and the laminate.

What are the features of PCB colors?

There are different types of colors available for PCB boards. The standard color of printed circuit boards is the green solder mask. However, with the advent of much innovation and technological advancement, the color of PCBs is now changing. In recent years the use of other colors instead of green PCBs is on the increase was driven by most of the assemblers. The following are some reasons for choosing different colored PCB other than green:

Using different colors of PCB gives an obvious indicator of the revision changes to make users aware. Using colors other than green will produce brightness or contract. You need to note that assembly equipment is significant by transmission properties, absorbance, and light reflectance.

Using different colors will help prevent various types of mistakes in a mixed assembly that may occur. The choice of contrasting color types also has the advantage of identifying meetings that are lead–free. The variety of colors used for fabricating PCBs includes white, blue, black, yellow, red, etc. The colors of PCBs are commonly referred to as PCB color codes. Different modern PCB types have adopted specific colors. For example, the motherboards of PC are still fabricated in green epoxy.

What is the function of PCB solder mask?

Solder mask or solder stop mask or solder resist is a thin lacquer-like layer of polymer that is usually applied to the copper traces of a printed circuit board (PCB) for protection against oxidation and to prevent solder bridges from forming between closely spaced solder pads. A solder bridge is an unintended electrical connection between two conductors by means of a small blob of solder.

PCBs use solder masks to prevent this from happening. Solder mask is not always used for hand soldered assemblies, but is essential for mass-produced boards that are soldered automatically using reflow or solder bath techniques. Once applied, openings must be made in the solder mask wherever components are soldered, which is accomplished usingphotolithography.Solder mask is traditionally green but is now available in many colors.

Solder mask comes in different media depending upon the demands of the application. The lowest-cost solder mask is epoxy liquid that is silkscreened through the pattern onto the PCB. Other types are the liquid photoimageable solder mask (LPSM) inks and dry film photoimageable solder mask (DFSM).

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