kicad-developers team mailing list archive

[Karl Schmidt <karl@xxxxxxxxxxxx>]

It could take two layers to do this - One layer to mask-out the default paste and a second layer to 
put in what you want. But I don't think many are using it at all so just reversing the function 
might be a simple useful fix.

Right now the solder-paste layer adds area's to put solder paste on - not exactly useful. What is 
most often needed is a way to reduce the solder-paste under parts that want to 'float-away'.

(In my old notes - this layer WAS called solder-paste-mask - which suggests it was to 'mask' 
solder-paste - probably what it should do.)

To understand why this is needed - look at pg-12 of

http://www.nxp.com/documents/data_sheet/PBSS8110X.pdf

The right way is to use less paste under some areas.  I can't think of a need to add paste - just a 
need to mask it out - so it could be done with one layer - but the layer that is used in the stable 
release is applied as an addition, not a mask.

If the solder-paste layer could be subtracted from the solder-paste gerber that is generated from 
the pads, it would solve this problem easily.



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Karl Schmidt                                  EMail Karl@xxxxxxxxxxxx
Transtronics, Inc.                              WEB http://secure.transtronics.com
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Truth is mighty and will prevail.
There is nothing wrong with this,
except that it ain't so.
--Mark Twain

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