Excellent article about manual paste application
Posted: Tue Jul 10, 2018 8:04 am
I got the link from OpenPnP list: http://www.homanndesigns.com/info/index ... -a-stencil
A late reply, but relevant to the linked article.
I have a kit for making holes on a precise 96mm grid (actually for a woodworking table)
https://www.axminstertools.com/global/i ... de-system/
This comes with pins that have a 3mm diam base, with a 10mm diam top part. I layout my schematic and PCB with DipTrace which provides an easy panelisation option. I set the edge rails to 15mm and layout two 3mm holes on the bottom rail (at multiple of 96mm spacing), and an additional hole on the left rail if required for small boards (96mm up from the bottom left hole). I add concentric 10mm paste mask circles that will be etched out in the stencil.
From there it is easy to create an MDF layout board with the 3mm holes on a 96mm grid, place the PCB board using the pins and slip the stencil over the top.