SMT Stencil Knowledge,Design Rules&Printing Techniques

Stencil Manufacturing

What Are Laser Cut Stencils？ A Guide for PCB Assembly

Traditional PCB assembly processes require the manual placement of electronic components before soldering. However, the increasing complexity of electronic printed circuit boards, combined with the need for miniaturisation, necessitates mechanical assembly and solder paste application using SMT stencils. Placing and soldering many small components on a small circuit board is no longer practical.Stencils replace the hand soldering of surface mount components and the inconsistencies caused by hand solde......

Dec 27, 2025

Stencil Technology

How does Electropolishing Work in PCB Stencil

To ensure optimum solder paste release, PCB stencil producers must offer superior finishes. One method for enhancing the functionality of stencils is electropolishing. How does electropolishing improve PCB stencils, and what is it? The continuous application of laser beams during the PCB stencil-making process causes the opening or aperture wall to become rough. This occurs as a result of the sheet material being melted by the laser beam, which causes certain surface irregularities. Electropolishing i......

Dec 27, 2025

Stencil Technology

Types of Solder Stencils: Laser-Cut, Electroformed and Etched

I had covered a lot of stencils in the past, they are awesome tools for an electronics designer. At this point everyone knows they are a simple thin piece of steel which acts as a mask for soldering paste. Once applied we can put the components and heat them. And we have our PCB ready! Too simple. Although there are some steps which we have to look into such as soldering paste thermal profile and heating process of the PCB. If heated in the wrong way components can also be damaged. Today we are not go......

Dec 29, 2025

Stencil Technology

SMT Stencil Design Tips for Improving Solder Paste Deposition

Solder paste deposition through stencil is a method to mass produce the units. Even with advanced placement machines and reflow profiles. Defects like bridging - tombstoning and insufficient solder joints can often be traced back to poor stencil design. Proper stencil design helps in achieving consistent and high-quality solder joints. As component sizes continue to shrink and circuit densities increase, JLCPCB provides high-precision stencils with options like step designs, electropolishing, and nano......

Dec 26, 2025

Stencil Manufacturing

SMD Stencils in Prototyping vs Mass Production

SMD stencils are known for mass production and easy solder paste dispensing. They are widely used in the industry. The stencils are very useful when you are mass-producing a unit. Today, we are not going into physics or manufacturing but talking about the different use case scenarios. However, the stencil requirements for prototyping are quite different from those in mass production. In mass production, we need yield, the better the yield more efficient the production. For these needs, JLCPCB offers c......

Dec 22, 2025

Stencil Technology

When to Choose Electroformed Stencils

A high-quality PCB stencil is necessary for accurate solder paste application. Ordering PCB stencil is simple with JLCPCB, no matter whether you're working on small-scale production or prototypes. The method of electroforming involves depositing atoms one after the other to create metal, stencils, or pieces. This method turns a mandrel or master surface into an extremely exact duplicate. Another notable feature of electroforming is its repeatability. With 0.01-mil increments, electroform stencils can ......

Dec 24, 2025

Stencil Technology

Stencil Cleaning Methods: Manual vs Automatic

For precise and reliable solder paste pattern application on the PCB pads in Surface Mount Technology (SMT) printed circuit board assembly, stencils are utilized. To keep the print quality high and avoid mistakes, it's important to clean the cutouts often. Although automatic stencil cleaners are frequently used in manufacturing, hand cleaning is recommended when assembling prototype PCBs or in smaller quantities. Because it determines the process's yield and return on investment, stencil cleaning is a......

Dec 25, 2025

Stencil Technology

How Nano Coatings Affect Stencil Performance in SMT Printing

The undersides and edges of solder paste stencils are treated with a thin layer of nano coating, which is oleophobic (oil repellent) and hydrophobic (water resistant). This makes the surface non-stick, which lowers the number of cleaning cycles needed for the printing process using solder paste. The less than 5 nanometer coating does not alter the stencil's size or shape upon application; instead, it forms a tiny bond with the stencil foil.JLCPCB offers nano-coated stencils that leverage this technolo......

Dec 20, 2025

Stencil Manufacturing

Design Guidelines for Industry-Standard Solder Stencil

Solder paste printing is one of the most important processes in PCB assembly, and the design of a stencil directly affects the quality of solder paste application. In a previous article, we discussed stencils and their types in detail. JLCPCB’s advanced stencil options, including step-up/step-down and nano-coated stencils, help engineers achieve higher printing accuracy and assembly reliability. In electronics hardware design, following proper design rules is just as crucial as having the right tools.......

Dec 19, 2025

Stencil Technology

A Beginners Guide to Step-Up and Step-Down Stencils

As everyone knows, companies are moving down to 2nm, and electronics are at their peak right now. The component sizes of a PCB likewise drastically shrink during a ten-year period. From 1206, BGAs have shrunk to 0402, 0201, and even smaller. Due to the small size of the components and the requirement for high throughput, defects such as tombstoning, bridging, or poor connections may occur during the soldering process. To address these challenges, specialized stencil technologies such as step-up and st......

Dec 19, 2025

Stencil Technology

How to Choose a SMT Stencil

What is a SMT stencil? SMT Stencil is a thin metal sheet used in the soldering process for SMT (Surface Mount Technology) and it plays an essential role in the SMT soldering process. Smt Stencil allows the direct placement of solder paste onto the SMD pads of PCB, which can help prevent errors and defects during the reflow soldering process. This results in a precise amount of tin coverage once the work is completed. Types of SMT Stencils Depending on the application of solder paste, there are three d......

Jan 30, 2024

Stencil Manufacturing

The Importance of High Precision in PCB Stencil Manufacturing

PCB stencils play a crucial role in the manufacturing process, especially when dealing with small pitch components. High precision in stencil manufacturing ensures accurate solder paste deposition, which is essential for reliable and high-performance electronic assemblies. In this article, we will highlight the importance of high precision in stencil manufacturing using an example from JLCPCB. We will also demonstrate the exact manufactured dimensions compared to the desired dimensions using measureme......

Jul 11, 2024

Stencil Technology

Nano-Coatings in PCB Manufacturing: How They Outperform Traditional Stencils

Nano coating is a thin hydrophobic (water repellent) and oleophobic (oil repellent) treatment used on the undersides and edges of solder paste stencils. With this the surface becomes non-stick which reduces the number of cleaning cycles required for the solder paste printing process. Upon application, the less than 5 nanometer coating bonds with the stencil foil at the microscopic level, which does not change the size and shape of the stencil. Nano coating is an industry proven process which shows imm......

Aug 15, 2025

Stencil Manufacturing

Unlocking the Secrets of Nano-Coated Stencil Manufacturing

Nano-Coated Stencil Manufacturing Process The manufacturing of nano-coated stencils involves a series of precision engineering steps including design and drafting, laser cutting, polishing, nano-coating deposition, and quality inspection. Below is a detailed description of each process stage: 1. Design and Drafting (1) Data Acquisition: Accurate data is obtained from customer-supplied design files (e.g., Gerber files, PCB layouts) or physical product samples. This includes stencil dimensions, pad layo......

Apr 21, 2025

Stencil Technology

SAM vs Ceramic: Choosing the Right Nano-Coating for Your PCB Stencil

As SMT designs evolve, tighter pitches and smaller components are introduced in electronics. Traditional stencil services can be used for bigger SMD pads but as the innovation goes on nano coated stencils comes to the market. Nano coatings are hydrophobic and oleophobic and repel water, oil and solder paste flux. Some benefits of using these coatings are improved transfer efficiency, reduced need (or frequency) of underside cleaning, and reduced bridging after print. There are two types of Nano-coatin......

Aug 29, 2025

Stencil Technology

Reducing Solder Bridging and Cleaning Costs with Nano-Coated Stencils

The ongoing trend for miniaturization of electronic devices ensures that the surface mount assembly process will continue to provide new challenges. Components and stencil apertures are getting smaller and tighter in pitch. The demands on the solder paste printing process require improvements in technology. Nano-coatings for stencils have been available for many years. The coatings are supplied in two common forms. The most common form is a multiple step liquid coating which is applied by wiping onto ......

Aug 29, 2025

Stencil Technology

The Essential Guide to SMT Stencils in PCB Assembly

Introduction In the dynamic world of electronics manufacturing, Surface Mount Technology (SMT) plays a crucial role in achieving efficiency and precision in printed circuit board (PCB) assembly. Central to the SMT process is the SMT stencil, an indispensable tool for the accurate application of solder paste. This ensures solid electrical connections between components and PCBs. This guide delves into the specifics of SMT stencils, examining their types, materials, manufacturing methods, advantages, ch......

Dec 30, 2025

Stencil Technology

Why PCB Stencil Are Key to High-Quality SMT Assembly

PCB(Printed Circuit Board) stencil is a critical component of Surface Mount Technology (SMT) assembly. It plays a vital role in ensuring the accuracy and consistency of SMT assembly results, which directly affects the functionality and performance of the final product. PCB stencil also called SMT stencil, Circuit Board stencil is used to apply solder paste to the PCB, which is then used to attach SMT components to the board. Without the use of PCB stencil, it becomes challenging to achieve high-qualit......

Jul 28, 2023