Via solder mask opening

[Anonymous]

Dear Team

I'm using EAGLE 9.4.2 on a MacBook Pro Mojave. I created a 2-layered PCB and gerber files using OSHPARK's DRC file.

https://docs.oshpark.com/design-tools/eagle/design-rules-files/

Surprisingly, the PCB manufacturer said the vias had a "solder mask opening"; the vias were exposed so that I can solder the via.

I don't want the vias to be exposed like this. What configuration I have to change to unexposed this?

Or do I have to set something from the CAMJob part?

[jorge_garcia · Accepted solution]

Hello @Anonymous,

I hope you're having a great day. Go into the DRC > Masks tab, the setting you want to change is Limit. Any vias whose drills are lower than the limit value will be unexposed(covered with soldermask). So the key is to change that limit value so that it's slightly larger than the drills you want covered.

Let me know if there's anything else I can do for you.

Best Regards,

[Anonymous]

Thanks, ​Jorge

Instead of 0mil, do you mean I should increase the value for the limit?

[jorge_garcia]

Hello @Anonymous,

I hope you're doing well. That is exactly what I'm saying, set the limit value such that it is larger than the drills you want covered by stop mask.

Let me know if there's anything else I can do for you.

Best Regards,

[Anonymous]

Deeply appreciate your help, Jorge.

One last question before closing; then can I simply set the limit value so high (like 100 mils) so that I don't have to worry about the vias getting exposed?

I'm quite surprised that the default value given to me is zero.

[jorge_garcia]

Hi xorbs1228,

I hope you're having a great day. You don't want to set the Limit value arbitrarily high. If you have through-hole components you need to solder, setting the limit value high will cause your through hole component pads to get covered with stop mask and you wouldn't be able to solder your components.

That's why we set the limit value to zero by default. The safest option is to have all of the drills exposed

Let me know if there's anything else I can do for you.

Best Regards,