I know exactly why the fabricator wanted black mask - you cannot see 
copper defects through it.  Back in the 80s in my NAC days, I got to go 
beat up on vendors who had this interesting approach to reducing their 
board defects.  If'n ya can't see the defect, then the defect ain't there.

Doug Pauls



Dennis Fritz <[log in to unmask]> 
Sent by: TechNet <[log in to unmask]>
09/02/2010 09:55 AM
Please respond to
TechNet E-Mail Forum <[log in to unmask]>; Please respond to
Dennis Fritz <[log in to unmask]>


To
[log in to unmask]
cc

Subject
[TN] NTC - Re: [TN] Is green solder mask the default by any IPC standard 
or is it default by common usage?






Interesting comments on solder mask color.  In the dark ages (early 
1980's) I was product manager for solder mask at MacDermid - dating myself 
as they have been out of the mask business for years, now. 

Anyway, legend has it that mask was green to blend with the background 
color of laminate.  Seems the story was that the first adhesion promoter 
for glass fiber to coat with epoxy resin was based on Chromates.  They 
were green, giving the laminate a green tint.  Of course, for good 
environemental reasons the adhesion promoter was changed to silanes, years 
ago.  I heard green tint was added to laminate so there would be less 
customer reaction to the change.  At the same time, there was red 
laminate, blue laminate and black laminate.  Those made really great 
etched/plated wall hangings - Constitutions, Declarations of Independence, 
ships, dogs, etc.  Think more colored laminate was sold for non-work 
projects than for actual boards. 

Solder mask is similar, but does have some useful colors.  A number of 
OEMs use red or blue for static sensitive boards. Of course, there is the 
debate over matte or gloss mask.  The most interesting "custom mixed mask" 
I remember was black.  Not total coverage with black marking ink, a black 
mask.  Fabricator did not want the customer to see the traces under the 
mask - don't know why, but Solder Mask over Bare Copper - SMOBC was a pads 
only version.  Beautiful. 

Denny Fritz






-----Original Message-----
From: Douglas Pauls <[log in to unmask]>
To: TechNet <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Thu, Sep 2, 2010 9:18 am
Subject: Re: [TN] Is green solder mask the default by any IPC standard or 
is it default by common usage?


Gregg,
 have always liked the old military adage that said you can have any 
olor solder mask you want, as long as it is green.
To my knowledge, there is no default color requirement for solder mask in 
ny IPC specification, at least one that is current.  And as I am vice 
hair on the solder mask committee, that is a pretty good estimate.
Doug Pauls

"Temkin, Gregg" <[log in to unmask]> 
ent by: TechNet <[log in to unmask]>
9/01/2010 12:35 PM
lease respond to
echNet E-Mail Forum <[log in to unmask]>; Please respond to
Temkin, Gregg" <[log in to unmask]>

o
[log in to unmask]
c
Subject
TN] Is green solder mask the default by any IPC standard or is it default 
y common usage?



s green solder mask the default by any IPC standard or is it default by 
ommon usage?
In other words, if a drawing does not specify the solder mask color, is 
here a color IPC standards default to, or is it uncontrolled?
Thanks,
Gregg
______________________________________________________________________
his email has been scanned by the MessageLabs Email Security System.
or more information please contact helpdesk at x2960 or [log in to unmask] 
_____________________________________________________________________
---------------------------------------------------
echnet Mail List provided as a service by IPC using LISTSERV 15.0
o unsubscribe, send a message to [log in to unmask] with following text in
he BODY (NOT the subject field): SIGNOFF Technet
o temporarily halt or (re-start) delivery of Technet send e-mail to 
[log in to unmask]: SET Technet NOMAIL or (MAIL)
o receive ONE mailing per day of all the posts: send e-mail to 
[log in to unmask]: SET Technet Digest
earch the archives of previous posts at: http://listserv.ipc.org/archives
lease visit IPC web site http://www.ipc.org/contentpage.asp?Pageid=4.3.16 
or additional information, or contact Keach Sasamori at [log in to unmask] or 
47-615-7100 ext.2815
----------------------------------------------------

______________________________________________________________________
his email has been scanned by the MessageLabs Email Security System.
or more information please contact helpdesk at x2960 or [log in to unmask] 
_____________________________________________________________________
---------------------------------------------------
echnet Mail List provided as a service by IPC using LISTSERV 15.0
o unsubscribe, send a message to [log in to unmask] with following text in
he BODY (NOT the subject field): SIGNOFF Technet
o temporarily halt or (re-start) delivery of Technet send e-mail to 
[log in to unmask]: SET Technet NOMAIL or (MAIL)
o receive ONE mailing per day of all the posts: send e-mail to 
[log in to unmask]: SET Technet Digest
earch the archives of previous posts at: http://listserv.ipc.org/archives
lease visit IPC web site http://www.ipc.org/contentpage.asp?Pageid=4.3.16 
for 
dditional information, or contact Keach Sasamori at [log in to unmask] or 
47-615-7100 ext.2815
----------------------------------------------------


______________________________________________________________________
This email has been scanned by the MessageLabs Email Security System.
For more information please contact helpdesk at x2960 or [log in to unmask] 
______________________________________________________________________

---------------------------------------------------
Technet Mail List provided as a service by IPC using LISTSERV 15.0
To unsubscribe, send a message to [log in to unmask] with following text in
the BODY (NOT the subject field): SIGNOFF Technet
To temporarily halt or (re-start) delivery of Technet send e-mail to 
[log in to unmask]: SET Technet NOMAIL or (MAIL)
To receive ONE mailing per day of all the posts: send e-mail to 
[log in to unmask]: SET Technet Digest
Search the archives of previous posts at: http://listserv.ipc.org/archives
Please visit IPC web site http://www.ipc.org/contentpage.asp?Pageid=4.3.16 
for additional information, or contact Keach Sasamori at [log in to unmask] or 
847-615-7100 ext.2815
-----------------------------------------------------



______________________________________________________________________
This email has been scanned by the MessageLabs Email Security System.
For more information please contact helpdesk at x2960 or [log in to unmask] 
______________________________________________________________________

---------------------------------------------------
Technet Mail List provided as a service by IPC using LISTSERV 15.0
To unsubscribe, send a message to [log in to unmask] with following text in
the BODY (NOT the subject field): SIGNOFF Technet
To temporarily halt or (re-start) delivery of Technet send e-mail to [log in to unmask]: SET Technet NOMAIL or (MAIL)
To receive ONE mailing per day of all the posts: send e-mail to [log in to unmask]: SET Technet Digest
Search the archives of previous posts at: http://listserv.ipc.org/archives
Please visit IPC web site http://www.ipc.org/contentpage.asp?Pageid=4.3.16 for additional information, or contact Keach Sasamori at [log in to unmask] or 847-615-7100 ext.2815
-----------------------------------------------------