I have recently changed companies.  The large company I used to work for
used solder mask on all the boards...  These boards were high-volume, smt
boards.

My new company uses all hand-soldered, through-hole boards with no solder
mask.  When I asked about this
I was given the following explanations:
1) Extra cost
2) Conformal Coating issues with solder mask
3) Hot Glue can't adhere to the solder mask ( I tried this and it seemed ok
to me)

My boss has essentially said that they have always done boards this way and
he needs a reason to change..

I need the following help:

Cost factor delta for solder mask
Any conformal coating issues
Any enviromental advantages obtained with solder mask
Any manufacturing advantages with solder mask for hand-assembled boards...


Thanks
Mike

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