SolderMask Relief Walt - I would strongly recommend that you do 1:1's on your solder mask as opposed to designing in a relief. Let the board shop grow the mask to match their process. If the board shop can't provide mask between the pads without "windowing", then check with other board shops and see if they can do it. Ed Valentine Electronics Manufacturing Solutions 8612 Mourning Dove Road, Raleigh, NC 27615 Phone: (919) 270-5145, Fax: (919) 847-9971 Email: [log in to unmask] Website: http://www.ems-consulting.com ----- Original Message ----- From: Bondarenko, Walt To: [log in to unmask] Sent: Monday, August 27, 2001 3:45 PM Subject: [DC] SolderMask Relief Hello Everyone, A question has been brought to me. What is the smallest soldermask relief to a surface mount pad being used in today's world. I'm being told that a 5 mil relief is a good safe number, however, with parts that are 10 mil pitch that a 3 mil or less should be used. What have some of you run into? Walter Bondarenko PCB Designer Andrew Corporation Amplifier Products Division - AYP 281 Industrial Road Glen Rock, PA 17327 (717) 505-0269 [log in to unmask]