Barbara- That's usually a job done in CAM--the PCB fab usually will contact you if they feel like doing it. Teardropping drastically reduces the probability that minor breakout due to layer stackup lamination issues, over etching, or drill mis-targeting will cause a continuity failure. But if your annular ring is 5mils or greater, the probability is probably pretty darned small anyway. Wayne Thayer >>> [log in to unmask] 7/6/2006 9:17 am >>> Hey Y'all, It is my habit to teardrop a trace coming into a through-hole pad if the trace is 5 mils or less and the annular ring of the pad is 5 mils or less. Does this improve manufacturability of the bare board, protect against drill-out, and fracturing of the point where the trace enters the pad under shock and vibration? Or am I an old-fashioned girl? Barbara Burcham, C.I.D. Sr. PCB Designer RFTrax a Fairfield Co. [log in to unmask] 281-276-5916 281-276-5950 fax --------------------------------------------------- Technet Mail List provided as a service by IPC using LISTSERV 1.8e 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 ----------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------- Technet Mail List provided as a service by IPC using LISTSERV 1.8e 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 -----------------------------------------------------