The problems is most likely how the fab house plugged the via holes. ______________________________ Reply Separator _________________________________ Subject: Re: Assy/Fab: Solder in via-hole Author: [log in to unmask] at corp Date: 6/13/96 10:12 AM Dear Technet, I am encountering an issue with a multi-layer board, that the solder side of the board is being masked & plicked as to prevent vacuum leakage during ICT testing. However, there is solder in the via-hole on the component side of the board. As a result, the solder in the via-hole is being pushed out of the via-hole as a solder ball, either during the reflow stage/ wave-soldering process when the board hitted on the wave. This has resulted lot of solder short, unsoldered joint on the SOIC due to some balls trapped underneath the component, had lifted up the component's lead away from the solder pad (stuck in-between the board and the component). I would like to let all these boards to undergo the reflow process as to get rid of the solder in the via-hole, but , is there any other ways to :- 1. resolve this issue temperary, 2. and also a permenant way. Lastly, I would like to know how this happens during PCB being fabricated, and how the PCB manufacturer is able to prevent solder entrapped in the via-hole . Thanks in Advance.. Poh Kong Hui Nera Electronics Email: [log in to unmask]