In a message dated 3/18/99 5:20:58 AM Pacific Standard Time, edward- [log in to unmask] writes: > Hi, > Has anyone done any studies for the change of depth of solder paste > with wear on the stencil. Metal blade squeegees damage the stencil > over a period of time, yielding an uneven surface in the form of > furrows in the direction of travel. Any uneveness in the stencil is > going to hold the blades that much further off the board giving more > solder paste. > Any comments? > Regards > Edward Brunker Hi Edward, I was told once by a gentleman named Bob Jillings, the owner of a stencil company called Screen Manufacturing Technologies (since bought by Alpha Metals), that he would guarantee his stencils for at least 10,000 prints. Not quite sure if the guarantee was based on the bond of the mesh to the foil and frame, or the foil itself...but that's all I've ever heard. I'll admit after thinking about it though, I've used stencils for more than 10,000 prints...stencil did look pretty used after that many prints. I don't know if this helps or not... -Steve Gregory- ################################################################ TechNet E-Mail Forum provided as a free service by IPC using LISTSERV 1.8c ################################################################ To subscribe/unsubscribe, send a message to [log in to unmask] with following text in the body: To subscribe: SUBSCRIBE TechNet <your full name> To unsubscribe: SIGNOFF TechNet ################################################################ Please visit IPC's web site (http://www.ipc.org) "On-Line Services" section for additional information. For technical support contact Hugo Scaramuzza at [log in to unmask] or 847-509-9700 ext.312 ################################################################