How to select the correct solder mask for your PCB?
Seen a solder mask on the PCB? Well, you must have seen it a couple of times without realising that it is a solder mask that you are looking at. The top green colour layer on the PCB is the solder mask which helps in preventing visual fatigue while assembling, providing considerable aid during the inspection and delivers protective cover for the conductors. To protect the metal elements on the circuit board from oxidation, a solder mask or solder stop mask is one of the crucial steps in the PCB process. The solder mask is also called solder resist since it gives you some amount of control over where the solder bits will land on the board. While selecting the correct solder mask for your PCB you need to consider your assembly process. Thus, the different categories of solder masks are: Liquid epoxy solder mask: This is the most cost-effective and easy solder mask option available in which a woven mesh is used to provide the support needed for ink-blocking patterns. The thermosetting p