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Date:	Mon, 19 Mar 2012 01:52:28 -0700 (PDT)
From:	David Griffith <dave AT 661 DOT org>
To:	geda-user AT delorie DOT com
Subject:	Re: [geda-user] soldermask and edge connectors
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On Mon, 19 Mar 2012, Dave McGuire wrote:

> On 03/19/2012 04:30 AM, David Griffith wrote:
>>>>>> I'm trying to make an edge connector footprint. First, I want to
>>>>>> make sure that the soldermask is clear of the fingers except at the
>>>>>> root where traces connect.
>>>>> 
>>>>> Do the connector footprint with two pads per finger. Reduce mask size
>>>>> of one pad to zero vie the command line interface.
>>>> 
>>>> I tried this and the result was soldermask going everywhere but the
>>>> finger. I want the entire area where the fingers are clear of
>>>> soldermask. I can do that by increasing the mask clearance, but I get
>>>> scalloped edges.
>> 
>> I think I garbled myself with this one. When I converted the buffer to
>> an element, I then changed the pins from round to square. This cured the
>> problem of scalloped edged of soldermask. I still have a problem with
>> the need to cover part of the fingers with soldermask. There's also an
>> issue with soldermask. Two fingers are longer than the rest, extending
>> to the very edge of board whereas the other fingers are set back
>> slightly. How can I make sure the empty area between the fingers and the
>> edge is kept clear of soldermask?
>
>  This is just an off-the-wall idea, but would it make sense to use an unused 
> layer, place a polygon on it, tell pcb to clear the soldermask around that 
> polygon, and then just don't use that layer for anything else?  Make it a 
> sort of "soldermask keep-away layer".  Then just don't send that gerber file 
> to fab.

That looks like the ticket...  Now how do I toggle soldermask clearing 
for a layer?  The layer area of preferences doesn't seem to 
have anything applicable.

-- 
David Griffith
dave AT 661 DOT org

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