X-Authentication-Warning: delorie.com: mail set sender to geda-user-bounces using -f
X-Recipient: geda-user AT delorie DOT com
X-Mail-Handler: MailHop Outbound by DynDNS
X-Originating-IP: 99.160.157.208
X-Report-Abuse-To: abuse AT dyndns DOT com (see http://www.dyndns.com/services/mailhop/outbound_abuse.html for abuse reporting information)
X-MHO-User: U2FsdGVkX1937o5R2LwWD/wj8Lo1vHon
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
In-Reply-To: <4F66F040.6000604@neurotica.com>
Message-ID: <alpine.DEB.2.00.1203190144200.23342@zaphod.661.org>
References: <1332124007 DOT 10525 DOT 0 AT kwak> <alpine DOT DEB DOT 2 DOT 00 DOT 1203182229570 DOT 23342 AT zaphod DOT 661 DOT org> <4F66D542 DOT 3050404 AT keensupport DOT net> <alpine DOT DEB DOT 2 DOT 00 DOT 1203190126470 DOT 23342 AT zaphod DOT 661 DOT org> <4F66F040 DOT 6000604 AT neurotica DOT com>
User-Agent: Alpine 2.00 (DEB 1167 2008-08-23)
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: TEXT/PLAIN; charset=US-ASCII; format=flowed
Reply-To: geda-user AT delorie DOT com
Errors-To: nobody AT delorie DOT com
X-Mailing-List: geda-user AT delorie DOT com
X-Unsubscribes-To: listserv AT delorie DOT com
Precedence: bulk

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