Message-ID: <4FF4464F.6050500@gmail.com>
Date: Wed, 04 Jul 2012 09:34:07 -0400
From: Tim van Boxtel <tim DOT vanboxtel AT gmail DOT com>
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To: geda-user AT delorie DOT com
Subject: Re: [geda-user] Solder Mask Invert - Gerber Export
References: <4FF3BA13 DOT 5000102 AT gmail DOT com> <20120703215632 DOT 7a3ebd55 AT svelte>
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Reply-To: geda-user AT delorie DOT com

On 12-07-04 12:56 AM, Colin D Bennett wrote:
> On Tue, 03 Jul 2012 23:35:47 -0400
> Tim van Boxtel <tim DOT vanboxtel AT gmail DOT com> wrote:
>
>> Hi all,
>>
>> Is there a way to invert the solder mask during a gerber export
>> using the most recent pcb release?
>>
>> The gerber exporter always creates a negative of the final solder
>> mask. I am trying out a hobby batch pcb service, osh park, with a
>> simple 2-layer board with no solder mask openings on the rear
>> side. The online bot processing my project is complaining that my
>> rear solder mask layer is empty, which it is!  I want the entire
>> surface masked.  To date, this negative has been understood by
>> all of the manufacturers that I have dealt with.  I am thinking
>> this may be a bug with the bot interface, but I would like to
>> make sure.
>>
>> A search of the mailing list turned up some threads from many
>> years ago, hinting at this, but the functionality has seem to
>> have been lost.  Is there an easy way to do this?
> I use OSH Park with pcb and it works perfectly, but I haven't had a
> blank bottom solder mask.
This is my test run with them.  The price is most definitely right. My 
board is tiny (1"x1"), so I'm paying just over $10 for 3 copies with tax 
and intl. shipping to Canada.  The site claims to expect a 2 weeks lead 
time.  So far, I'm impressed.
>
> If you uploaded a bottom-solder gerber file, can you just omit it
> from your submission?  Does that fix things?
>
> If you can't figure it out, email Laen and he'll surely get it
> figured out (but you may have to wait a while since he's very busy
> these days).
>
> Or, as a quick and just-a-little-dirty kludge, you could
> intentionally add something to cause a solder mask opening on the
> bottom side, so pcb will export a bottom-mask gerber (e.g., put a
> solder mask clearance around a via).
I chose the quick and dirty way, and opened up the mask for one via a 
little bit.  The bot was happy after that.
>
> Regards,
> Colin

-- 
Cheers,

Tim van Boxtel