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Date: Sat, 3 Feb 2024 17:29:39 +0100
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Subject: [geda-user] Solder mask commands?
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From: "Richard Rasker (rasker AT linetec DOT nl) [via geda-user AT delorie DOT com]" <geda-user AT delorie DOT com>
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Hello,

I recently got an urgent request from a PCB manufacturer to stop 
defining 'oversize' solder mask in my gerber files -- i.e. they want the 
solder mask opening to be exactly the same as the pad size, after which 
they will create the optimal oversize for their production. This is a 
bit of a pain, since I am used to define a small oversize (usually 0.1 
mm) for the boards that I order and process myself. I can't seem to find 
an easy way to change the mask size except Ctrl+K (with solder mask 
selected) for each individual pad, which would be extremely laborious 
and error-prone as well -- especially as I use millimeters as units, 
while lots of solder mask sizes are still in mils.

Question: is it possible to set the solder mask gap to match pad sizes 
for all elements in one go? When I look at the pad definition, I see 
that the solder mask is defined in the same way as the thickness, so it 
should not be set to zero (otherwise the pad would of course be 
completely covered). I tried several pcb commands like MinClearGap, but 
that doesn't look right (I can't even see what it does).

The only alternative I see is to create a script that seeks out lines 
with pad elements, then takes the thickness, and copies that to the mask 
parameter - but that is quite a bit of work, especially given that I'll 
be migrating to pcb-rnd pretty soon.

Thanks already,

Richard