<Metal Mask>

There are many ranges of Screen Printer, various types of machines and its software specifications, followed by the price range. This has widen selections of users in SMT industry.

Is Screen Printer determines printing quality and its accurracy?
Not at all, Stencil is also one of the determinants.

PCB designs, the material of mask, the thickness, the pattern of circuit, other electronic components are elements to be considered as well in order to customize the most suitable metal mask.

The accuracy of a metal mask is required to avoid cpomponents more than fine pitch and leads to high density.

Mainly, there are 3 types of mask - edging, additive and laser-cut. The made of material is vary for intance stainless, niclle, plastic, with or without coating which leads the cost of price differ widely. We must tolerate with the information abovementioned into consideration of the thickness of mask, the opening size and its shape.

                              

          Edge                            Additive                         Laser

Photo: Showing the 3 types of Metal Mask.

Most of the users will select "Laser-Cut" in term of cost of price as their prior consideration and secondly, followed by the quality produced. However, the coarseness of the surface is depending on the assurance of the quality of mask manufacturers or suppliers which is inevitable.

High quality and precise accuracy of a mask leads easy setup of printing parameter, though we still could see many uncertain cases incurred because of complete knowledge of using mask especially the perfect and precise setting of printing parameter.

:: Quoted by Mr. Boggy, October 2009 ::