Problems autom. corrected by FreeDFM need fix for sparkfun?

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1

This is the first time I’m going to send a PCB to sparkfun and I want everything to be perfect, so I have been reading a lot of information in the web and now I have used FreeDFM to check my design. The output of FreeDFM says:

Show Stoppers:

We found none!

Problems Automatically Fixed:

Insufficient Soldermask Clearance (266 violations)

Insufficient SMT Soldermask Clearance (135 violations)

Insufficient Silkscreen Line Width (98 violations)

The problems about the Soldermask clearance are because my padstacks have the same size in the top and soldermask layers, Advanced Circuits require a 6 mil clearance. The Silk Screen line width are because some of the lines I use are 6 mil, and AC require 7 mils (sparkfun require 8 mils). All these problems have been automatically fixed, so AC could make the board if I’d like it, but will these design have problems with sparkfun? I don’t know if the software you use can fix these problems automatically or if I have to fix them manually…

2

Nothing to say, Sparky???

3

doragasu:
Nothing to say, Sparky???

Patience grasshopper!

If AC corrected them to their minimum tolerances, then they will not pass DRC at Sparkfun. The tolerances at Sparkfun are not suggestions, they are requirements. If you violate clearance by 0.1 mils, your board will not pass.

On the other hand, I’m not sure how strict the DRC is with soldermask and silk layers as they are much less important than the copper layers. You might have to ask Nathan about that one.

-Bill

4

do you have the link to the DFM page?

U might have a problem with a couple of components or something easy to fix. there are images of where the problems are thro the DFM service

5

Here is the link to the FreeDFM page:

https://www.freedfm.com/freedfm/0007749 … mmary2.htm

I hope I have not to correct the problems as I would have to edit the padstacks of all the footprints to eliminate all the violations, and I think the problems arent really important.

6

The problems should not fail sparkfun DRC, silkscreen might give problems. But, i dont know the min silkscreen width.

7

pittuck:
The problems should not fail sparkfun DRC, silkscreen might give problems. But, i dont know the min silkscreen width.

Minimum silkscreen width is 8 mils, see [this thread.

Thanks a lot. I’ll fix the 6 mil traces in the silk screen layer and then I’ll send the desing. Hope it has no problems…](http://www.sparkfun.com/cgi-bin/phpbb/viewtopic.php?t=1199)

8

I’ve done tests at other board houses like the one below and it looks like silkscreens can go down to 2 mil without a problem, so i’m hoping the 8 mil isn’t a hard minimum that you have and its just a guideline.

I think we’ve tried some 6mil text that was unreadable. Gold Phoenix doesn’t seem to mind silkscreen widths - it may just be unreadable.

8mil is the recommended minimum.

9

OK, now I have corrected the problems with the silk screen, here is the link to the FreeDFM page:

https://www.freedfm.com/freedfm/0007749 … mmary2.htm

Now I have been toying with the preliminary Sparkfun.com DRC and it fails in step 3:

.....
Checked Aperture 91 (0.0500): Passed
Checked Aperture 92 (0.0080): Passed
Checked Aperture 93 (0.0060): Failed
        Error - Aperture too thin
Checked Aperture 94 (0.0110): Passed
Checked Aperture 95 (0.0500): Passed
Checked Aperture 96 (0.0200): Passed
.....

I think it should not fail because aperture 93 is defined but it is NOT used, so it should not be a problem… or is it?

10

ok can you email me the layer file:

It might be an old bug i found in the drill checker, where an ‘tool’ is numbered 8 but when the file selects it, it selects 008 or somming. I will have a look.

11

Thanks a lot pittuck for your help, you are THE ONE. The Sparkfun.com DRC now works perfect for me. I have already placed my order. I hope everything is OK!

12

I have received today the mail confirming my design has passed DRC. Thanks a lot to phalanx and pittuck for your help.