Create Footprint with custom pad has solder mask issue

[HiZTrace]

Ultiboard 12 (12.0.653)

When I create a new footprint with normal pads, everything works fine. When I add a custom pad to the footprint or make the footprint with all custom pads, the solder mask does not work correctly.

The attached photo of the Footprint edit mode pad 1.jpg shows 16 standard pads along with three custom pads. The solder mask layer is turned on along with the Copper top layer. All pins should be the same light color. The custom pads are purple. (When you first create the footprint they are green instead of purple).

When a part is placed on the board there is a solder mask shown for all pins like pad2.jpg. If you turn off the solder mask layer the normal pins appear green but the custom pins disappear as shown in pad 3.jpg.

To get around this problem I edited the part in the data base by turning off the soldermask check box for each custom pad pin, then manually created a mask on the solder mask layer for each custom pin.

These custom pads are new pads just created and old custom pads known to work in previous ultiboard versions.

I didn't see any similar messages in the forum. Is this a known issue?

Michael

[HiZTrace]

Sorry Photo pad2.jpg and pad3.jpg are reversed..

[HiZTrace]

Additional information,

While in the footprint edit mode if the Solder Mask Top layer is on, or dimmed, along with the Copper Top Layer, the custom pads are difficult to select. Clicking the pad anywhere within the pad will not select the pad, you have to draw a box around them to select them.

However if you turn off the Solder Mask Top layer, you can select them by clicking anywhere in the pad area.

Michael

[Tien_P]

Hi Michael,

I was able to replicate this problem, Ultiboard doesn't want to place solder mask on the bottom layer and on top solder mask, and you have to play around with the pad settings to turn on the solder mask.  I will let the developers know about this problem. To work around this issue, you can do following:

1.  Make the solder top or bottom the active layer in the Design Toolbox and then select Place>>Graphics, manually draw the soldermask over your custom pad.

2.  If your custom pad is an odd shape and you don't want to redraw it, you can create a component with only one custom pad.  Save the component and then place the component on the work area by itself. Next select File>>Export>>DXF, export just the copper top layer.  Now, create your component and before exiting Footprint Edit mode, select File>>Import>>DXF, merge the DXF you generated to the solder mask top and bottom. When you imported the DXF file, there may be several independent objects and you can’t move them together.  In this case, create a window around the DXF data you just imported and then select Edit>>Group Selection to group the DXF data as one object now you can move everything at the same time.  

[Chris75]

Hello

I have the same problem, When i manage to active the "solder Mask" (by clicking around a lot) the copper is gone.....

Regards,

Chris.

[SarahH]

Same problem with UB12.  It does appear to show up correctly in the design, just not in the editor, which is pretty annoying when you're trying to create the part.

[Tien_P]

Hi Sarah,

Please go to ni.com\support and create a service request number. I like to see this problem in V12.  I think I can help in V12 if I can see your file.

[SarahH]

once I exited out of UB and reopened, it showed up okay in the editor - so the problem is gone.

Thanks though!

[SarahH]

Still have a problem with this, I'm doing some testing and will enter a ticket with details.