Custom drc for stencil aspect ratio > 1.5 area ration >0.66

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1

Hi,

I am wondering if someone already tried to create a custom drc rule to check if the stencil?

it’s suggested to have a stencil aspect ratio > 1.5
and a area ration >0.66

as I know which stencil thickness I am going to use, those values might be auto-checked in a custom drc rule (or an exteranl python tool)

I only found GitHub - HiGregSmith/KiPadCheck: KiCad python script for extra DRC checks involving drill holes, pads, paste, and silk so far, but seems to be a 8 year old code..

and as usual there are expensive commercial tools as Download PCB-Investigator - PCB-Investigator

2

Do I understand it correctly that this “aspect ratio” is not for the stencil itself, but for the solder paste apertures?

I guess that such a function is better added to: Footprint Editor / Inspect / Footprint checker. Thinking about this, I guess that an option to check for rounded corners in solder mask apertures would also be a nice addition for the Footprint Checker.

But when the Footprint Checker gets more functions, and functions that not everybody would want to implement, then adopting the same system that is now used for both ERC and DRC would be a logical step.

Maybe this is worth a feature request?

3

Do I understand it correctly that this “aspect ratio” is not for the stencil itself, but for the solder paste apertures?

as far as I understand “solder paste” is the layer that’s used to produce the stencil so it’s the same.

yes, checking in the footprint editor would be an option, I though that’s possible already..

But you might also want to check this in a final pcb for all included footprints, so I would vote for adding it in both places.

Maybe this is worth a feature request?

just opened: