Stencil holder - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: Dago
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: September 16, 2014, 08:35:15 am
content: I'd need a stencil holder for small time prototyping work (at work) but I'm having problems finding anything suitable.Should be something fairly affordable like... 300€ max. or so. Not one of those "production" kind of jigs that cost upwards of 1200€.I have experience with thishttp://www.beta-estore.com/rkuk/order_product_details.html?p=64and it's ok but a bit fiddly so I wouldn't mind trying out something else.Can you recommend me any stencil holders?Preferably from EU.

author: tggzzz
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 16, 2014, 09:08:26 am
content: Quote from: Dago on September 16, 2014, 08:35:15 amFor prototyping, you might just consider the quick'n'dirty technique with spare PCBs, seehttps://www.sparkfun.com/tutorials/58

author: Precipice
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: September 16, 2014, 09:17:11 am
content: If you've got control over your PCB and stencil, so you can put dowel holes in,https://www.tindie.com/products/arachnidlabs/pcb-tooling-block-full-grid/is tempting.Well, it's tempting me! (No experience with it, but I've got other stencil holders that are variously unsatisfying).

author: Dago
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: September 16, 2014, 10:40:47 am
content: Quote from: Precipice on September 16, 2014, 09:17:11 amThat looks perfect but it's backordered :| You could always make some guides from PCB that would have the holes that would enable you to position the boards without 2.5mm holes on the boards themselves (which might be difficult on space constrained boards).

author: jc101
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: September 16, 2014, 10:51:24 am
content: EuroCircuits have a registration system you can add to boards and stencils when ordering, but they publish the dimensions used...http://www.eurocircuits.com/ec-solutions/ec-registration-systemWith these holes in the right place they also sell a ex-stencil-Fix which can be seen herehttp://be.eurocircuits.com/shop/offtheshelf/product.aspx?ano=ec-stencil-fixIt's only 15 euro's and quite handy, and if you use their dimensions you don't need them to also make the boards and stencils.

author: odingalt
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: September 17, 2014, 05:12:05 am
content: For cheap I've just used plastic guide pieces (similar to sparkfun's method using spare PCB's) and have had good luck. Basically my material list is:-guide piece that is same thickness as your PCB to be printed-your plate only prototype stencil foil-some masking tapeI've printed down to 0.50mm with this setup with no problems.

author: tszaboo
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 17, 2014, 06:32:53 am
content: Quote from: jc101 on September 16, 2014, 10:51:24 amI've used this some time ago, and indeed, this is the amount of money I would spend on a hobby project. It is simple, and does the job, if you have the standard 1.6mm PCB with the mounting holes described by them. The whole thing is made from FR4 btw.

author: odingalt
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: September 17, 2014, 02:41:33 pm
content: Cheap stencil holder example in this video:In this particular case the stencil and plastic holder was purchased fromwww.quickstencil.com(I'm in the USA).

author: zapta
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 17, 2014, 03:49:46 pm
content: Quote from: odingalt on September 17, 2014, 05:12:05 amSame experience here. OshStencils sells those 1.6mm L shape plastic holdershttp://www.oshstencils.com/pricing.phpI later made my own from laser cut 1/16" acryilic, design files are here (three different sizes)https://github.com/zapta/misc/tree/master/prototyping/pcb_bracketsNo problem with 0.5mm pitch. Just get good metal stencils, the plastic one are not as great for 0.5mm.

author: Dago
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: September 18, 2014, 05:41:45 am
content: Quote from: NANDBlog on September 17, 2014, 06:32:53 amThis is actually work work, thus the "big" budget