{"id":17932,"date":"2017-08-25T08:00:33","date_gmt":"2017-08-25T15:00:33","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.autodesk.com\/products\/eagle\/blog\/?p=1523"},"modified":"2023-09-25T12:01:57","modified_gmt":"2023-09-25T19:01:57","slug":"getting-started-solder-paste-stencils","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.autodesk.com\/products\/fusion-360\/blog\/getting-started-solder-paste-stencils\/","title":{"rendered":"Getting Started with Solder Paste Stencils"},"content":{"rendered":"<h1 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"from-tht-to-smt-everything-you-need-to-know-to-get-started-with-solder-paste-stencils\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">From THT to SMT: Everything You Need to Know to Get Started with Solder Paste Stencils<\/span><\/h1>\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Soldering is all about efficiency. If you&#8217;re spending hours soldering all of those SMD components on your latest prototype, then we feel your pain. Isn\u2019t there a faster way to do this? Back in the day when through-hole components dominated electronics design, manual soldering was the way to go for hobbyist designers. With a soldering iron and flux in hand, it was easy to attach leads to your board. But these days, when devices can fit in your pocket or on your wrist, through-hole components are being pushed aside for their miniaturized counterparts, Surface Mount Devices (SMDs). These tiny components are more difficult to solder by hand, and if you find yourself with dozens of prototypes to assemble you need a more efficient way to get those components on your board. If you\u2019re just getting started with your first prototype, or maybe you\u2019re looking for a faster way to assemble all of your SMD components, then it\u2019s time to consider <\/span><b>solder paste stenciling<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"what-are-solder-paste-stencils\">What are Solder Paste Stencils?<\/h2>\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Solder paste stenciling is the process of using a stencil made out of metal or a polymer to quickly apply solder paste to all of the pads on your bare board. This stencil contains a bunch of holes in it, which represents all of the SMD footprint pads on your board layout.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-large size-full wp-image-1524\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.autodesk.com\/products\/fusion-360\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/eagle\/2017\/08\/solder_paste_stencil.jpg\" alt=\"solder-paste\\-stencil\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><em>A solder paste stencil made out of metal, perfect for hundreds of prototype applications. (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.itmconsulting.com\/?product=stencilpro-3-0-stencil-aperture-calculator\">Image source<\/a>)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">When you lay this stencil over your bare board, you can squeegee a layer of solder paste over it, leaving a nice, uniform layer of solder on all of your SMD pads. This makes it easy to assemble your next prototype, where the natural alternative is to apply solder one pad at a time with a syringe, then times that by 100, 200&#8230;1000!?<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The core component of solder paste stenciling is, of course, the solder paste. If this is your first time working with this gray-colored goo, then it\u2019s good to know what it does. Solder paste serves three primary functions:<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><b>Binding. <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It helps to bind surface mount components to your circuit board during the assembly process.<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><b>Connecting. <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It provides connectivity between every pad on your PCB and every pin on your components. <\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><b>Cleaning. <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">When melting solder paste in a reflow or wave-soldering oven, the solder will clean the copper to help minimize any oxidation damage.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Without solder paste, you wouldn\u2019t have a way to attach components to your bare board, and it\u2019s the glue that holds your entire electronics project together.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-large size-full wp-image-1525\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.autodesk.com\/products\/fusion-360\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/eagle\/2017\/08\/1206_done.jpg\" alt=\"solder-on-component\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><em>Melted solder forms a solid connection between the pads and the leads on components like these 1206 packages. (<a href=\"http:\/\/store.curiousinventor.com\/guides\/Surface_Mount_Soldering\/Resistor\">Image source<\/a>)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">When purchasing solder paste, you\u2019ll find it available in a tube, a syringe or a Jar form. Within these containers, you\u2019ll find powdered solder, which is gray, suspended in another material called flux. Flux acts as a temporary glue when you first attach SMD components to your board, allowing parts to be held in place before the solder is melted. When it comes time to put your board through a reflow oven, the flux will give way to the solder, which melts to form a solder connection between every pad on your SMD components. Solder paste comes in a variety of compositions, including:<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Tin-lead or tin-silver-copper varieties for standard plastic component packages being assembled on an FR-4 epoxy circuit board.<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">There\u2019s also tin-antimony solder paste which is used on PCBs that require greater resistance to tension and strain. <\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You\u2019ll find lead-free solder as an alternative to traditional tin-lead. This requires a higher melting point and is harder to work with, but meets RoHS and REACH regulations for lead-free electronics. <\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">When purchasing solder paste for stenciling, you\u2019ll want to purchase it in a jar from a company like Kester. This will make it easy to apply a glob of solder paste on your plastic stencils. You\u2019ll have two types to choose from, \u201cno clean\u201d or water-soluble. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-large size-full wp-image-1526\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.autodesk.com\/products\/fusion-360\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/eagle\/2017\/08\/Solder_Paste_Jar.jpg\" alt=\"solder-paste-jar\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><em>A typical jar of solder paste, just what you need for stenciling.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cNo clean\u201d solder paste contains a rosin made from tree sap that makes it safe to leave solder residue on your PCB. If you get some of this paste on your board during the stenciling process, you won\u2019t have to clean it off. However, if you need to clean any excess paste off of your board, then consider picking up a water soluble version, which can be removed by gently whipping it away with an IPA soaked kimwipe. This type is also known for its improved thermal stability, allowing higher soldering temperatures.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">When you get your solder paste in the mail, you\u2019ll want to be sure to keep it refrigerated between 0-10\u00b0C (32-50\u00b0F). Storing solder paste at this temperature will help to reduce any oxidation and degradation of the flux.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You\u2019ll also want to keep an eye on the expiration date for your solder paste, as using solder beyond its shelf life will definitely increase the risk of defects. While it might not be a big deal if you use expired paste on a few prototype PCBs, you can imagine how the costs can mount up if you\u2019re working with hundreds of PCBs and your paste ends up producing poor connections.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"why-solder-paste-stenciling\">Why Solder Paste Stenciling?<\/h2>\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Soldering with a stencil is all about saving time and staying efficient. It might be easy to whip out that iron to solder through-hole components, but working with SMD components presents an entirely new challenge for our clumsy hands with smaller contact pad connections. When using a solder paste stencil, you get the following benefits:<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><b>Uniformity. <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You\u2019ll ensure that you apply an even amount of solder paste across every SMD pad on your PCB.<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><b>Efficiency. <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You can apply solder paste to your entire board all at once instead of one pad at a time. <\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><b>Reliability. <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You\u2019ll get a reliably assembled board since each pad receives the same amount of solder paste.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Using a solder paste stencil is a rapid process and requires just a couple swipes of a credit card or a metal squeegee to apply a nice, even coating to all of the SMD pads on your PCB. But this method isn\u2019t just used in hobbyist electronics projects at home. You\u2019ll also find solder paste stenciling used by manufacturers all around the world.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">After your board is fabricated by your manufacturer, they will then apply a layer of solder paste on all of your board\u2019s SMD based using a stencil. Once the paste is applied, your board will then be placed in a pick-and-place machine where all of the SMD components are set. Here, the flux in the solder paste keeps all of the components in place until the board is cooked.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-large size-full wp-image-1527\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.autodesk.com\/products\/fusion-360\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/eagle\/2017\/08\/dual-on-the-fly-vision.jpg\" alt=\"pick-and-place-machines\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><em>Pick and place machines do quick work of applying SMD components to a bare board. (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.manncorp.com\/pick-and-place-med-high-volume-mc385v2v.html\">Image source<\/a>)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">With all of the SMD components on your board, it will then go through either a reflow soldering or wave soldering oven. In a wave soldering process, your PCB passes over a wave of molten solder which melts all of the solder on your board. This Is the ideal manufacturing process when you have both through-hole and SMD components on your PCB. The alternative is reflow soldering, where your board is sent through a large industrial oven with reflow heat applied to the top of your board, which melts the solder on your SMD pads.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">At home, you\u2019ll typically go through this entire manufacturing process with some slight modifications. Instead of an industrial soldering oven, many hobbyist designers use a smaller hot-solder oven or a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sparkfun.com\/products\/10706\">hot-air rework station<\/a> and some even get the job done with an electric skillet or modified toaster oven. Instead of a pick-and-place machine, you\u2019ll likely be leveraging your manual dexterity skills with the help of tweezers to place all of your components. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-large size-full wp-image-1528\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.autodesk.com\/products\/fusion-360\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/eagle\/2017\/08\/Hot-Plate-Reflow-1.jpg\" alt=\"Hot-Plate-Reflow\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><em>This reflow soldering skillet provides an affordable soldering option. (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.sparkfun.com\/tutorials\/59\">Image source<\/a>)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"choosing-a-solder-paste-stencil\">Choosing a Solder Paste Stencil<\/h2>\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">When you\u2019re ready to order your first solder paste stencil, you have to decide what material you want it made it out of, metal or polyimide. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><b>Metal Stencil<\/b><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">We recommend getting a stencil made out of some kind of metal, generally, stainless steel, if you know you\u2019ll be using it for hundreds of prototypes. This material tends to be overkill for many hobbyist designers who need only to assemble a few prototypes, but it\u2019s a good option to keep in mind if you\u2019re not on a budget.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><b>Polyimide Stencil<\/b><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">For hobbyist designers just working with a handful of prototypes we recommend getting a stencil made out of polyimide, which is a synthetic polymer. These laser cut stencils provide a low cost alternative to metal stencils.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-large size-full wp-image-1529\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.autodesk.com\/products\/fusion-360\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/eagle\/2017\/08\/kapton_stencil1.png\" alt=\"polyimide-stencil\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><em>Your typical polyimide stencil, perfect for a handful of prototype applications. (<a href=\"http:\/\/www.ozbotz.org\/kapton-stencil\/\">Image source<\/a>)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You can purchase polyimide and stainless steel stencils from a provider like <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.oshstencils.com\/#\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">OSH Stencils<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> for around $5 &#8211; $10. This company has been serving the electronics community for years and offers a low-cost alternative for designers that need low volume PCB stencils. They have a simple process of uploading your design on their website, which lets you see how your stencil will look before it\u2019s produced. You can also add custom engraving to your stencil for things like filenames, board revisions, dates, or project names.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-large size-full wp-image-1530\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.autodesk.com\/products\/fusion-360\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/eagle\/2017\/08\/28783119651_71bef4a322_b.jpg\" alt=\"osh-stencils-kit\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><em>OSH Stencils kit complete with solder paste spreader!<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"how-to-view-your-solder-paste-layer-in-eagle\">How to View Your Solder Paste Layer in EAGLE<\/h2>\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Before getting your solder paste stencil made from OSH Stencils, it\u2019s good to know where to find your Solder Paste layer in your PCB design tool. In Autodesk EAGLE, your solder paste stencil will be made from <\/span><b>Layer 31 tCream<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and\/or <\/span><b>Layer 32 bCream<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. To view your cream layer in EAGLE, do the following:<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Open your PCB layout (.brd) file in Autodesk EAGLE.<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Select the <\/span><b>Layer Settings&nbsp;<b><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-1139 alignnone\" src=\"https:\/\/www.autodesk.com\/products\/fusion-360\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/eagle\/2017\/05\/Display-e1496167293900.png\" alt=\"display-icon\" width=\"16\" height=\"16\"><\/b>&nbsp;<\/b><b>icon<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> on the left-hand side of your interface.<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In the <\/span><b>Visible Layers dialog<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, choose the <\/span><b>Select None button<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> to deselect all of your active layers.<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Next, select Layer 31 tCream and Layer 32 bCream and select the <b>Apply button<\/b>.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.autodesk.com\/products\/fusion-360\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/eagle\/2017\/08\/visible-layers.png\" alt=\"visible-layers\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Your view should now change to a bunch of gray colored shapes as shown in the image below. This is what your stencil will look like when produced in its physical form! Each of these boxes is a pad for all of your SMD component footprints, and when cut into a stencil they will align correctly with the pads on your bare board. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.autodesk.com\/products\/fusion-360\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/eagle\/2017\/08\/stencil-layer-eagle.png\" alt=\"stencil-layer-eagle\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"how-to-export-your-cream-layers-from-eagle\">How to Export Your Cream Layers from EAGLE<\/h2>\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Ready to order your solder paste stencil? Most stencil distributors will require you to upload a set of Gerbers for your top and bottom paste layers. However, if you use <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.oshstencils.com\/#\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">OSH Stencils<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> you can directly upload your .brd file, and their online tool will isolate the paste layers for you. Here are the steps to take if you need to generate a set of Gerbers for your paste layers in EAGLE:<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Open your PCB layout file (.brd) in Autodesk EAGLE.<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Select the <\/span><b>CAM Processor <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-1533 alignnone\" src=\"https:\/\/www.autodesk.com\/products\/fusion-360\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/eagle\/2017\/08\/Cam-e1503530844240.png\" alt=\"cam-icon\" width=\"16\" height=\"16\">&nbsp;<\/b><b>icon<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> at the top of your interface. <\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In the <\/span><b>Cam Processor dialog<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, deselect all of the default layers and then select Layer 31 tCream.<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In the <\/span><b>Output field<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, select the <\/span><b>Device dropdown<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and choose Gerber_RS274X.<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In the <\/span><b>File field<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, enter a name for your stencil file. In our example, we\u2019ll call ours <\/span><em><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">stencil.gtp<\/span><\/em><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Lastly, select the <b>Process Job button<\/b> to generate your Gerber file.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.autodesk.com\/products\/fusion-360\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/eagle\/2017\/08\/stencil-gerber-output.png\" alt=\"stencil-gerber-output\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you also have SMD components placed on the bottom of your board, then you can repeat the same process above, this time selecting Layer 32 bCream. After generating your Gerber file, you\u2019ll find it in the project folder of the design. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"the-next-step-solder-paste-stenciling\">The Next Step &#8211; Solder Paste Stenciling<\/h2>\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Once your solder paste stencil is ordered and delivered, it\u2019s time to get your stenciling on! Be sure to check out the video below from Sparkfun on detailed instructions. Here\u2019s a general overview of the steps you\u2019ll be taking during the solder stenciling process:<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><b>Secure. <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You\u2019ll first secure your PCB in your work area, so it doesn&#8217;t move around when you apply solder paste.<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><b>Align. <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Next, you\u2019ll align your stencil over your PCB, so each hole lines up with each pad on your bare board. &nbsp;Fiducials help with this process. <\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><b>Apply. <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You\u2019ll then apply a layer of solder paste at a 45-degree angle over your stencil with a plastic card. After your first application, you\u2019ll slide your plastic code over your stencil again to remove any excess paste. <\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><b>Inspect. <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You\u2019ll then remove the stencil from your PCB and inspect it to make sure every pad has solder paste deposited.<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><b>Attach. <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If everything looks good, you can move onto the process of attaching all of your SMD components. &nbsp;Get your tweezers handy!<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><b>Heat. <\/b>Lastly, you\u2019ll reflow solder your board with the help of a reflow oven of your choice, whether that\u2019s an electric skillet or a modified toaster.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Stenciling Tutorial\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/WDIqtGMROjM?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"stencil-on\">Stencil On<\/h2>\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">There you go, everything you need to get started with solder paste stenciling. Stenciling is a great way to evenly apply solder paste across all of the SMD pads on your PCB and makes quick and easy work of assembling your components by hand. This is the method of choice for many hobbyist electronics designers that need to work with dozens of prototypes, but it\u2019s not just made for use at home. You\u2019ll also find stencils being used by PCB manufacturers to apply solder paste on your board, and then use high-tech machinery like pick-and-place machines and reflow ovens to glue everything together. Whether you&#8217;re solder paste stenciling at home or letting your manufacturer handle it, give thanks to this gray goo!<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Ready to get your own solder paste stencil? Head on over to <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.oshstencils.com\/#\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">OSH Stencils<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and have one made for as little as $5!<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Manual soldering? There\u2019s no time for that! Learn what you need to know to get started with solder paste stencils for your next PCB prototype. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2425,"featured_media":440,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[286,434],"tags":[],"coauthors":[],"class_list":["post-17932","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-eda","category-eagle","dhig-theme--light"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.3 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Getting Started with Solder Paste Stencils | EAGLE | Blog<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Learn how to get started with solder paste stencils and apply solder paste on a bare board PCB for all of your Surface Mount Device (SMD) components.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" 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