Re: gEDA-user: Remove solder mask from polygons

[Stephen Ecob <silicon.on.inspiration@xxxxxxxxx>]

On Thu, Jun 30, 2011 at 2:23 AM, George Boudreau
<george.boudreau@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
>   Hi.
>   I am working on a micro-stripline layout and the presence of the
>   soldermask on portions of the board will cause problems. With gEDA/pcb
>   micro-stripline work is a drafting task consisting of numerous
>   polygons. Is there a method/switch that will allow me to remove blocks
>   of the solder mask. This exposed copper will be gold plated.
>   Regards,
>    George

gEDA/pcb has no easy way to do this task.  If I were doing it, I'd use
this approach:

1. create a new layer, let's call it "mask openings"
2. place polygons in the new layer that correspond to the extra mask
openings that you want
3. when you're done, export gerbers
4. hack the gerbers -
 a. Remove the drill holes from "mask openings" gerber (PCB will have
assumed it's a copper layer and added all through holes)
 b. Merge the "mask openings" gerber with the standard mask gerber

To do the gerber hacking I'd use gerbv to find out which apertures are
used for what and then a text editor to remove the through holes and
merger the gerbers.


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