SMT Stencils
LASER CUT STENCILS
Metal Etch Services, Inc. provides high quality stencils for use in PCB assembly. We start with the best available base materials from trusted sources in the US who adhere to our strict quality standards.
Our team of skilled in-house CAD technicians filter through your data optimizing aperture design to provide the most effective design for your specific application.
We then utilize the most modern and accurate laser equipment available, manufactured by the industry leader in stencil laser technologies. Our machines are rigorously maintained to ensure proper calibration and optimal cut quality.
All this is accomplished in a time frame that allows you to meet your deadlines.
COATINGS
Increase cleaning efficiency, reduce cleaning frequency, and improve transfer consistency by enhancing your stencil with one of our coating options.
•NanoClear- A Self-Assembling Monolayer Phosphonate coating that is applied in a quick and simple wipe on process. This option provides an ultra thin 2-4nm thick fluxophobic layer, that has an unmatched track record! Improves print definition, reduces bleed out, and adds no appreciable thickness to the stencil.
•NanoPearl - Print Performance you can see! NanoPearl is a NextGen coating that is characterized by it's unique pearlescent appearance. Unlike most other visually detectable coatings, NanoPearl is a true nano scale product, touting a sub 500nm thickness. Don't let its thin nature fool you, this is one tough coating showing less than a 10% in contact angle after 50,000 cycles!
MULTI-LEVEL STENCILS
Modern PCB assemblies increasingly combine mixed technologies within a single board. Large components such as connectors, DPAKs, or ground planes often require higher paste volume, while ultra-fine pitch devices and micro BGAs demand much thinner foil. Multi-level stencils eliminate the need to compromise on a single “just right” thickness by allowing optimized foil thickness across the entire stencil.
Beyond paste volume control, multi-level stencils can also provide clearance on the substrate contact side to prevent raised areas on the PCB. They are especially useful in dual-print processes, flux clearance applications, and assemblies with varying topographical features.
Our multi-level stencils are manufactured using advanced precision profiling techniques. Our team works closely with you to determine the most suitable approach based on your design, tolerance requirements, and production goals.
Precision Profile Multi-Level Stencils
This process offers a fast, flexible, and cost-effective solution for most multi-level stencil applications, delivering reliable performance across a wide range of assemblies.
Micro-Profile Multi-Level Stencils
For the most demanding applications, the micro-profile process provides enhanced accuracy, smoother surface finishes, and gradual transitions between stepped areas. These advantages make it the preferred option for high-density, fine-pitch, and critical PCB assemblies.
STENCIL FRAMES
We stock a variety of cast and tubular frames ranging in size from 5x5 to 29x29. Custom tubular frames can be manufactured per your specifications.
We also stock many reusable frame formats such as QTS, Apshen (VectorGuard® compatible), ProFrame®, Zelflex and Anodized green frames for lead free identification.
We perform 100% AOI on every stencil that leaves our factory. Utilizing the Watt SC12Pro platform, we inspect for aperture presence, shape, size, and location. All stencils include a QC report that provides the peace of mind that you won't have any nasty surprises detected at SPI.
Screens
SCREENS
Today's high technology applications such as Thick Film, LTCC, Solar, and all other micro-electronic applications demand the use of high quality screens. We use only the highest quality raw materials including Swiss made stainless steel mesh, durable epoxies, and a variety of emulsion selections to meet your exact application needs.
BARE SCREEENS
Bare Screens are stretched using your specified mesh count, mesh bias and frame size. Screens are stretched to industry tension standards or to your specific tension requirements.
SENSITIZED SCREENS
Sensitized screens go one step further in the process with the application of emulsion per the customers specified type and thickness.
Emuslison thickness can be ordered in increments of 5um. We can help you determine which emulsion type will best fit your application. We stock both liquid emulsion and capillary film. Screens are shipped sealed in light safe bags for processing at our customer's facility.
We can offer help in identifying the correct exposure rates of our sensitized screens based on your exposure equipment.
IMAGED SCREENS
Imaged screens are fully developed and ready for your printer right out of the box. Our imaged screens can be made with your choice of mesh type, emulsion thickness and mesh bias. We can use a customer provided photo-plot, or generate the photo-plot for you in our on-site photo lab. Let us do the work for you!
SCREEN FRAMES
We stock a variety of cast and tubular frames ranging in size from 5x5 to 29x29. Custom size tubular frames can be manufactured per your specifications.
Customer returned frames are cleaned to remove the epoxy and mesh, followed by glass bead blasting to remove any contaminates. These frames are then checked for coplanarity and mounting hole thread condition. Frames are returned to service only after meeting our quality criteria.