How it works

Step 3

This is how your can use Rapidstencil, a fast and accurate solder paste printer. If you haven't done so please go through the first task "1. During PCB Design" and the second task "2. While ordering PCB". Also you are welcome t ogo through our videos that demonstrate first hand the accuracy of our solder paste printer Videos

Determine pin coordinates

First time only. Ignore if you know what are your pin coordinates

The best way is to use you CAD software to determine the coordinates (Pic 1). Alternatively

Place the PCB you designed according to our specifications earlier on this guide , on RapidStencil and align it with one of the smaller holes. Place one small pin through this hole. Try to center your board on Rapidstencil, as much as possible.
Rotate your board a little bit so all small holes of your PCB align with the RapidStencil's small hole bands (bands abcd and wxyz). This will happen by design
Put 4 smaller pins in the inner and smaller holes of RapidStencil (bands abcd and wxyz) through the corresponding smaller holes of your PCB
Place your stencil on your PCB and align it with the smaller pins that you placed on your PCB in the previous step. The smaller pins will go through your stencil and it’s ok.
Put 4 larger pins in the outer and larger holes through your stencil into RapidStencil
Slowly raise the stencil while the pins stay in place
Please note the coordinates of the holes so you will not have to repeat this process again next time you would want to apply paste to the same PCB’s. If you do this you can position the pins at their coordinates next time your will apply solder paste on your board, without having to go through this step.

Pic 1

Determine pin coordinates from CAD

Pic 2

Place your PCB on RapidStencil, align and place the small pins

Pic 3

Remove stencil and take note of the pin coordinates

Assemble your board fast and accurately

Simple RapidStencil

Put some tape (electric,duct etc) or glue (hot glue or anything else if this setup is more permanent) on the back side of the PCB so the pins will not fall out from the back (Pic. #4) and then turn it around as in Pic. #5.
Since you know the coordinates of the pins (either because you took a note during the PCB design as in "1. During PCB Design" ,or you discovered them as described in the previous step) you should place the 4 larger pin in their position (Pic. #6) in the base RapidStencil.
Place the second RapidStencil exactly on top of the base, making sure that the pins, go through the same coordinates as the base RapidStencil (Pic. #7)
Place the third RapidStencil exactly on top of the second one, making sure that the pins, go through the same coordinates as the second RapidStencil (Pic. #8). At that stage, all 3 RapidStencils should be on top of the other. You can also, glue together the 3 RapidStencils so you will not have to do this again
Place the 4 smaller pins at their coordinates (Pic. #9). They should protrude a tiny bit (around 1mm or less) from the third RapidStencil PCB (Pic. #10). They will keep your board in place but not protrude through your stencil (Pic. #14).
Place your PCB board on top of the RapidStencil. Make sure that the smaller pins in RapidStencil, go through the matching holes of your PCB. It will only take you a few seconds to do that. Slide left or right until it just falls into place (Pic. #11). The smaller pins should not protrude through your PCB board and going in your stencil. They should be recessed inside your board (Pic. #12)
Place your stencil on top of your PCB, making sure that the larger pins at the outer edge of RapidStencil (ABCD-WXYZ), go through the matching larger holes in your stencil (Pic. #13). You will notice that the smaller pins on the PCB will align themselves automatically. It will only take you a few seconds to align the stencil. The smaller pin should not be going through your stencil (Pic. #14)
You may put the RapidStencil cutout around your board and place the stencil on top of them if you want the cutout to support your stencil a bit better, but you don't have to.

Click on the picture to view in detail

Pic 4

Put tape on the back side

Pic 5

Turn it around

Pic 6

Place the 4 larger pins in their position

Pic 7

Place second RapidStencil

Pic 8

Place third RapidStencil

Pic 9

Place the 4 smaller pins in their position

Pic 10

Smaller pins protrude slightly

Pic 11

Place your PCB board through the matching smaller pins

Pic 12

Smaller pins are recessed in your board

Pic 13

Larger pins go through your stencil

Pic 14

Detail: smaller pin do not go through your stencil

Pic 15

Stencil accuracy is excellent!

Assemble Advanced RapidStencil

The process is very similar with the previous one with a couple of differences as shown below:

Use the Advance RapidStencil base PCB in the Step 1 (Pic. #16). It has spring pins that help you lift the stencil in a more consistent way
Once your reach Step 8 put the cutout (Pic. #17). around your board (Pic. #18). The spring pins should protrude through your the cutout, to help lift the stencil
Put another RapidStencil cutout to help you keep the stencil down with weights

Pic 16

Advance RapidStencil Base PCB

Pic 17

Place this around your board

Pic 18

Complete Advanced RapidStencil IT HAS PINS CHANGE THE PIC

Pic 19

Stencil Accuracy Excellent

Pic 20

Stencil Accuracy Excellent

Apply Solder Paste fast and accurate

Excellent Accuracy

Apply solder paste as usual.
Remove stencil carefully. For even better results when applying solder paste on your board, and to help with lifting the stencil, you should consider getting the RapidStencil Advanced. It has spring pins that lift the stencil simultaneously without affecting the solder paste below. We also provide 2 small steel bars that you can use to keep the stencil down. When you lift the weights the spring pins push the stencil upwards.