We are pleased to announce the release of the Flexible Heater Routing Tool!

If you are a heavy prototyper or working on a multi-board project, you might be leaving money on the table. Most people think one stencil equals one PCB design—but if your boards are not too big, why pay for three stencils when you only need one?

At JLCPCB, we want to help you optimize your workflow and keep your costs down. One of our most useful features is the ability to combine multiple different PCBs onto a single stencil frame.

How to set it up:

1. Find the Option: On the stencil order page, look for the "Multiple PCBs on one stencil" option.
2. Select "Yes": This alerts our engineers that you are panelizing different designs together.
3. The "Secret Sauce": Don't forget to add a stencil remark. Describe your panelization or specific placement requirements so our team can ensure the apertures align perfectly with your various boards.

🚀 Ready to Optimize Your Next Build?

At JLCPCB, we support your custom designs with flexible manufacturing options that make your assembly faster, cheaper, and more precise.

We've all been there: you spend weeks perfecting a PCB layout, only to have the entire project sidelined by a bridge or a dry joint during reflow. Most of the time, the problem isn't your oven or your paste - it's the stencil.

If you're tired of "good enough" results and want professional-grade assembly without the professional-grade price tag, here is how JLCPCB Stencils are designed to help you succeed:

Precision That Actually Matters

We don't just "cut holes". We use over 30 high-precision laser cutting machines to ensure every aperture is burr-free and razor-sharp.

• The Material: We use premium 304 HTA stainless steel.
• The Accuracy: We maintain tolerances as tight as ±0.003mm. This level of precision is the difference between a clean solder "brick" and a messy smear that leads to shorts.
• Pro Upgrades: Need even better release? Our electropolishing and nano-coating options significantly improve paste transfer efficiency and reduce bridging on fine-pitch components.

Speed That Keeps Up with Your Ideas

In the world of prototyping, time is your most valuable resource.

• 12-Hour Production: Our fully automated lines can have your stencil ready in as little as 12 hours.
• 24-Hour Shipping: Most orders are out the door within a day of confirmation.
• Unbeatable Value: Professional precision starts at just $3 (100 × 100mm). You get tier-1 manufacturing quality on a maker's budget.

Your Design, Fully Supported

Every project is unique, so we don't limit your options. Whether you need a framed stencil for a production line or a frameless one for your bench, we've got you covered.

• Advanced Options: From custom outlines and thicknesses to step stencils and ultrasonic-resistant adhesives, we support the complex modifications you need to turn your vision into a physical reality.

🚀 Upgrade Your Next Build for Less

At JLCPCB, were committed to helping you build faster and better. Don't let a low-quality stencil be the bottleneck of your next great invention.

Whether you are starting a fresh project or realizing you forgot a stencil for an old board, we’ve made the ordering process incredibly flexible.

Depending on where you are in your design journey, here are the 3 easy ways to get your high-precision stencils:

Option 1: The "All-in-One" (PCB + Stencil Together)

This is the most popular choice for new projects. After you’ve configured your PCB parameters on our order page, simply scroll to the bottom and check the "Stencil" option. This ensures your stencil and PCBs are produced and shipped together, keeping your project perfectly synchronized.

Option 2: The "Stencil-Only" Sprint

Already have your boards but need a new stencil? No problem. Head to our website, click "Instant Quote," and select "SMT Stencil" from the top menu. You can upload your Gerber files and customize your stencil (Electropolished, Nano-coated, Frameless, etc.) in seconds.

Option 3: The "Oops, I Forgot!" (From Order History)

We've all been there—you ordered bare PCBs, and then realized hand-soldering those 0402s was a bad idea. Just go to your PCB Order History, find your previous order, click "Show all," and select "Need Stencil." We’ll generate a matching stencil for that exact board layout instantly.

🚀 Bring Your Designs to Life Faster & Better

At JLCPCB, we support your custom designs with the precision and convenience you need to succeed.

Precision assembly shouldn't break the bank. Whether you are finishing a complex high-density project or just starting a new prototype, we want to help you get professional-grade results for less!

For a limited time, we are giving away $11 Stencil Coupons to the community. This is your chance to experience the speed, precision, and convenience of JLCPCB stencils at an unbeatable price.

Click the link to grab your coupon and start your most efficient build yet.

A high-precision PCB stencil is an investment in a frustration-free assembly. But even the best electropolished stencil will fail if it's warped or clogged with dried-up paste. If you want to extend your stencil's lifespan and guarantee consistent, professional-grade printing every time you hit the bench, maintenance is non-negotiable.

Here are the industry-standard practices to keep your stencils in "day-one" condition:

Never Let Paste Sit 🧼

Don't allow solder paste to accumulate. Clean your stencils immediately after each use. Dried paste in the apertures—especially for fine-pitch components—is incredibly difficult to remove and is the #1 cause of "clogged" apertures during your next build.

Use the Right Solvents 🧪

Always use specified cleaning solvents (like IPA or dedicated stencil cleaners). Avoid harsh, non-approved chemicals that can degrade the surface tension of the metal or damage specialized nano-coatings. Using the correct cleaning solution protects the aperture integrity.

Store it Flat or Suffer the Warp 📏

Metal has a memory. Always lay your stencils flat when not in use. Storing them upright or leaning them against a wall can lead to subtle warping. A warped stencil won't sit flush against your PCB, leading to "smearing" and messy solder bridges.

🚀 Pro-Level Stencils for Your Next Project

At JLCPCB, we support your custom designs with high-precision manufacturing. Whether you need a standard laser-cut stencil or a premium nano-coated finish, we bring your designs to life so your assembly is faster and better.

We've all been there: your PCB design is perfect, your components are ready, but after reflow, you're met with a nightmare of solder bridges and dry joints. Often, the culprit isn't your placement—it's a stencil that failed to meet the precision your design demanded. When you're dealing with fine-pitch components, a few microns are the difference between a working prototype and a pile of scrap.

Here is a technical breakdown of why precision is the heartbeat of stencil manufacturing:

The Need for High Precision

High precision in stencil manufacturing is vital for several reasons:

1. Accurate Solder Paste Deposition: Precise apertures ensure the correct amount of solder paste is deposited, which is crucial for forming reliable solder joints.
2. Minimized Solder Bridging: Accurate apertures reduce the risk of solder bridging between pads, which can cause short circuits.
3. Consistent Quality: High precision stencils contribute to consistent quality across multiple boards, reducing defects and rework.

Example: JLCPCB Stencil with Small Pitch Components

To illustrate the importance of high precision in stencil manufacturing, we ordered a PCB stencil from JLCPCB designed for a board with small pitch components. We will compare the desired dimensions of the stencil apertures with the actual manufactured dimensions using a digital microscope camera.

Measuring Precision with a Digital Microscope Camera

Using a digital microscope camera, we can capture high-resolution images of the stencil apertures and measure their dimensions. This allows us to verify the precision of the stencil manufacturing process.

Desired Dimensions vs. Actual Dimensions

For our example, we used a part MHPA0606RGBDT, which is a small LED with a pad size of 0.3mm x 0.3mm. Using a digital microscope camera, we will compare the desired dimensions of the stencil apertures with the actual manufactured dimensions.

Desired Dimensions:

· Pad Size: 0.3mm x 0.3mm

We will measure the actual dimensions of the stencil apertures for the MHPA0606RGBDT LED to ensure they match the desired specifications.

Results and Analysis

After capturing the images and measuring the apertures with the digital microscope camera, we found the following actual dimensions:

Actual Dimensions:

· Pad Size: 0.3098mm x 0.2980mm

These results show that the actual dimensions are very close to the desired dimensions, with only minor deviations. The deviations are within acceptable tolerances, demonstrating high precision in the stencil manufacturing process. This level of precision ensures accurate solder paste deposition, which is critical for the reliable performance of the assembled PCB.

🚀 Bring Your High-Density Designs to Life

At JLCPCB, we invest in the latest laser-cutting technology and inspection systems to ensure your custom designs are executed with microscopic accuracy. Whether you're working on 0201s or ultra-fine pitch ICs, we provide the precision you need to make your assembly faster and better.

The difference between a "good" stencil and a "perfect" one often comes down to the manufacturing choices you make before hitting that order button.

To ensure your PCB assembly is fast, clean, and defect-free, here are 4 Manufacturing Key Points we recommend focusing on:

Stencil Thickness Selection

The thickness of the design determines how much solder paste is applied. Focus primarily on the smallest pitch component on the board. Solder paste may adhere to the inner walls of the aperture in a thick stencil because of a phenomenon known as surface tension. A basic rule is that there should ideally be at least five solder particles in the smallest aperture.

Stencil Material

The type of material used to make the stencil will determine how well it removes solder paste from the apertures. Even though stainless steel is typically utilized, PCB designs that use fine pitch components can employ nickel, which is around 50% more expensive than stainless steel.

The first generation of stencils were made by chemical etching, which was effective for larger apertures but became increasingly challenging to remove solder from as component sizes decreased. This resulted in the creation of laser-cut stencils, which enhanced paste release by producing a much finer, trapezoidal-shaped aperture. As component sizes shrank, the potential for electropolishing the aperture walls and, later, the method of electro-forming the stencil were developed.

Apply Nano-Coating for Improved Paste Release

Hydrophobic coatings are used in contemporary nano-coated stencils to lessen solder paste adhesion to the aperture walls. This is essentially a straightforward procedure used to apply a layer of nanomaterial on a plain stencil. What is this layer going to do? It increases solder paste release, prolongs stencil life, and lowers cleaning frequency.

Consider Step Stencils for Mixed Assemblies

This is further divided into two parts:

Step-up stencils: Thicker regions for larger components.

Step-down stencils: Thinner regions for fine-pitch components.

It is used with boards having 0201 passive components and large connectors. We have covered a full detailed article on this topic, see from here.

🔥 Custom Precision, Powered by JLCPCB

At JLCPCB, we support full customization to turn your design into reality. Our high-precision manufacturing ensures your PCB assembly is completed faster, better, and with pro-grade results.

If your SMT assembly is plagued by solder bridges, mid-chip beads, or inconsistent deposits, the fix isn't just in your soldering iron - it's in the physics of your SMD stencil.

To achieve professional-grade results and prevent reflow defects, we explored 5 tips for your PCB Stencil design:

1. Aperture Design Guidelines

To prevent solder flaws like bridging and solder beads, this is crucial. For accurate deposition the apertures are made to be a bit smaller than the pads. However, for certain parts, an aperture with a specific design is required to deposit less paste on the inner edge of the part, which helps to prevent the formation of "mid-chip" solder balls. Here are a few instances:

Aperture Reduction (Pad-to-Aperture Ratio)

Apertures are frequently made slightly smaller than the actual pad dimensions in order to prevent bridging and extra solder. Here is a table of selection:

Recommended Thickness Rules:

For most components, the typical reduction is between 5 and 7%.

For dependable printability, IPC-7525 suggests a stencil-to-pad area ratio >0.66.

Formula:

Area Ratio = (Aperture Area) / (Aperture Wall Height × Aperture Perimeter)

Keep this ratio above 0.66 to ensure clean paste release.

Fiducial Marks

When printing solder paste onto pads, it is very important that the pattern is lined up correctly with the PCB. This is accomplished by applying fiducial marks, which are registration marks, to the PCB and stencil. As you can see from our most recent comprehensive piece on fiducial marks, adding them to the stencil will guarantee proper alignment. JLCPCB provides stencils with fiducial marks included, helping ensure accurate alignment and reliable solder paste printing.

Stencil Frame and Border

Stencils can be frameless (for rapid prototyping or manual printing) or framed (glued into aluminum frames).

Typical frame dimensions are 23 x 23 inches.

Keep the distance between the aperture area and the frame edge at least 10 mm.

Mark the stencil's position, thickness, and part number clearly.

Window Effect design

There are instances where the PCB design features big copper pads underneath the component. Devices that use power electronics typically experience this. In this case, a window effect is present to ensure a good electrical link and to let the device's heat escape. The device may lift and the outer leads may not solder if solder paste is placed over the entire pad. A "window effect" in the design can be used to decrease the solder volume, which is shared in the image above.

🚀 Turn Your Designs into Reality with JLCPCB

Whether it's a standard build or a complex custom project, we support your unique designs with high-precision stencils to make your SMT assembly faster, smoother, and more reliable.

Ever wonder why your solder paste release is inconsistent, even with a perfect design? The culprit isn't usually your paste or your iron - it's the microscopic texture of your stencil's aperture walls.

If you're working with fine-pitch components (0402s, BGAs, or QFNs), here is why Electropolishing is the "secret sauce" for a successful build.

Why Electropolishing? The Science of "Smooth" ✨

Most stencils are laser-cut. While incredibly precise, the laser leaves behind microscopic "slag" and jagged burrs on the walls of the holes. These tiny imperfections act like "teeth" that grab onto the solder paste, causing it to clog rather than transfer to your PCB.

Electropolishing is a chemical-electrical bath that strips away a microscopic layer of the stainless steel. It rounds off those peaks and burrs, leaving the aperture walls mirror-smooth so the paste slides out effortlessly.

Electropolishing vs. Other Finishing Methods 🔍

🚀 Level Up Your Assembly Game with JLCPCB

At JLCPCB, we offer high-precision laser cutting with professional Electropolishing and Nano-coating options to ensure your PCB assembly achieves professional-grade results.

Stop fighting the paste. Start stenciling like a pro.

If you're still hand-soldering SMD components pad-by-pad, you're playing life on "Hard Mode". Switching to a PCB Stencil and solder paste is the single biggest upgrade you can make for your workflow—but not all stencils are created equal.

Depending on your pitch size and budget, the manufacturing process matters. Here's the breakdown:

Chemical Etched Stencils (The "Old School" Choice)

These are made by using a chemical etchant to eat through the metal.

• The Catch: The etching solution doesn't just go down; it goes sideways. This creates "undercutting," resulting in a slightly trapezoidal opening.
• Best for: Large components and hobbyist projects where ultra-precision isn't a dealbreaker.

Laser-Cut Stencils (The Industry Standard)

This is the "sweet spot" for 99% of us. A CNC laser cuts the apertures with incredible accuracy.

• The Perk: The laser naturally creates a slight inward taper. This actually helps the solder paste release cleanly from the stencil onto your board.
• Best for: Most modern SMD designs, including QFNs and 0402s.

Electroformed Stencils (The Pro Tier)

These aren't "cut"—they are "grown" atom-by-atom through nickel plating.

• The Perk: The walls are atom-level smooth. If you are dealing with ultra-fine pitch BGAs or 0201 components, this is the only way to ensure 100% consistent paste release.
• Best for: High-density, professional-grade production.

🚀 Level Up Your Assembly

Ready to ditch the soldering iron and start stenciling? We've got you covered at JLCPCB.

Buying a stencil seems simple, but the wrong specs can ruin your first-pass yield. To get a perfect solder finish every time, you need to master these three factors:

1. Thickness: The Volume Controller

The thickness determines exactly how much paste is deposited onto your pads.

• The Rule: High-density boards with fine-pitch BGAs/QFNs (0.5mm pitch) require thinner stencils to avoid bridging. For larger components, go thicker for better joint strength.
• Pro-Tip: If your board has mixed densities, you can adjust the "Solder Paste" layer in your CAD software (1:1 for general pitch, -10% for fine-pitch) to optimize paste volume without the high cost of localized thinning.

2. Material: Why Stainless Steel Wins

While copper is an option, Stainless Steel is the industry favorite for a reason.

• Durability: It offers higher hardness and a much longer service life.
• Precision: It's the best material for clean, burr-free laser cutting, ensuring the paste releases smoothly every single time.

3. Size: Framed vs. Frameless

Your stencil size is about more than just your PCB dimensions—it’s about your workflow.

• Framed Stencils: Best for automated lines. Ensure the stencil outline matches your printer's mounting requirements.
• Custom Frameless Stencils: Perfect for prototypes! If your board is under 10x10cm, don't waste money on a massive framed sheet.

PCB assembly is a critical phase of any project. Whether you are hand-soldering at a workbench or running a fully automated SMT line, selecting the right stencil is crucial for a perfect finish.

Here are the three main types of SMT stencils, categorized by their application:

Framed SMT Stencils

What they are: Laser-cut foils permanently mounted in a rigid metal frame.

Best For: High-volume, automated SMT production lines.

The Edge: The frame provides the high, consistent tension required for machine alignment and repeatable precision over thousands of prints.

Frameless Stencils / Foils

What they are: Standalone stainless steel sheets without a fixed frame.

Best For: Prototyping, manual soldering, and small-batch DIY projects.

The Edge: Highly cost-effective and space-saving. Perfect for engineers using manual jigs or hand-printing methods.

Step Stencils

What they are: A specialized type where different areas of the stencil have varying thicknesses.

Best For: Complex boards mixing tiny, fine-pitch ICs with large, power-hungry components.

The Edge: Use "Step-up" or "Step-down" areas to precisely control solder volume for different components on the same board simultaneously.

Precision Made Simple with JLCPCB 🚀

Stop fighting with uneven solder paste and start getting perfect results. From quick prototypes to high-density production, we have the right tool for your process.

💰 Professional SMT stencils start at only $3!

Dealing with high-density designs and tiny 0603 packages can be a nightmare for hand-soldering. But precision doesn't have to be slow. Whether you're a pro or a hobbyist, a JLCPCB SMT Stencil is the ultimate upgrade for your workbench.