Solder paste stencils

Laser-cut stainless steel stencils – precision, innovation and personal advice

Precise laser-cut stainless steel stencils from LaserJob guarantee maximum dimensional accuracy and excellent solder paste release behaviour for optimum printing results with a cutting gap of only 20 µm. Benefit from the creativity and experience of our experts: we optimise your CAD data individually and offer you a personal contact person for fast, uncomplicated and reliable processing.

Everything from a single source – from cutting, welding and marking to surface finishing – for perfect results in your electronics manufacturing.

Precision and efficiency

LaserJob relies on state-of-the-art technologies and innovative processes to ensure maximum precision and efficiency in stencil production. Our approach combines technical excellence with tailor-made solutions for your requirements.

Our speciality

We manufacture with the highest possible precision:

Sheet thickness tolerance of +/- 2%, with a repeatability of >6 sigma
Controlled surface roughness of < 0.15 µm

Depending on your requirements and process needs, we can offer you various options and combinations tailored specifically to your needs:

NanoWork® stencil
PatchWork® stencil (step up/down stencil)
3D PatchWork® stencil
Combination PatchWork® stencil and NanoWork® -Coating

A total of 15 laser systems are available for you in our air-conditioned production rooms. We use these high-performance lasers to achieve a cutting gap of 20 µm. With the same depth of focus, this small cutting gap ensures reduced heat input into the material.

Precision of the slightly conical openings expands the process window of the placement process and facilitates the release of solder paste from the stencil. Dimensionally stable stencils must be cut in a clamped state. This procedure allows us to guarantee an aperture position accuracy of ± 10 μm within an area of 200 x 200 mm.

Advantages of laser cutting

exact aperture geometry
accuracy of aperture sizes ± 3 μm
positional accuracy of the apertures ± 10 μm
smooth wall panels
low edge roughness

SMD stencil layout

LaserJob offers comprehensive advice on layout design. Our team uses your CAD-CAM data to create cutting commands for our laser. The apertures are cut using highly focused lasers and high positioning accuracy.

Optimization of cut-outs

Aperture reduction and enlargement
Changing the aperture shape, e.g., homeplates, rounding corners
Aperture optimization (anti-tombstoning)
Checking aspect and surface ratio

Layout creation

Multiple-use creation and optimized placement in the finished stencil
Layout creation for SMD, reballing, sintering, and adhesive stencils
Production of a template from a supplied printed circuit board, template, or film

Additional services

Custom frame bearings for used frames
Data archiving
Test reports (based on customer specifications)
Data for solder paste inspection systems
DataMatrix-Code

SMD stencil variations

Based on our more than 30 years of experience, we now offer you proven stainless steel sheets with consistent properties:

Stainless Steel 1.4301
Hardness (Hv): min. 370
Tensile Strength (N / mm²): > 1100

We can offer you the following material thicknesses from stock:

SMD stencils in (μm): 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90, 100, 120, 130, 140, 150, 180, 200, 250, 300, 400
SMD stencils in the VectorGuard tensioning system in (μm): 80, 100, 120, 130, 150, 180, 200, 250
maximum sheet thickness: 2 mm
maximum working area: 800 x 600 mm

In addition to our high-quality SMD stencils, we offer the right frames for your screen or stencil printer:

Aluminium frames
Cast aluminium frames
Stainless steel frames

A wide range of different profiles are also available. Aluminium slope frames, for example, achieve high and reproducible tension values while also supporting reliable cleaning of the frame and stencil surfaces.

All frames can be individually designed with threaded bushings (welded or pressed in).

We use stainless steel screen mesh (80 mesh / wire diameter 0.1 mm) with high tension (> 40N / cm). Of course, the tension can be adjusted to your requirements. A screen filler can be applied on request. This prevents contamination of the printer.

The frames are reusable. We clean them and check them for flatness so that they are ready for immediate use the next time they are needed. On request, we can manage your frame storage at our premises.

In addition to templates in fixed frames, we also offer modern templates for

the LJ 745 tensioning system

Of course, we also cut the appropriate templates for other quick-clamping systems in the usual LaserJob quality:

SMD stencil post-processing

All laser-cut templates from LaserJob are then brushed. A CNC-controlled brushing process removes the cutting burr on the laser exit side. The brush head moves in a meandering pattern in all four directions across the surface.

Benefits of this post-processing

no enlargement of the apertures
minimum material removal < 2 μm
the narrow material thickness tolerances are maintained.
uniform sheet thickness

Layout guidelines and design specifications

The volume of solder paste applied is mainly determined by the size of the apertures

and the stencil thickness. The release behavior of the solder paste from the stencil depends on the following factors:

Aspect and area ratio
Wall and aperture geometry
Nature of the aperture walls

Formula used to calculate the area ratio and aspect ratio:

The aspect ratio describes the proportion of aperture width to stencil thickness, while the area ratio describes the proportion of aperture area to aperture wall area. To ensure complete release of the solder paste, an area ratio of > 0.66 and an aspect ratio of > 1.5 are recommended.

Further information regarding the design of SMD stencils is described in the general design guideline IPC-7525A.

Quality and service

Our standard tests – for controlled quality and safety

To guarantee the highest reliability and quality of your stencils, we carry out a number of standardised tests throughout the entire manufacturing process:

Checking the apertures: Each stencil is carefully checked to ensure it has the correct number of openings and that the apertures are clean.
Precise measurement: We measure the size and position of the stencil openings exactly according to your specifications.
Material thickness check: Immediately after cutting, we check the material thickness to ensure that it meets your requirements.
Documented quality: On request, we can produce detailed test reports (Certificates of Conformance, CoC) according to your specifications.
Special coating inspection: For stencils with Nano-Work coating, we record the contact angle – for optimum functionality.

You can rely on comprehensive inspection and traceable results – for maximum process reliability.

Additional services

Why chose LaserJob?

adept knowledge

Through our customized data preparation solutions and the optimization of your CAD data in collaboration with our specialists, we guarantee maximum efficiency and quality for your project.

direct contact

Your immediate access to us: Personal contact – fast, easy, and reliable.

all from one provider

We combine a wide variety of technologies and processes to achieve the best results: cutting, welding, marking, ablating, coating, etc.

express delivery

6-hour express service ex works:
Orders received by 1 pm
shipped on the same working day.

To ensure that your order is processed quickly, please send it to us with your data by email to mail@laserjob.de

We process your data in the following formats: Gerber, ODB++, DWG, DXF, Eagle and IGES/step.

Our delivery times at a glance:

Standard delivery for SMD stencils/PatchWork® stencils:
3 working days from receipt of order (by 5 pm)
Standard delivery for NanoWork® stencils:
4 working days from receipt of order (by 5 pm)
48-hour express service:
Delivery on the next business day (by arrangement, orders received by 5 pm)
24-hour express service:
Next business day delivery (by arrangement, orders received by 5 pm)
6-hour express service ex works:
Same-day delivery (by arrangement, orders received by 1 pm)

Shipping and packaging – Secure, flexible, and environmentally conscious

To ensure that your products arrive safely and in perfect condition, we rely on flexible shipping solutions and well-designed packaging concepts.

Shipping – Fast and tailored to your needs

Daily shipping: We ship your orders daily with DHL Express.
Custom shipping options: Upon request, we may also use UPS, FedEx, DPD, or other shipping providers of your choice.
Diverse transportation options: In addition to traditional parcel services, we offer direct deliveries and courier services with experienced partner companies. This allows us to respond flexibly to your requirements and delivery dates.

Packaging – Safe and sustainable

Eco-friendly packaging: All LaserJob parts are shipped in environmentally friendly cardboard boxes or reusable packaging. This conserves resources and protects the environment.
Safely packed: To prevent damage, all products are carefully wrapped in appropriate packaging – we are also happy to follow your individual specifications.
Special solutions for stencils: We offer special storage bags for our stencils in the tensioning system, which ensure optimum protection and convenient handling.
Customer-specific returnable packaging: Would you like to use your own packaging solutions? No problem! We will gladly assist you in developing and integrating your own returnable packaging into our shipping process.

Put your trust in our experience and flexibility – for shipping that provides optimum protection of your products and focuses on your requirements.

FAQ: Frequently asked questions

We offer stencils straight away from 30 µm up to 400 µm in the following thicknesses:

Material thickness	Values in µm
Thin foils	30, 40, 50, 60, 70 - 20 µm in fixed frame
Standard thicknesses	80, 90, 100, 120, 130, 140
High-volume printing	150, 180, 200, 250, 300, 400 - Other material thicknesses up to 2 mm are available on request.

Standard delivery times are 3 working days ex works for SMD stencils. We also offer express delivery services, with 6-hour and 24-hour express delivery ex works.

Laser cutting produces a cutting burr on the laser exit side (squeegee side), which is removed by the CNC brushing process developed in-house by LaserJob. This process ensures a consistent sheet thickness with minimal material removal (< 2 µm). Additionally, the apertures are not enlarged during the brushing process, and the material thickness is not reduced, which is not guaranteed with alternative processes. This ensures tight tolerances to be maintained.

This process leaves the substrate side of the stencil opening unprocessed. Since the edge is not rounded, it ensures optimal sealing to the printed circuit board. Bleeding of the solder paste flux is thereby prevented.

Yes, please return any templates you no longer need to us.

Your frames will be stored at our premises and will then be available for your next orders.

You can check our current stock levels at any time. To ensure quick deliveries, we always maintain a stock of frames with bonded sheet metal ready for you.

Most SMD stencils are made of stainless steel. It should have a tensile strength of over 1100 N/mm² and a hardness of at least 370 Hv. This ensures that the SMD stencil delivers accurate printing results throughout its lifetime. The squeegee pressure should be set high enough to cleanly remove the solder paste from the stainless steel material. The applied squeegee pressure directly affects the service life of an SMD stencil. Therefore, it should be set only as high as necessary and as low as possible.

We will be happy to provide you with the stencil data, including the aperture changes we have made, in any format you require. This allows you to program your paste AOI/SPI easily and conveniently.

In 1992, LaserJob GmbH became the first company in Germany to manufacture laser-cut SMD stencils. These printing stencils for solder paste application have replaced etched stencils. Solder paste printing in SMD technology began with meshes, which were then replaced by etched metal stencils. The increasing need for miniaturization required a new technology. LaserJob GmbH was a pioneer in laser-cut SMD stencils. Thanks to this technology, conical aperture openings could be implemented. Even the smallest geometries can be reliably printed to this day. Other advantages include high precision and quick availability.