Stencil Manufacturing
The first print decides the whole build.
Laser-cut stainless steel stencils with electropolished apertures and 24–72 hour turnaround — because most SMT defects are born at the paste-printing step, not the reflow oven.
Precision where it's invisible
A stencil looks like the simplest item in an SMT line — a steel sheet with holes. But those apertures meter the exact solder volume for every joint on your board, and their wall quality decides whether paste releases cleanly or bridges fine-pitch pads. We cut them by laser from stainless steel and electropolish the aperture walls, so print one behaves like print one thousand.
Order stencils standalone for your own line, or let them ride along automatically with a Varnitronics assembly order — either way, turnaround is measured in days, not weeks.
| Material | Stainless steel (SS304), laser-cut |
|---|---|
| Foil thickness | 0.08 – 0.2 mm (paste-volume matched) |
| Formats | Framed, frameless (for reusable frames), prototype |
| Step stencils | Step-up & step-down for mixed paste heights |
| Aperture treatment | Electropolished walls for clean paste release |
| Fiducials & tooling | Half-etched fiducials, custom tooling holes |
| Turnaround | Typically 24 – 72 hours |
Frequently asked questions
Why does stencil quality matter so much for SMT assembly?
The majority of SMT defects trace back to solder paste printing — the very first process step. Aperture accuracy, wall smoothness, and correct foil thickness determine whether the right paste volume lands on every pad, which is why a precision laser-cut stencil is the cheapest yield insurance you can buy.
What is a step stencil and when do I need one?
A step stencil has zones of different foil thickness — thinner over fine-pitch parts that need less paste, thicker where connectors or power parts need more. If your board mixes 0.4 mm pitch BGAs with large through-hole-reflow connectors, a step stencil lets both print correctly from one pass.
Framed or frameless — which should I order?
Framed stencils mount straight into the printer and suit repeat production. Frameless foils clamp into a reusable master frame — cheaper per design and easier to store, ideal for prototypes and frequent revisions.
Do I need to order a stencil separately if you're assembling my boards?
No — stencils are included automatically in our assembly workflow. Order a stencil separately when you're printing paste on your own line and just want our laser-cutting quality and turnaround.
Need a stencil by this week?
Get an instant estimate in seconds — no account, no email chain, no waiting.