When it comes to the terms "perforated cover oil" and "perforated window"—often confused with "VIA" and "PAD"—many customers and design engineers find themselves puzzled. They often ask what these terms mean in practice, and which option they should choose when placing an order. Here's a detailed explanation of this issue: I frequently come across such confusion during the design phase. The lack of standardization in designs makes it difficult to distinguish between a pad and a via. Sometimes, a conductive hole is mistakenly assigned a pad attribute, while other times, a keyhole might be treated as a via. This mix-up can lead to errors during manufacturing, resulting in complaints from clients. For PCB manufacturers, dealing with non-standard CAM data can be challenging. Engineers may attempt to fix the issues based on their experience, which can inadvertently encourage poor design practices. As Jeddah has emphasized, doing the right thing once doesn't mean your files are correct. All engineers must pay close attention to design standards and specifications. Jeddah will now strictly require all film engineers to preserve the original customer files as much as possible. Any processing should be done according to the design specifications, not based on assumptions or experience. By identifying and addressing these issues early, we can help improve the quality of the design and reduce potential problems down the line. This article mainly explains the differences between conductive holes, keyholes, and how they relate to PADs, Vias, and Gerber files. A common problem occurs when pads and vias are used interchangeably. For example, if your file includes a pad or a Protel-defined hole, and you request "over-hole cover oil," you must carefully check whether that pad is also acting as a via. Otherwise, the green solder mask might cover the hole, making it impossible to solder properly. When sending a file to the factory, if the design specifies a pad or a through-hole, make sure to clarify whether the hole needs to be covered with solder mask or left open. Many customers use pads (plugging holes) to represent conductive holes, which can result in unintended openings. If you intended for the hole to be covered, but the factory opens it, a dispute could arise. Always double-check your file design—whether it's a pad or a via. In the Protel software, there's an option called "tenting" under the VIA settings. If you enable this, the via will be covered with solder mask. When generating the solder mask layer, you can choose to either open the window or keep it closed. If you don't check the "via below" option, the vias will be covered. In contrast, pads are typically used for plug-in holes. So, always make sure to clearly define whether a feature is a via or a pad, as this distinction is crucial. During the Gerber conversion process, non-standard designs or unclear settings can cause further confusion. When sending Gerber files, the manufacturer cannot easily tell the difference between a via and a keyhole. The only way to ensure accuracy is by relying on the design itself. If there's no specific layer indicating the intent, the factory may default to opening the window for the solder mask, which could lead to short circuits. To avoid this, it's best to follow standard practices. If you're using Protel or Pads, make sure to specify the "perforated cover oil" setting correctly. In Protel, you can set the via to be covered with solder mask by checking the tenting option. For pads, the method depends on whether you're using a via or a pad. If you're providing the original design files, you can choose the desired option during ordering. If you're sending Gerber files, always verify that they meet your requirements before finalizing the order. 3.7V Lithium Polymer Battery,3.7 V Li Polymer Battery,3.7 V Lithium Ion Battery,3.7 V Lithium Polymer Rechargeable Battery Langrui Energy (Shenzhen) Co.,Ltd , https://www.langruibattery.com