It's a good time for a via-in-pad refresher. It's not quite as hot a topic as it has been in the past, but it's still a very important consideration. It's always a bit controversial. The assembly process folks pretty much... Read more
Having open vias in pads is just about the number one "do not do" when creating a printed circuit board. Number two or three is don't have open vias near pads without a solder mask dam to stop the flow... Read more
The term "via" probably comes from the Latin word meaning "road." Therefore, open via would essentially mean "open road." Open roads, here in Oregon sometimes run through open range ranch land. That means that cows have as much right to... Read more
There are many reasons you shouldn’t use via in pad. It’s not good practice, and those via holes act like little capillary straws and suck solder off of the pad or the BGA. That said there are some applications that... Read more
Via in pad is an old issue that still pops up now and then. Our standard answer hasn't changed: No open vias in pads. But one of the questions we get related to the subject is: "What if we make... Read more
The answer to the question: "is it ever okay to put open vias in BGA pads?" is simply No. It's no, no, no, no, not ever!!! That makes it easy. No technique to worry about. No tolerances. Nothing. Just don't... Read more
Here's an interesting via in pad case. On the one hand, the footprint is very symmetrical and clean looking. On the other hand, it has open vias in the pads. At first glance, I thought this was a DIP footprint... Read more
Over the years, most of what we see are good PC boards. But some standout in the other direction as examples of what not to do. Some didn't make it through the board house alive. Some were unknowingly rendered useless... Read more
No. This isn't a closeup of an owl face. There is still some debate on how best to create a land pattern for a 0.4mm pitch BGA. We recommend soldermask defined pads at that pitch. But that's not really what... Read more
Parts change and so do vias. Our standard policy here is that open vias in pads are bad. We from time to time recommend ways to plug them. Generally, you have several options. Like this post shows. However, with vias... Read more
