Through-hole Solder & Paste Mask Pad Stack Issue

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   While I use Footprint Expert for creating a through-hole footprint, I find paste mask and solder mask not equal to Zero '0', also pad type not be simple type.
Attached FPX
uploads/11979/throughhole.fpx

Altium Screenshot:

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m.elsayed Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Expert User Joined: 22 Sep 2016 Status: Offline Points: 203	Post Options Post Reply Quote m.elsayed Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Topic: Through-hole Solder & Paste Mask Pad Stack Issue Posted: 20 Oct 2025 at 12:13pm
	While I use Footprint Expert for creating a through-hole footprint, I find paste mask and solder mask not equal to Zero '0', also pad type not be simple type. Attached FPX uploads/11979/throughhole.fpx Altium Screenshot:



Tom H Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Admin Group Joined: 05 Jan 2012 Location: San Diego, CA Status: Offline Points: 5939	Post Options Post Reply Quote Tom H Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: Yesterday at 10:29am
	What's wrong with having negative values? When a negative paste mask value is the same value as the pad, it turns off that shape. We don't understand what the issue is. We know that you want to see a zero '0' for the paste mask if there is none, but having a negative value is the same thing.
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m.elsayed Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Expert User Joined: 22 Sep 2016 Status: Offline Points: 203	Post Options Post Reply Quote m.elsayed Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: Yesterday at 12:35pm
	1st - Pad type should be simple, not like shown in image 2nd - Solder Mask expansion = 0 and select not inherit Altium rule when building 3rd - Paste Mask value for fiducials should equal 0. However, a negative value appears

Tom H Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Admin Group Joined: 05 Jan 2012 Location: San Diego, CA Status: Offline Points: 5939	Post Options Post Reply Quote Tom H Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: Yesterday at 12:57pm
	There is no such thing as a negative Solder Mask on a pad. i.e.: all SMD and PTH pads must have Solder Mask. The only time the value is negative is when the pad stack uses Solder Mask Defined technology. The Negative Paste Mask value only appears in Fiducials. Note: no one uses Local Fiducials any more. Ask your assembly shop if they need them. Surface Mount pad stack Paste Mask is the same value as the pad (1:1 scale) except for Thermal Pad checker board patterns. Through-hole pad stacks do not use Paste Mask unless you are using Pin-in-Paste (PnP) technology. If you use PnP technology then the Paste Mask value is normally 1:1 scale of the pad size (or bigger).
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Jeff.M Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Admin Group Joined: 16 May 2012 Location: San Diego Status: Offline Points: 491	Post Options Post Reply Quote Jeff.M Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 18 hours 9 minutes ago at 6:39pm
	The negative values are an artifact of the Altium translator script. They are part of a perfectly good Altium footprint. Once the footprint is: imported into an Altium library; the library is saved; Altium is closed, then reopened the values will be appear as zero. There have never been any reported problems associated with this characteristic.
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Tom H Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Admin Group Joined: 05 Jan 2012 Location: San Diego, CA Status: Offline Points: 5939	Post Options Post Reply Quote Tom H Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 16 hours 26 minutes ago at 8:22pm
	When you first import a part from footprint expert into Altium, but through hole pad stack will show a negative pace mask value. However, when you close to him and reopen it and select the properties for the pad stack, the pace mask value will be zero. The negative value is only there temporarily until you close Altium and reopen it and everything is reset to normal.
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m.elsayed Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Expert User Joined: 22 Sep 2016 Status: Offline Points: 203	Post Options Post Reply Quote m.elsayed Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 14 hours 40 minutes ago at 10:08pm
	Thanks , Tom, Jeff, got your reply for this point and will follow it and check but still wait your support for the other 2 points:- 1- pad type should be simple not other type as shown in image 2- solder mask expansion should be zero not have vlaue

m.elsayed Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Expert User Joined: 22 Sep 2016 Status: Offline Points: 203	Post Options Post Reply Quote m.elsayed Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 12 hours 27 minutes ago at 12:21am
	i try the point for paste mask expansion , but till gives negative vlaues as shown in screen

Tom H Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Admin Group Joined: 05 Jan 2012 Location: San Diego, CA Status: Offline Points: 5939	Post Options Post Reply Quote Tom H Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 4 hours 42 minutes ago at 8:06am
	The thermal pad has a checker board paste mask pattern. Can you manually create a thermal pad with a checker board paste mask pattern and send us the Altium .pcblib file via email so we can compare the results? We don't use Altium as a PCB design tool, so it would be best coming from you.
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