Saving Solder Mask Settings

PCB Libraries Expert Pro Version 2015.20 OrCAD PCB, Librarian and Librarian (batch create) options

I always add additional solder mask area under Terminal Solder Mask X (+/-) and Solder Mask Y (+/-). This is to allow for errors in the solder mask alignment, and is required by most PC board houses. Some just automatically add it, others charge more for a die cut mask if you do not provide it. It is called solder mask swell.

The additional mask area does get included in the part that is generated, BUT if I add the part to an FPX library it instantly disappears. That is, add the swell to the settings under Terminal, hit OK, swell appears in the screen and in the part generated. BUT if I click on Add Comp in the library, go to another part by clicking in the library, then go back to the original part the swell is gone. The box in Terminal-Settings-Solder Mask is back to 0.00.

I think this setting should be saved, all my parts have it and so do the parts in many other standard libraries. Now I can't trust the library, have to create every part from scratch or use the generated part without being sure it fits well. Frankly I don't know why it is not automatically applied like so many other details, that would simplify part generation for me.

OrCAD PCB does not automatically create the swell like Altium does, it has to be in the symbol. And sometimes you have to reduce the swell to make lines between closely spaced pins, so it has to be specified in the symbol.

Bruce P wrote: I always add additional solder mask area under Terminal Solder Mask X (+/-) and Solder Mask Y (+/-). It is called solder mask swell.

Our PCB manufacturer also asks us to add solder mask swell - they ask us to make the solder mask 4 thou (0.11mm) larger than the pad.

On the footprints we have generated from scratch we can edit the pas stacks to create this swell, but on footprints where we have used one of the Library Expert Pro templates the option to increase any of the parameters of the pads are greyed out so we cannot add the swell.

How can we edit the solder mask sizes where it is greyed out? We really don't want to have to create the footprints from scratch every time.

Thanks, that solved the problem.