Release Checks

Review Schematic, BOM and Variant Parts.

Review all required electrical and mechanical design constraints.

Review return paths, look for signal traces crossing moats in GND pours.

Review all project outputs for Fabrication and Assembly.

Review Solder mask, Solder Paste and Silkscreen. Fix as needed.

Check Board Fiducials, Markings PCB and PCA numbers.

Check Position of the Database Origin.

Check Fab Dwg - Notes, Dimensions, Drill Table, Stackup and Impedance Table.

Check Assembly Dwg - Notes and Dimensions.

Check for Antennae Nets (Vias and Tracks).

Check for Components and Pads on Mechanical Layers.

Check for No-Net Copper (Vias, Track, Arc, Fills, Regions, etc. . . 

Execute Selection Filters and Check the Properties Panel for Selected Objects.

Select Pads with No Paste Enabled 

Pads - Select  Pads with NO Solder Paste

(ObjectKind = 'Pad') And (PasteMaskEnabled <> 'True') And IsSMTPin

The selected PADs may Include Thermal Paddles with Windowed Paste.

The selected PADs may Include Fiducials, Fiducials should not have Paste.

Suggested solution for Windowed Paddles and Fiducials is Paste Enabled with -100% Expansion.

Nothing should be selected after executing the PCB Filters shown below !

Tip: Zoom Out (Short Cut Keys VF) before executing each Filter.

Components - Select Components that are Not on Top and Bottom Layers

(ObjectKind = 'Component') and not OnOutside

Polarity Text Dots - Select Text Strings with Zero Height (Height should be > 0)

(ObjectKind = 'Text') And (AsMM(TextHeight) = 0)

NPTH - Select NPTH Pads with Plated Enabled to Find Mistakes

((HoleDiameter >= PadXSize_AllLayers ) OR (HoleDiameter >= PadYSize_AllLayers)) And (PadIsPlated = 'True')  

Pads - Select Thru-Hole Pads that have Paste In Pin for Review 

(ObjectKind = 'Pad') and IsThruPin And (PasteMaskEnabled <> 'False') 

Pads - Select Pads with Excess Solder Paste for Review

IsSMTPin And (PasteMaskExpansionMode = 'Manual') And (AsMM(PasteMaskExpansion) > 0)

Pads - Select Pads that are Not using Rule Based Soldermask Expansion

(ObjectKind = 'Pad') And (SolderMaskExpansionMode <> 'From Rule')

Tracks - Select Tracks with Exposed Copper for Review

(ObjectKind = 'Track') And (SolderMaskExpansionMode = 'Manual') And (AsMils(PasteMaskExpansion) = 0) and OnOutside

VIAs - Select Pads that are Not using Rule Based Soldermask Expansion

(ObjectKind = 'Via') And (SolderMaskExpansionMode <> 'From Rule')

(ObjectKind = 'Via') And (IPC4761ViaType <> 'None')

Regions - Select Free Regions with Exposed Copper for Review

(ObjectKind = 'Region') And (SolderMaskExpansionMode <> 'None') and OnOutside and Not InComponent('*') And (IsCutoutRegion = 'False')

Regions - Select Regions with 0 size Area.  These should be deleted.

(ObjectKind = 'Region') AND (Area='0 sq.inch')

PIP - Check ThuHole Pads with Solder Paste (Paste in Pin) for Review

IsThruPin And (PasteMaskEnabled = 'True') And (PasteMaskExpansionMode <> 'Manual')

To Fix a Pads in a PCBDoc Select Components > Unlock Primitives

After executing a Filter use Find Similar and Properties Panel to make changes.

Paste Mask and Solder Mask - Examples for Pads:

Properties Panel > Select Pad Stack > Simple > Solder Shape > Rule Expansion

Properties Panel > Select Pad Stack > Simple > Paste Shape > Enabled and Manual 

Paste Mask and Solder Mask for Free Regions and Fills in PCBDoc:

Properties Panel > Select Pad Stack > Simple > Paste Shape > NOT Enabled

To Find Fills and Regions on Paste Layers (i.e. Thermal Paddles)

((ObjectKind = 'Region') And (Layer = 'TopPaste')) or ((ObjectKind = 'Fill') And (Layer = 'TopPaste')) or ((ObjectKind = 'Region') And (Layer = 'BottomPaste')) or ((ObjectKind = 'Fill') And (Layer = 'BottomPaste'))

Rememeber !  Select Components > Lock Primitives when done.

Useful Components and Designators Filters

Components - Select All Components Except Caps and Resistors

(ObjectKind = 'Component') And (Not(Name Like 'C*')) And (Not(Name Like 'R*'))

Components - Select Parts with Designators Like R* or C*

(ObjectKind = 'Component') And (Not(Name Like 'C*')) And (Not(Name Like 'R*'))

Designators - Select Designators with Silkscreen Violations

(ObjectKind = 'Text') And (StringType = 'Designator') And (Layer = 'TopOverlay') and HasViolations

Stackup Folder - readme.txt file

Do not delete this file.

Refer to the Stackup in the Fab notes

If available a copy of an approved fabricator stackup may be placed in this folder.

That's it !