[sdiy] Vias...

[Justin Owen]

PCB cart quote their minimum drill/line width and spacing as being 0.2mm.

I'm currently using vias with a 0.3mm hole and a 0.8mm diameter.

I haven't done this before...

...but is there any reason why I shouldn't be putting vias under SOIC chips (I've always tried to avoid that previously - I thought the slight curve of the via ring under the chip might cause problems for the pick'n'place machine)?

...and is there any reason why I couldn't put a via on top of an SMT pad that was bigger than the via (not sure if Eagle will even allow that - I've always put vias off to the side of pads)?

Just two things that would save a lot of space.

Thanks.

J