An SMT stencil storage rack should hold each stencil upright in its own slot, support it only at the frame edges, keep the foil from touching anything and number the slots by PCB model. PRIMEAG builds slotted racks and carts with lean pipe (plastic-coated steel pipe, Φ28) or aluminum profile frames to the frame dimensions you actually measure; carts carry 100 kg/level.
Next to a DEK or MPM printer, stencils that have just been removed are often leaned against the wall or stacked on a bench. A few weeks later the stencils are scratched, the frames twisted, and at some point a stencil for a different model gets mounted by mistake.
- Do not stack stencils or lean them against a wall.
- One stencil per slot; slot number matches the stencil code on the job sheet.
- Clean off solder paste before storing.
- Racks inside the EPA must be grounded like benches and carts.
Why you need a stencil storage rack instead of leaning stencils on the wall
- Stacked flat: the upper frame presses on the stencil below, and frame edges and paste residue scratch the foil surface.
- Leaned against a wall: the weight rests on one corner, and over time the frame twists.
- No fixed location: easy to pick a similar-looking stencil by mistake.
- Stored without cleaning: dried solder paste clogs the apertures, and the next print is short of paste.
- Ungrounded rack in the EPA: a painted or anodized aluminum rack without a ground wire is an isolated conductor next to the line.
Slotted rack next to the printer
Stencils stand upright, the lower edge of the frame rests on a padded support bar, and guide bars on both sides form the slots. Slot width and rack depth follow your own factory’s frames: measure the actual stencil frames (width, height, thickness) and send them to PRIMEAG before the drawing is made.
The rack frame is built from Φ28 lean pipe and metal joints. In the EPA, use ESD pipe with metal joints and connect the frame to the common ground point; resistance to ground must be below 1×10⁹ Ω. Send a request for a stencil rack with slots by model.
Slotted carts to deliver stencils by model
If the stencil store is far from the line, use a cart to bring the stencil for the next job to the printer. The multi-level plastic-coated steel pipe cart carries 100 kg/level and takes ESD shelves and conductive casters. For clean areas, choose an aluminum profile cart with ESD shelves; anodized aluminum has an insulating oxide layer and needs a separate ground wire.
| Situation | Suggested configuration |
|---|---|
| Few stencils, one line | Slotted rack next to the printer, slot number labels |
| Many models, many lines | Storage rack with slots grouped by model, stencil in/out log |
| Stencil store far from the line | Add a slotted cart |
Clean the stencil before putting it in the slot
SMT printer wiping rolls come in smooth paper and mesh paper. Choosing the roll size by machine model is covered in the article SMT stencil wiping rolls for DEK, MPM, Yamaha. For feeders, see the article slotted racks and carts for SMT feeders.
Where to start
- Count the stencils for each line and each model currently running.
- Measure each type of stencil frame in use.
- Photograph the planned rack location.
- Send the data via the drawing and layout request page.
Standard-model racks and carts are made in 5–7 working days; slotted racks to a custom drawing are new designs, 10–15 working days. Frames carry a 3-year warranty, casters and ESD shelves 12 months. To find out whether the racks and carts holding your stencils are still grounded, factories in Ho Chi Minh City, Binh Duong and Dong Nai can book free on-site ESD resistance testing (Mon–Sat): a technician brings a TR1800 meter and 5 lb electrodes, also measures items bought elsewhere, with no obligation to order; after 3–5 working days the factory receives a PDF report with photos of each measuring point, for reference.
If your factory is an export processing enterprise (EPE): orders from VND 20 million are invoiced at 0% VAT, and PRIMEAG handles the on-the-spot import/export declaration free of charge.
Frequently asked questions
How many stencils can one slotted rack hold? It depends on frame thickness and rack length. Send the number of stencils together with the actual measured frame dimensions, and PRIMEAG will calculate the number of slots and levels.
Does a stencil rack have to be made of ESD materials? If the rack sits inside the EPA, use ESD pipe and metal joints and ground it like every other bench and cart; a rack in a warehouse outside the EPA can use standard pipe.
If we switch to stencils with a different frame size, can the old rack still be used? Usually yes. The rack is assembled with bolted joints, so you only need to move or add slot divider bars to fit the new frame, without rebuilding the whole rack.
Updated: 01/11/2026 — PRIMEAG engineering team
Email: info@primeag.vn · Phone/Zalo: +84 906 108 292
Written by the PRIMEAG engineering team
Updated: 2026-11-01