# Stackup Editor

Create and modify PCB layer stackups.

![](https://uploads.developerhub.io/prod/86Yw/git/77888302446095c3a79ef1d5a9c67088b626a0a5.png)

## Overview

**Community resources:** Flux has a community of over 175,000 electrical engineers. You can use their project templates and resources in Flux.

**Fabrication house templates:** Fabrication houses add their stackup options to Flux as templates. Start from one of these templates to get a stackup that matches production.

**Layer management:** Use the Stackup Editor to create and rearrange layers. Save and load stackup presets from other users and fabrication houses, and change the values of each layer.

## Getting Started

Ask Flux to set up the board stackup and impedance rules.

```text
Set up a four-layer stackup with ground on layer 2 and power on layer 3.
```

```text
Choose a stackup for the USB interface and set its differential pair to 90 ohms.
```

For impedance setup, see [Impedance control](https://docs.flux.ai/reference/impedance-control).

### Selecting a Stackup Template

Ask Flux to set up the stackup from a template.

```text
Use a 4-layer stackup from JLCPCB for this board.
```

```text
Use the PCBWay 4-layer stackup for this board.
```

```text
Use the PCBWay Flex 4 Layer stackup for this board.
```

```text
Use the PCBWay Rigid-Flex 6 Layer stackup for this board.
```

```text
Use the AISLER 4-layer stackup for this board.
```

```text
Set up a 2-layer, 1.6 mm FR-4 stackup for this board.
```

To do it in the UI:

Flux comes with stackup templates that you can use as a base for your customized template. To select a template, click on the arrow in the top-right corner of the menu.

Once a template has been selected you can use the stackup editor to modify any properties or add/remove any layers.

| Template group | Templates |
| ---- | ---- |
| Standard | **Standard 1 Layer**, **Standard 2 Layer**, **Standard 4 Layer**, **Standard 6 Layer**, **Standard 8 Layer**, **Standard 10 Layer**, **Standard 12 Layer** |
| Fabrication houses | **JLC7628 4 Layer**, **JLC3313 4 Layer**, **PCBWay 4 Layer**, **AISLER 4 Layer** |
| Flex and rigid-flex | **Flex 2 Layer**, **Rigid-Flex 4 Layer**, **JLCPCB Flex 1 Layer**, **JLCPCB Flex 2 Layer**, **JLCPCB Flex 4 Layer (ED copper)**, **JLCPCB Flex 4 Layer (RA copper, bend-rated)** |
| PCBWay flex (in the **Flex** group) | **PCBWay Flex 1 Layer**, **PCBWay Flex 2 Layer**, **PCBWay Flex 4 Layer**, **PCBWay Flex 6 Layer** |
| PCBWay rigid-flex (in the **Flex** group) | **PCBWay Rigid-Flex 4 Layer**, **PCBWay Rigid-Flex 6 Layer** |

The PCBWay flex templates include a default **Flex** area stackup. The PCBWay rigid-flex templates include **Rigid** and **Flex** area stackups. See [Flex and Rigid-Flex Boards](https://docs.flux.ai/reference/flex-and-rigid-flex#create-a-flex-or-rigid-flex-board) for their layer constructions and how to draw the flex areas.

![](https://uploads.developerhub.io/prod/86Yw/git/2b7da21c0cd8c40217bcfbc80201b9565b506e95.png)

### Adding and Removing Layers

Ask Flux to add or remove layers.

```text
Change this board from 4 to 6 copper layers.
```

```text
Remove the two inner layers and make this a 2-layer board.
```

To do it in the UI:

To add a new layer to your stackup, click on the "+Layer" button at the bottom-left corner of the menu. To remove a layer, select the target layer and click on the trash can button on the left of the layer's name.

![](https://uploads.developerhub.io/prod/86Yw/git/0545daea62fe88a535093184004002a2ad239beb.png)

### Editing Layer Properties

Ask Flux to change the properties of a layer.

```text
Set the copper weight of the outer layers to 2 oz.
```

```text
Make the total board thickness 1.0 mm and use 0.2 mm prepreg between the top two layers.
```

To do it in the UI:

Every layer's properties can be modified by clicking on the target property. Some of those properties will have preloaded options, and some others can accept any input.

![](https://uploads.developerhub.io/prod/86Yw/git/7bb43df36c7f1419ceab4f6b33457a5ea0210907.png)

Each layer has a type and a material. These are the layer types and their materials:

| Layer type | Materials |
| ---- | ---- |
| **Overlay** (silkscreen) | — |
| **Solder Paste** | Solder Paste |
| **Solder Mask** | Solder Mask |
| **Dielectric** | FR4, Prepreg, Core, Polyimide, Polyimide + adhesive, Bondply |
| **Signal** | Copper, Rolled annealed copper, Electro-deposited copper |
| **Power Plane** | Copper, Rolled annealed copper, Electro-deposited copper |
| **Surface Finish** | — |
| **Coverlay** | Polyimide, Polyimide + adhesive |
| **Stiffener** | Polyimide, Polyimide + adhesive, Bondply |
| **Shield** | Shield film |

The **Coverlay**, **Stiffener**, and **Shield** layers and the flex materials are for flex and rigid-flex boards. See [Flex layers and materials](https://docs.flux.ai/reference/flex-and-rigid-flex#flex-layers-and-materials).

### Rearranging Layers

Ask Flux to change the order and the roles of the layers.

```text
Use the order signal, ground, power, signal for the four copper layers.
```

To do it in the UI:

To change a layer's position in the stackup, hover over the target layer and click and drag the six dots button.

![](https://uploads.developerhub.io/prod/86Yw/git/8c26d01fb50667023303b8a29258a4f844963f40.png)

## Area stackups for flex and rigid-flex boards

A flex or rigid-flex board uses area stackups. Each area stackup is a named set of layers from the one layer list of the stackup, with the kind **Rigid** or **Flex**.

Ask Flux to set up the area stackups.

```text
Add a Flex area stackup that uses L1, L2, the polyimide core, and coverlay on both sides.
```

```text
Use the JLCPCB Flex 2 Layer stackup for this board.
```

To do it in the UI:

1. Click **Add area stackup** in the Stackup Editor. Each area stackup gets a column in the layer table.
2. In the column, select the check box of each layer that the area stackup uses.
3. Click **⋯** next to the column name to **Rename** the area stackup, change its kind (**Rigid** or **Flex**), **Set as default**, **Duplicate**, or **Delete** it. On a Flex area stackup, select **Edge glue material…** to set the glue for its rigid-to-flex edges. See [Set the edge glue material](https://docs.flux.ai/reference/flex-and-rigid-flex#set-the-edge-glue-material).
4. Read the thickness and the number of copper layers of the area stackup at the bottom of its column.

One area stackup is the default. It applies to each part of the board that is not in a Stackup Area. Flux uses the stackup of each area to calculate the trace impedance, to route, to run the design checks, and to make the 3D model and the manufacturing files.

For the full workflow, see [Flex and Rigid-Flex Boards](https://docs.flux.ai/reference/flex-and-rigid-flex).

---

[All pages in this documentation](https://docs.flux.ai/llms.txt)