Questions tagged [silkscreen]
The silkscreen on a PCB is the printed layer on top that often shows component values or designators along with outlines to assist in hand assembly. On mass-produced boards they are also common to highlight test points and the designation of external connections.
56 questions
0
votes
0
answers
63
views
Altium duplicate Silkscreen between projects
I have one project on Altium in 2 different versions (version control is out of the scope of this question). I worked on the silkscreen in one version (let's say v1) and I would like to update the v2 ...
- 11
0
votes
0
answers
38
views
Naming of the output with an unprotected open drain or open collector on the silkscreen
An issue has arisen regarding the pin labeling on the silkscreen. These pins are user-defined, so I want to clearly indicate that the output is transistor open-drain. As you may understand, it's a ...
- 1
0
votes
0
answers
150
views
Excluding silk-to-silk rules for connected text and lines
This question is quite specific so I thought that I'd give it a shot.
On my top overlay layer I have text and lines which looks similar to the video
Phil's Lab #84 which can be seen at the timestamp ...
- 1
4
votes
1
answer
2k
views
Why are bottom silkscreens of PCBs mirrored?
I have looked at some PCB designs and noticed that the bottom-layer silkscreens are mirrored, and the top ones aren't. Why is that?
- 51
4
votes
2
answers
3k
views
What is the Fab layer used for (PCB)?
What is the Fab layer used for in PCB design? What should it include?
- 167
0
votes
1
answer
859
views
Kicad: PCBnew swap/change layer
How to change/swap layers on PCBnew using Kicad 5?
I want to swap the front drawing and front silk layers to F.SilkS, and in my case, I use an extra layer like Dwgs.User for dual silk printing: one ...
- 69
2
votes
1
answer
2k
views
How can I prevent the DRC in KiCAD from checking my silkscreen layers?
I am currently working on a PCB with a lot of components which are very close to one another. For this PCB I do not want to manufacture the silkscreen layers and I do not want the DRC to check for ...
- 211
0
votes
1
answer
431
views
How to invert colors in Altium for Soldermask application
I am trying to invert black and white in Altium for the "Bottom Solder" *from this one *to look this one
from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ISmS7HuXSE. As it turns out, while doing ...
- 51
0
votes
1
answer
733
views
How to show component value on Altium Silkscreen?
The Silkscreen of my Altium PCB project only shows Reference Designators of components. I want to show component value or part number instead of the reference designator on the silkscreen. Is there a ...
1
vote
2
answers
694
views
Does silkscreen help with voltage creepage distance?
I have seen on various mains powersupply PCBs that they have a lot of silkscreen lines near the high voltage areas. So my question is that does the silkscreen helps rise the voltage rating of that ...
- 13
21
votes
5
answers
5k
views
Why is the PCB part number traditionally on a copper layer?
I'm an experienced board designer, having designed 100+ boards over the past decade, and I have yet to hear a good answer for why the PCB part number is traditionally on an external copper layer, and ...
1
vote
1
answer
398
views
How to remove excess top silk in Proteus?
I have some markings on my plate made in silk and I believe they can hinder the welding, since a line is passing inside my pads, I know that when a silk line passes over the track there are no ...
- 113
2
votes
2
answers
2k
views
Minimal distance between silkscreen text and edge?
I'm maybe going to use JLCPCB to order a PCB (if I get it finished), but I'm wondering about the minimal distance between the edge and silk screen text.
If I look at the capabilities:
https://...
- 14k
2
votes
1
answer
78
views
Transparent Screen Selection
We are as a team with four members intending to design an augmented reality oriented smart glass which shall contain a CMOS camera, wireless communication and transparent screen. The algorithm below ...
- 127
3
votes
1
answer
945
views
What is the difference between courtyard top and top overlay?
I am creating my first assembly drawing and have noticed that my ECAD tool generates a footprint with a top/bottom overlay and courtyard top/bottom.
Top Overlay is the silkscreen, but what is the ...
- 151
11
votes
5
answers
9k
views
Why do some PCBs have the courtyard in the silkscreen layer?
I've seen quite a lot of PCBs which have the passive components outlined all the way in their silkscreen.
Something like this:
Here there is an outline around each passive which goes (almost) all ...
- 3,541
1
vote
1
answer
456
views
Why are there no nichrome resistor pastes?
Nichrome wire is commonly used for wire coil heating elements.
Other heating elements are formed by screen printing a pattern of "resistor paste" onto a dielectric coated substrate. These pastes are ...
- 271
2
votes
3
answers
3k
views
Does a silkscreen text or line over pads/mounting holes give problems?
I'm intending to create a PCB and let it manufactured (just a few, for a hobby project).
I added some text on the silkscreen layer very close to mounting holes/holes for pins/vias.
Also I used lines ...
- 14k
0
votes
1
answer
622
views
Altium Trace, Silkscreen not solid ie only showing outline
Whilst working with Room Copy key command (D-M-C) I have inadvertently changed something which has resulted in my traces and overlays showing as their outline only.
Does anyone know what I've done to ...
- 17
9
votes
1
answer
882
views
Are these (dis)assembly screw symbols standardised?
Sometimes there are these two half-arrow symbols on PCBs and on enclosures. See the images, for examples.
Those symbols are often placed near the screws, that are to be unscrewed upon disassembly.
...
- 664
1
vote
0
answers
52
views
Correct use of Silkscreen Layer and Documentation Layer
I'm looking to understand how correctly design my board silkscreen. I usually used to draw silkscreen of exact size of my package, especially for SMD parts, to easly know their dimentions and allow me ...
- 457
4
votes
5
answers
6k
views
Minimum Silkscreen Designator Size
I'm working on a fairly dense PCB at the moment and I'm having trouble fitting in all the component labels.
What is the minimum readable standard size for component designators on the silkscreen?
...
- 3,182
1
vote
1
answer
226
views
Female symbol on PCB silkscreen?
You can see the symbol on the upper right hand side of the board, what appears to be a pictogram of a woman wearing a dress, similar to a bathroom sign (?)
Wondering what this is.
4
votes
1
answer
3k
views
Can Silkscreen Go Directly Onto Copper PCB Layer? (No SolderMask)
Hi I am wondering if a PCB silkscreen layer can be printed directly onto a copper layer without a solder mask. I don't see this often but I have a design for which this would be useful. Has anyone ...
- 151
2
votes
0
answers
454
views
Reversed silk screening on EasyEDA
Just a quick one. I'm not sure if the text should be mirrored on the bottom layer of EasyEDA. It seems okay in the 3D preview, but when I upload the gerber to JLC their preview shows it still reversed....
- 117
3
votes
0
answers
141
views
silkscreen artifacts on pcb
I often see silkscreen prints between pads on pcbs. Especially I noticed this on "high voltage" designs (SMPS). What is the reason for that? Maybe it is to
improve automatic inspection
prevent for ...
- 31
3
votes
2
answers
2k
views
How to print value of variable on PCB into String feature in Altium Designer?
I'd like to print value of Revision variable that can be set in Project Options - Parameters (not Document Options on Parameters tab) into silkscreen of PCB. How could I do this?
- 311
3
votes
2
answers
13k
views
Acceptable Silk to Solder Mask Clearence
I am running DRC in Altium Designer and Im getting tons of "Silk to Solder Mask Clearence" Errors. I searched for acceptable values, but without luck. Altium is set to 10mil. I have most values around ...
- 33
2
votes
3
answers
946
views
Altium silk screen carried over into copper layer
My PCB vendor informed me today that a silk screen feature that is carried over into the copper layers, lands on traces and causes shorts (yellow box on the right).
The yellow box is a connector and ...
- 413
2
votes
1
answer
5k
views
How to specify what is printed to silkscreen layer in Eagle? [closed]
I am finishing up a PCB design for the first time in Eagle, and I need to know how to print the component names onto the silkscreen layer, how to I set the layers up so the right things are printed?
- 147
0
votes
2
answers
248
views
How to get text in svg2poly for Eagle?
I'm working with Eagle 7.7.0 and trying to import SVG files using svg2poly to put a logo on the silkscreen. To aid in the process, I've downloaded the current version of Inkscape, which is 0.92. I'm ...
- 121
0
votes
1
answer
126
views
1980's Transistor ID & Silkscreen (German Automotive)
From the circuit board of a 1985 Volkswagen engine control unit...
I can't find the device itself based on the markings. Does the silkscreen help?
- 215
6
votes
2
answers
2k
views
Which "silkscreen" process for home-made PCB prototypes?
For hobby and learning purposes, I do some PCBs at home, using photo-resist positive development (mainly just single/double layer).
Obviously, I realized that most professional PCBs have silkscreen ...
- 360
6
votes
4
answers
4k
views
Two different silkscreen colours on the same PCB
Has someone seen or used two different silkscreen colours in the same PCB? If so, can you describe the use of them or how the manufacturing process was?
Just thinking about improving the aesthetic of ...
- 1,492
6
votes
1
answer
1k
views
Acrylic vs. Epoxy Silkscreen?
I have been doing hardware design for years but never really cared which process was used for the silkscreen. Now I have a manufacturer asking for a blanket approval to use acrylic silkscreen on all ...
- 73
2
votes
1
answer
469
views
Altium Arrow To Designator
I am just wondering what the convention is for putting designators for tightly packed areas. It is best just to put arrows to the designators, make the designator smaller and put it inside the ...
- 79
0
votes
1
answer
482
views
Symbol on silk screen of design
This is the circuit diagram I used to make my line follower robot. I don't understand the symbol at the right side down corner, the one that is a circle with 3 dots inside. As this is my first PCB ...
6
votes
2
answers
11k
views
Altium hide component designators in fabrication ourput gerber
As the title says, is there a way to hide the component designators in the fabrication ourput in Altium AD15?
I have a very tight board with 0402 parts very close, so there is no room for the ...
- 2,310
5
votes
2
answers
2k
views
What is the typical PCB fabrication process in a professional PCB house?
I have been etching my own boards as part of my hobby interest into electronics, and I can't help but wonder how exactly is the typical printed circuit board manufactured? Unfortunately, details on ...
- 8,681
15
votes
2
answers
6k
views
Silkscreen versus assembly layer
Is there any example, preferably by photos, how does assembly layer on PCB differ from the silkscreen? I understand, that silkscreen reference designators should be left visible after the parts are ...
- 307
4
votes
3
answers
9k
views
Move silkscreen text from component on EAGLE CAD
How can I move a silk text from a component? I cant use the button move to the text and when I click smash nothing happend. I need to move the number 8 inside the board
Edit1
I try to smash but ...
- 499
2
votes
1
answer
834
views
Should courtyard information be included in gerber files for manufacture?
I just used 4pcb's free DFM checker and it doesn't like the fact that the courtyard line widths on my board are 1.968mils (what Altium generated in the IPC component wizard).
It's also complaining ...
- 4,576
3
votes
0
answers
2k
views
How to remove silk screen from PCB?
Last batch of PBCs I got from a manufacturer had some silk screen splashes (dots) all over the board ruining the design. I don't have and don't want to have any silk screen on the board. The whole ...
- 817
3
votes
1
answer
978
views
Altium place string (letter with macron)
I am looking for a way to place a macron in top of a letter on the silk screen. in Altium i have only 3 fonts to chose from default??, Sans Serif and Serif non of them supports macron for capital ...
- 215
2
votes
2
answers
922
views
Altium silkscreen art
I'm trying to design a logo in silkscreen in Altium without importing an image. I find that when I import a design it is made up of a huge number of primitives making it very difficult to work with. ...
- 677
0
votes
2
answers
588
views
Silkscreen covering pads
Im prepparing my 1st pcb for manufacturing, and before i generate the gerbers i wanted to ask some things here fist,
What happens when i put a silk screen like this? a logo big enough to cover the ...
- 1,547
0
votes
1
answer
1k
views
Solder Masking Ink
I am trying to make a complete PCB with solder masking and silk screening, for creating a small PCB fabrication house of my own later.
I choose the process of screen printing for fabricating my pcb, ...
- 43
1
vote
1
answer
5k
views
Altium, it is possible to mirror the silk screen?
I am trying to build a simple PCB at home. It is a single layer PCB, and I would like to transfer the silk screen on the back side, mirrored. But for that, I need to mirror text, etc.
To design the ...
- 933
3
votes
1
answer
3k
views
Kicad: Switching front Silk for Back Silk
I'm making a circuit using kicad and I want to add the silkscreen to it. It is a 1-layer board that I created using the front copper layer (red) of Pcbnew. The problem is that now the silkscreen doesn'...
- 161
2
votes
4
answers
3k
views
Typical minimum silkscreen-pad spacing
What is a typical industry figure for the minimum spacing between silkscreen and pads? When I look at a manufacturer's general list of capabilities, sometimes this number isn't even listed. I haven't ...
- 651