Remove Silkscreen from pads

[antoniobeta]

Hello Everyone!

I am finishing a design on Altium and I have just encountered a problem.
The graphic I want to print on the silkscreen PCB covers some of the pads on the top layer, I know some manufacturers will fix that problem directly on the GERBERS before manufacturing, but I was wondering how could I made that myself on Altium designer 20 so I don’t depend on the manufacturer implementation.

Pictures 1, 2, 3 are screenshots of my design so you can see what I mean.

I have tried the trim silkscreen tool inside Altium but the result I got is picture 6 (the before is picture 4).

Any idea?

[thm_w]

Don't worry all manufactures will do it.

If you had to do it yourself, find gerber editing software, and clip the silkscreen layer from the soldermask layer. But no one needs to do that.

[langwadt]

Don't worry all manufactures will do it.

If you had to do it yourself, find gerber editing software, and clip the silkscreen layer from the soldermask layer. But no one needs to do that.

better to make sure, years ago I got some pcbs from Olimex where there soldermask was not removed from the pads

[thm_w]

better to make sure, years ago I got some pcbs from Olimex where there soldermask was not removed from the pads

It looks like multiple people have had that same result:
https://mikael.com/2012/05/pcb-received/pcb-from-olimex/
https://tinkerlog.com/2008/04/04/pcbs-from-olimex/

Sounds like a good reason to never buy PCBs from olimex if they can't handle such a simple step.

edit: they've stopped making PCBs as of some years ago.

[langwadt]

better to make sure, years ago I got some pcbs from Olimex where there soldermask was not removed from the pads

It looks like multiple people have had that same result:
https://mikael.com/2012/05/pcb-received/pcb-from-olimex/
https://tinkerlog.com/2008/04/04/pcbs-from-olimex/

Sounds like a good reason to never buy PCBs from olimex if they can't handle such a simple step.

some might prefer a manufacturer that doesn't change the design and makes exactly what is ordered

had I known, I would have removed it myself

[antoniobeta]

Don't worry all manufactures will do it.

If you had to do it yourself, find gerber editing software, and clip the silkscreen layer from the soldermask layer. But no one needs to do that.

Do you recomend any good gerber editor program in particular?

Thanks for the reply!

[antoniobeta]

Don't worry all manufactures will do it.

If you had to do it yourself, find gerber editing software, and clip the silkscreen layer from the soldermask layer. But no one needs to do that.

better to make sure, years ago I got some pcbs from Olimex where there soldermask was not removed from the pads

Yeah, that´s why I wanted to do it myself, so I can be certain that the board will be manufactured correctly.
But sems that this is impossible to do it inside AD.

[thm_w]

Yeah, that´s why I wanted to do it myself, so I can be certain that the board will be manufactured correctly.
But sems that this is impossible to do it inside AD.

It will be manufactured correctly, as long as you use any half decent PCB manufacturer.

[jpanhalt]

Do't you run a DRC before submitting?  Even the earliest versions of Eagle did that.  Typically, you "smash" all components and put the names where you want them.

[thm_w]

Do't you run a DRC before submitting?  Even the earliest versions of Eagle did that.  Typically, you "smash" all components and put the names where you want them.

Its not to do with font DRC, this is PCB artwork.
see: http://ncmachineworks.ca/pcb-artwork/

[antoniobeta]

I was thinking about Seedstudio or JLC cause they are cheap, maybe once I place the order I can send them a message so they know that they have to remove the extra silkscreen. Hope they don´t charge me extra for that.

[thm_w]

I was thinking about Seedstudio or JLC cause they are cheap, maybe once I place the order I can send them a message so they know that they have to remove the extra silkscreen. Hope they don´t charge me extra for that.

They won't charge extra. JLC does it for sure, Seed I've never ordered from but I'm certain they would do it as well.
Google seeed PCB's and you will see examples with artwork that has been clipped.

[langwadt]

Removing a cured epoxy ink which is commonly used for silkscreen and solder mask (as well as for bonding FR4) is so difficult that there are even patents about it.
See the patent CN101649068B .

The following mixture will do the job at room temperature.  It is quick and does not attack the copper quickly:

• 800g of Methylene dichloride (DCM)
• 130g of Formic acid
• 50g of Phenol
• 20g of Sulfuric acid

it might kill you and make it hurt all the way, but you won't have to worry about unwanted solder mask