Electronics > KiCad

Tantulum Capacitor silkscreen

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TankSparks:
There is a U shape silkscreen around the tantulum capacitor,  which end should be positive?  I thought the open end of the U should be positive.  Notice kicad 3d view put the stripe at the top indicating the Positive.    I added + on the silkscreen, thats where I want it.  It bugs me that the silkscreen seems backwards though.  I googled for a long time but found no answer as to how the silkscreen should be.  footprint and symbol are stock from Kicad library.

There is also 2 leds with U shapes around then, with the open end being Anode (+)

Kim Christensen:
I don't like many of KiCad's default silkscreens either. The diodes make a bit more sense if you think of the bottom of the squarish U as the cathode "line"...
You can download alternate KiCad footprint libraries or just edit the ones you use most often and save them.

Just an example. I haven't tried this version:
https://alternatekicadlibrary.com/

Uky:
Quite a few symbol & footprint services that offers scripts for the creation of footprints,
creates footprints with non useable (ugly!) silk screens. Way to thick apperture, silk screen underneath the
footprint, etc. Even some built-in wizards does this (Like Cadence. Have not tried 24.1 yet though)

Unless there is plenty of space available, I always use minimum apperture for silk (0.1mm/4 mil),
add ONLY a pin or polarity indicator for discrete components. And I always place the polarity
indicator outside the foot print.

For thru hole components (still used?) I always use a square pad for pin #1, cathode (diodes), + on electrolythic capacitors.

Some professional customers I have, only orders the first batch with silk screen for debug before mass production
using TOP layer for board name, revision, a few texts. Nothing else. Having polarity/pin indicators in the copper
layer makes repairing easier.

As previously pointed out, I do not like silk underneath the components
but there are other tips worth reading below:

https://cdn.weka-fachmedien.de/whitepaper/files/mentorpaper_86309.pdf

 :)

Doctorandus_P:
I suggest you try out the "Alternative KiCad Library" which can be installed via the "Plugin & Content Manager".
I attached an example:

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