Silk screen on an exposed pad with no solder mask

[itdontgo]

Hi,

Does anyone know if the silk screen is applied after the PCB is solder levelled/plated so that a silk screen can be applied to what would normally be a pad?

You obviously would get a DRC error if you put text on a pad but could a PCB be produced this way intentionally.  It's a pad that is not intended to be soldered.

[DanielS]

If you are worried about the exact order in which your PCB manufacturer applies layers, you would need to ask your manufacturer. It would be logical to print all the artwork layers before the solder paste but the only way to be 100% certain is to ask.

Same goes for the DRC violations: you always have the option of ignoring them but will need to tell your PCB manufacturer that this violation is intentional and should not be corrected. Otherwise, they might either reject your order, correct your "mistake" for you or possibly do something else.

[nuno]

I know at least one that will automatically remove the silkscreen from where "it doesn't make sense" like over holes.

I also know at least one that will just blindly apply the layers, whatever it results it's whattever you'll get.

So you'll have to ask your manufacturer.

[marshallh]

Many fabs will automatically erase any overlapping silk on exposed copper (by ANDing the soldermask and silk layers)
You will have to tell them to NOT do this. The finishing process may not like the silk, it's hard to say.

[ovnr]

Well, sometimes you end up with the fab leaving silkscreen on the pads, but in my experience they cut it.

I'd never depend on them not removing the silkscreen, though. And it causes issues with HASL finishes in particular.