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Silkscreen Suppression on Microminiature Packages

Printed From: PCB Libraries Forum
Category: PCB Footprint Expert
Forum Name: Product Suggestions
Forum Description: request new features
URL: https://www.PCBLibraries.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=1390
Printed Date: 04 Nov 2024 at 8:40pm


Topic: Silkscreen Suppression on Microminiature Packages
Posted By: caclark
Subject: Silkscreen Suppression on Microminiature Packages
Date Posted: 19 Aug 2014 at 4:59am
Now that 2014.06 and beyond has the capability to separate out very small chip components "D" < 1.0 (0402, 0201, 01005 ...). The next step in this process I think would be to allow silkscreen legend suppression on these very small components.

I don't know about everyone else but due to the silkscreen legend length of these devices our board houses by default (since we are 100% class 3) removes the silkscreen from them, since the silk is almost a large as the device anyway, and naked eye visual inspection is next to impossible.

My understanding is that silkscreen has a higher priority than courtyard, so this then unnecessarily extends the courtyard further away from the sides of the device. And you generally go to these devices in the first place due to space considerations.


Replies:
Posted By: Tom H
Date Posted: 19 Aug 2014 at 7:42am

The program already has a 3-Tier library system that you could move up to.

Since there are no 3-Tier solder joint goals for BGA, CGA, LGA and now ALL components smaller than 1.6 mm now have the same solder joint goals (1-Tier), the only difference from switching to Least, Nominal and Most environments is a Silkscreen Rules for Line Width and Pad to Silkscreen gap.

I can give you a free webcast to show you how to set up your personal "DefaultPreferences.dat" file for a 3-Tier library system, but I think you want something different. You want to change the Silkscreen Rules at the "Terminal Preference" level. That would be a huge programming effort.

Or perhaps you just want to adjust the silkscreen outlines for -

  1. Parts less than 1.6 mm
  2. Parts less than 1.0 mm
  3. Parts less than 0.5 mm
  4. Or maybe just 1 rule for all parts less than 1.6 mm is more reasonable

I'll discuss this with the programmers but they already have a product roadmap for V2014 -

  1. V2014.07 - Add complex user defined pad stack creation in FP Designer (August)
  2. V2014.08 - Add the "Slider Calculator" component families (August)
  3. V2014.09 - Bug fixes (no new features) end of V2014 development (September)
  4. V2015.01 - Introduce a new FPX file structure that can save custom data (October)
  5. V2015.02 - Add lots of new features (November)
  6. V2015.03 - Add interactive graphic editing to create unique footprint pad shapes and outlines (December)

I'll see what I can do, because I support your concept, but by looking at the roadmap, V2015.02 is the place where this new feature would fit in.

In the meantime, I would create my parts less than 1.6 mm and in the Calculator Drafting tab I would change the silkscreen rules "on-the-fly" build the miniature footprint and be done with it. i.e.: build it once, build it right and never build it again.

I would also create a new FPX file just for all parts less than 1.6 mm so if I had to batch create them, I have a "MiniPartUserPreference.dat" file that has the rules you want for that group of components. It's a workaround that would work well for you for now.




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Posted By: caclark
Date Posted: 19 Aug 2014 at 10:12am
Thanks Tom,

I do currently have a separate "MiniPartUserPreference.dat" file that I do use today for these types of ultra small devices. My only issue is that when new functionality is added to your program, I have to then add the xml variables manually to each and every .dat file I maintain (that was how I found the bug I reported yesterday about the courtyards not functioning as expected for these new rectangular end cap categories). I currently only have a few of these, so it is not a huge deal. But I would rather not compound the issue any more than I already have in the future.

All I was looking for was an on/off toggle for a given package range, but I guess size definition could be useful as well, as long as "0" in the field would mean off (just like the "Silkscreen Pin 1 Dot" & "Model Body Outline Width" work today in the Drafting tab).


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