Pcbnew: improve text and layer options, esp. for boards which use bare copper as heat sinks.
Affects | Status | Importance | Assigned to | Milestone | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
KiCad |
Confirmed
|
Wishlist
|
Unassigned |
Bug Description
Application: kicad
Version: 5.0.0-fee4fd1~
Libraries:
wxWidgets 3.0.2
libcurl/7.35.0 OpenSSL/1.0.1f zlib/1.2.8 libidn/1.28 librtmp/2.3
Platform: Linux 4.4.0-112-generic x86_64, 64 bit, Little endian, wxGTK
Build Info:
wxWidgets: 3.0.2 (wchar_t,wx containers,
Boost: 1.54.0
OpenCASCADE Community Edition: 6.8.0
Curl: 7.35.0
Compiler: GCC 4.8.4 with C++ ABI 1002
Build settings:
USE_
USE_
KICAD_
KICAD_
KICAD_
KICAD_
BUILD_
KICAD_
KICAD_
KICAD_SPICE=ON
-------
TLDR; see 2 attached images in the next posts below.
Request: Pcbnew: allow printing text in solder mask, not just solder mask negative, and in copper negative, not just copper, and make a “forcefully retain solder mask under text” option when text is on silkscreen layer, & a "negative" option for text on all layers.
Details:
I'd like to make text out of solder mask, but this is currently impossible in KiCad. Let me explain. Let me also add this is a really important feature for me, so I hope you decide to implement it.
From an email I sent to Osh Park:
"I have a board I have intentionally removed solder mask from in many areas in order to make the whole board a heat sink. I'd still like silkscreen, however, on these areas. Can you print silkscreen onto copper (without solder mask there)?"
Their response:
"The fab will automatically remove silkscreen which is not directly on top of solder mask. This is done to prevent accidentally applying silkscreen over pads, which would cause soldering issues.
The usual solution in this situation is to leave a block of solder mask under the area to which you would like to apply silkscreen. Since the solder mask is quite thin, only ~1 mil thick (0.025 mm), it also may not significantly restrict heat flow where applied."
But....this is impossible in KiCad.
Please add an option to “forcefully retain solder mask under text” option when text is on silkscreen layer. Make this override any Mask layers, such as F.Mask or B.Mask.
I'd also like to write in copper negative on top of bare copper. In other words, I can apply an F.Mask zone to remove all solder mask, and I can add a copper fill, then I can place text on the F.Cu layer. However, the text doesn't show up unless I add a cutout zone on the copper fill layer around the text, since the text is copper. Please add a "make negative" button whenever we place text on any layer, to invert the text. This would allow me to write text onto a copper fill by making the text show up as places where copper is *not* present.
From my question here: https:/
"I’d like to write text in solder mask by using the F.Mask layer. However, there seems to be no way to make this a negative. In other words, I can easily add text to the F.Mask layer, but that leaves solder mask as the background and makes the text now uncovered copper, but what I want to do is the opposite: I’d like to leave the background as uncovered copper and make the text solder mask.
See the attached image from the KiCad 3D viewer. Yellow is bare copper and green is solder mask. I’d like the negative of this. Any way to do it?"
summary: |
Pcbnew: allow printing text in solder mask, not just solder mask negative, and in copper negative, not just copper, and make a “forcefully retain solder mask under text” option when text is on - silkscreen layer + silkscreen layer, & a "negative" option for text on all layers. |
description: | updated |
description: | updated |
tags: | added: pcbnew |
Changed in kicad: | |
importance: | Undecided → Wishlist |
status: | New → Confirmed |
TLDR; see attachments.