kicad-developers team mailing list archive

[Carl Poirier <carl.poirier.2@xxxxxxxxx>]

Could the plot values checkbox be fixed easily? Since it's a "fix" I
suggest it for integration in 4.0.

On Thu, Sep 3, 2015 at 5:42 PM, yann jautard <bricofoy@xxxxxxx> wrote:

>
>
>
> Le 03/09/2015 23:01, Jean-Paul Louis a écrit :
>
>> Hi nnn,
>>
>> I do not understand your point about having values on the PCB. NOBODY in
>> the industry put values on the PCB.
>>
>
>
> I disagree, I have a few examples of recent industrial boards with values
> on them. Last one I've seen is an inverter welder.
> I do electronic troubleshooting and getting such a board with values
> written down is really a pleasant thing when you don't have any
> documentation on the device, and when you can't get value from the part
> themselves because for some reason they've burned during the failure.
>
> So for that reason I also put values on silkscreen on my own boards.
>
> I really can't see the point of moving values to another layer. There is a
> checkbox to plot or not the values on the silkscreen layer. Now that
> checkbox does nothing, and this is pretty confusing. Leave values on
> silkscreen layer and if you dont need them, just do not check the option,
> where is the problem ?
>
> And if you need a Fab layer with the values... ok there is a problem you
> can't get it. Well then for that particular purpose, there should be a way
> in the plot window to output several layers in a single file like there is
> in the print window.
>
> In fact, I think the three windows "plot", "print" and "export SVG" need
> some rework to combine them all in a single one, because each of them have
> features that can be needed in some ways to achieve a particular thing. Now
> the example is adding values on silkscreen even if they are on a different
> layer : you can't get it from the plot window, but you can do it with the
> export SVG or print one using the single file output checkbox, and
> selecting silk and fab layer. But on the other hand, from these windows you
> can't get a gerber file...
>
> regards,
> yann
>
> To facilitate the assembly, a lot of companies I worked for used a FAB
>> drawing with one inch grid, and then generate a list of parts with the
>> location on the grid. That’s more than enough to locate a part when
>> troubleshooting.
>> You can do the same easily.
>>
>> Just my $0.02,
>> Jean-Paul
>> AC9GH
>>
>>
>>
>> On Sep 3, 2015, at 3:32 PM, nnn <nnn4000@xxxxx> wrote:
>>>
>>> I don't want remove refdes from silkscreen - just add a copy (text %R)
>>> scaled to footprints size - this layer really helps when you need to find
>>> component from schematic on a pcb (if you don't have computer with your
>>> design in a lab).
>>>
>>>
>>> W dniu 03.09.2015 o 21:25, Andy Peters pisze:
>>>
>>>> On Sep 3, 2015, at 11:06 AM, nnn <nnn4000@xxxxx> wrote:
>>>>>
>>>>> Some time ago after short discussion on librarians mailing list it was
>>>>> decided to change default reference and value fields of footprints and move
>>>>> values to F.Fab layer.
>>>>> I think it was bad decision. I'm asking here to get more opinions.
>>>>>
>>>> For the value fields, putting them on the Fab layer is fine. As Chris
>>>> notes, pretty much nobody prints the values on the board but having them on
>>>> an assembly or fab drawing helps the human who’s stuffing the board.
>>>>
>>>> I think having the reference designators on any non-silkscreen layer is
>>>> a mistake.  If the ref-des is on the F.Fab layer, your generated Gerbers
>>>> won’t have them on the F.SilkS (or B.Silks) layer, but rather on the Fab
>>>> layer — and the PCB fab guys will probably bounce your design back because
>>>> they won’t know how to make a silkscreen out of stuff on the F.Fab layer,
>>>> especially when a silkscreen layer already exists in the package!
>>>>
>>>> And to make matters worse, if you had older parts in your library or a
>>>> design which had the ref-deses all on the F.SilkS layer, and you add new
>>>> footprints which have the ref-des on the F.Fab layer, your Gerbers will be
>>>> all confused, since some parts will show a ref-des on the silkscreen and
>>>> some won’t.
>>>>
>>>> I think it’s a matter of expectations: EVERYONE expects the reference
>>>> designators to be on a silkscreen layer.
>>>>
>>>> -a
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>>>
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>>
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>
>
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