Is there a way to edit component silkscreen after placement?

[scott]

Due tight placement, some component silkscreen lines are overlapping nearby pads.  Is there a way to edit or delete such silkscreen features in the PCB Editor, post-placement, without changing the Footprint itself or creating a new Footprint just for this particular board?

Thanks,

Scott

[Anonymous]

Select the component which the silkscreen you want to modify belongs to. Right Click - Properties click Smash and ok.

Now you can individually select the screen belongs to that component. Move it around shrink in size etc without affecting the original footprint.

If there are more than one to modify you can group them all and smash together using command line.  You can check the commands group, smash and change in manual if you don't know what to do that.

[scott]

I've never known Smash to allow the repositioning of silkscreen lines and arcs.  In my experience, including trying it just now, it only lets you move Names.  Is there some other setting I'm not aware of?

Thanks,
Scott

[Anonymous]

Here there's something that might work, even though it will change the silk screen of ALL components...
Just open the DRC checker, and go to Masks. Play a little with the parameters until you find something that fits.

[scott]

The problem is the location of features on tPlace and bPlace, not tStop and bStop, the latter being the Mask layers.  So, I don't think changing the Mask sizing is going to help if I have tPlace features overlapping copper pads!

Thanks,
Scott

[jorge_garcia · Accepted solution]

Hi Scott,

I hope you're doing well. This is not possible, and in general not a concern. Most manufacturers have software in place the fixes these types of issues so you usually don't even notice. Even if they don't fix it, unless you have 00201 pads or something like that the ink immediately burns off as soon as solder hits it.

In EAGLE, the library is the single source of truth for a design so any changes to the silkscreen would have to be done there.

Please let me know if there's anything else I can do for you.

Best Regards,

[scott]

I agree that fab houses will usually correct this, but I prefer to give them a clean design in order to save back and forth with them.  Plus, these components are 0201, so we don't want to risk problems.  I guess in this case I'll have to let the fab house do it.  FYI, in Altium there is a provision to unlock primitives and make local edits on the board.  It's used rarely, but is handy at times. 

Thanks,

Scott