![]() My process for this is to use the PCB Filter tab, accessible from Panels (bottom right of Altium) ⇒ PCB Filters. ![]() This actually helps when generating outputs for the assembly, as we can create a very clear drawing from this mechanical layer showing exactly where every component is. When placing components on the circuit board, I move all designators onto a new Designators mechanical layer, position the designator at the centre of the part, and make sure its font keeps the designator smaller than the component itself. If you feel strongly one way or the other, leave a comment on this post telling us why! I find more often than not that reference designators generate confusion with very tightly spaced components, so instead, I force anyone looking for a part to refer to an assembly drawing. I personally do not add any designators to my silkscreen at all. Some people really like having designators on the board, and some people don’t find it necessary. If you want to generate your own board from the project to practice working with designators, you will want to download an old V1 version of my Altium Database Library for the footprints. It’s an older board, but serves its demonstrative purpose really well. If you want to follow along directly with the project I’m going to use as an example in this article, you can find the board I’m using on my GitHub. I have found that this process works well for me working with any of Canadian, European, or Chinese assemblers. ![]() The advice here may not necessarily be industry best practice, it is instead the process I have refined over the years to reduce or eliminate questions when sending files to a contract assembler or manufacturer. ![]() Not sending your assembler the correct files and not providing enough outputs to clarify your intentions can cause days of delay as you work back and forth with them to fill in the gaps in their understanding. ![]() That engineer had been working professionally for several years with a large company, and had never had the responsibility of generating outputs or even seen the outputs from the products he was working on, so his only experience was through his own hobby and university projects, which he assembled himself. I was asked recently by a relatively new engineer what files I send to an assembler to make sure they do not encounter problems, and what would reduce the number of clarification questions they ask about the design. ![]()
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