Hello ESD Experts,
We are facing challenges in SMT area due to raw material and active/passive components received from supplier in non-ESD reels, packaging and corrugated boxes.
These same non-ESD reels, reel tapes and corrugated reels are being using on the NXT Pick and place machine.
We need your guidance on how we can control this situation to meet ESD requirement.
Pls suggest.
Appreciate your support as always.
Sarban,
Data is King… meaning I would suggest first off to make some field voltage measurements . Refer to S20.20 on insulators (process required section) and determine what your perceived threat level may be. Gathering that data will give you information that you can share with your supplier to try and get them to change their packaging.
Another thing you could consider is to add ionization at your reel/cartridge stations on your smt line or any station where you may be removing your parts from packaging.
Hello,
My first approach would be to contact the vendor to understand their reasoning for the packaging and ask if there are other options. I would put the effort of compliance on them, especially if you have a contract or agreement which states the parts shall be in ESD safe packaging. If your current supplier is unable to provide components to your needs than I would look elsewhere.
If all else fails, than yes you could look at ionization, repackaging or other non-value add measures in your operation to correct the issue. But keep in mind, if the parts are ESD sensitive and were shipped to you in non ESD packaging. The damage may have already been and nothing you do within your process is going to fix that. You now run the risk of latent field failures due to your suppliers packaging choices.
Regards,
C. Smith
Hello Sir,
Thank you for your response.
As checked, the supplier is sending ESD-sensitive parts in ESD-safe packaging. However, we have a concern regarding the mechanical and passive components, which are currently being shipped in non-ESD packaging.
We are in discussion with the supplier to improve their packaging for ESD compliance.
Thanks & Regards,
Rahul S.
Hello,
Greetings of the day from India, to all the members on this platform.
I agree with you and it is true that most of the Mechanical and passive components are normally comes in non ESD safe packaging as everywhere any additional cost involvement will proportionately reflect on the final price of the finished product.
Just for only some select customers the suppliers may or may not oblige to change their standard practice but at times if the volume of business is substantially big and it works out with the vendor the change is possible .
However, as our colleague ESD experts have suggested w.r.t the S.20.20 PEI ( Process essential insulators ) please check the level of threat you might be suspecting and best way out is to adapt ionization process.
Thank you
One additional item to consider. While passive components and even the reels may be in insulative or non-ESD packaging, the items to consider are the ESD sensitivie components. What are they packaged in?
In most cases, the carrier tape for ESD sensitive items is the primary packaging for the ESD sensitive item. This can be checked typicall by a two point probe or by making connections to the carrier tape.
Now if the item is packaged in the proper carrier tape, then what is near that package would not be consider a threat. The primary ESD packaging (carrier tape) should provide protection.
When the reel is mounted and the part is picked, the tape is usually (but needs to be checked) grounded by the pick and place machine and not near any other threats. As MattS said, data is king, but don’t ignore process yeild data. If yeilds are good, it is an indication that a problem does not exsist.