IC Part Marking removal - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: JtroTechAB
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: September 04, 2019, 07:40:07 am
content: Hello,Is there any faster way to remove markings on ICs or any other SMD components.Generally I have used sand paper to remove Part Numbers or Marking codes on ICs .But it is extremely time consuming and also creates mess.so, is there any other way like in liquid form or any other thing which is less time consuming and does not create any dust in the process. Making the process faster?

author: Fire Doger
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: September 04, 2019, 08:27:14 am
content: If someone wants to get the part number of your chip he can easily decap it with an acid and read part number from die...They can even read flash data like that!Cleanest solution would be to laser etch it deeper than mark but it's unreliable on cheap equipment.

author: mrpackethead
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 04, 2019, 09:51:44 am
content: If you are relying on this as a way of protecting your design, then think again.

author: JtroTechAB
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: September 04, 2019, 11:12:47 am
content: Not only from protection point of view, but still wants to know is there any method?Any liquid solution which if we apply deletes the marking without much efforts.

author: JtroTechAB
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: September 04, 2019, 11:44:11 am
content: Normally I do it with sand paper but it leaves scratches on the surface of IC.And I have seen many boards on which the ICs have their marking codes erased but the surface looks smooth.

author: SMTech
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: September 04, 2019, 12:02:54 pm
content: Ahh but mass produced crap where they do this a lot may never have marked the chip in the first place. Its between hard and impossible to read chip markings if you just varnish them.I have a very big customer who gets one specific part in from Avnet complete with pre-programmed bootloader and all the marking bar the datecode ground off the chip using what looks like it a CNC Mill, I have no idea why, obviously I know what the chip is, its written on the packet and as mentioned above, naughty 3rd parties who want to rip you off are quite happy to X-Ray, machine or etch their way to the IC core to work out what it is and/or steal the code on it. Or indeed just reverse engineer its functions and steal your driver work like they do with FTDI chips.

author: Ian.M
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 04, 2019, 12:42:48 pm
content: Removing part markings is a dick move that does absolutely nothing to protect your I.P. and only inconveniences 3rd party repairers. Just about the only legitimate justification for remarking is to tightly control the source of replacement parts if you use a specific manufacturer and select on test to get parts that exceed the OEM specification, and actually need the select grade parts for correct circuit function, however not being able to tolerate in-spec generic parts, is usually the sign of a crappy design where not enough attention was paid to worst case tolerance stackup etc.However if you have to 'scrub' and remark parts in production, and don't want to mess with abrasives or black-topping, laser ablation is probably the way to go. It can remove ink and paint markings and erode laser etched markings, although the surface finish will always be distinguishable from unmarked part surface.

author: brabus
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: September 04, 2019, 01:24:52 pm
content: Boiling nitric acid.

author: JtroTechAB
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: September 10, 2019, 11:59:02 am
content: I have got Bosch cordless drill driver. Is there any rotary tool as accessory which can be attached to the drill driver and can be used to remove the marking on the IC.

author: Fire Doger
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: September 10, 2019, 12:21:54 pm
content: Quote from: JtroTechAB on September 10, 2019, 11:59:02 amSand paper...

author: JtroTechAB
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: September 11, 2019, 04:10:41 am
content: Quote from: Fire Doger on September 10, 2019, 12:21:54 pmAny idea which grade of sand paper is most suitable? and do we get sand paper in the roll form as shown in picture in the market readily?

author: mrpackethead
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 13, 2019, 09:13:44 pm
content: Im still back a few questions ago.. Why do you want to take them off.

author: Bud
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 13, 2019, 09:27:56 pm
content: A knowledgeable engineer will tell the part used from reverse drawing the circuit.