Is it safe to store CMOS devices in the AideTek ESD Boxes - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / beginners

author: watchmaker
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: April 28, 2024, 02:31:19 pm
content: I now have some CMOS devices in ESD tubes and envelopes. I would like to develop a rational storage system. Are the AideTek ESD boxes safe or do I still need the black foam? The Learning Art of Electronics offer I purchased made this an issue much sooner than I was ready for.Also, since I tend to order by 5s (at least) from DigiKey, what are the storage strategies for tubes?I am thinking of categorizing by logic chips, op amps, regulators, etc. and then call number.Regards,Dewey

author: shabaz
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: April 28, 2024, 04:59:27 pm
content: It may get unscalable when everything is stored in individual small compartments. Personally, I leave ICs in their original packaging, and just write with a permanent marker in case the labels fade, and place them all into a box (over time, you could have a separate box per project or separate boxes for (say) analog ICs, discrete semi, digital. Some boxes are long and about the right size to keep all the packets tidy-ish if you prefer that. For anything in tubes, personally, I use a small waste bin (well, slightly nicer than a typical waste bin! It is woven to look not so ugly) and place them all in there (in their original packaging again).For general practicality while experimenting (i.e., not production), I do have little conductive plastic pots with lids in a couple of small shallow tray-like boxes with lids. These are useful for your most popular devices, e.g. low-power (SOT-23 or similar) BJTs, MOSFETs, diodes, jellybean stuff etc, so you don't need to keep trawling through large boxes for those. But possibly it's still a bit excessive, a simpler option would be to keep a small box of popular parts in their original packaging. Whatever you feel is more practical for you. You can also place conductive foam in ESD-safe tray-like boxes if you have popular through-hole parts.In your case, since it is a specific lab kit, you may wish to do something different for even more practicality perhaps, but I'm not sure there's any single optimal way. One reasonably practical way that I saw was the Digilent component kits. They use a cheap (non-ESD-safe) clear transparent plastic box with dividers, and for the ICs, they shoved them in foam and inserted them into compartments (also, in the photo, notice the chamfered corner on the foam; that's for lifting out because there are more ICs in another layer of foam below). Obviously, this is not good for production use, as there is still a risk of damage, but for learning/experimentation, I think it's a fairly reasonable solution to obtain a large box with many compartments and a large sheet of conductive foam and cut it up. If your lab kit is really massive, perhaps it could be split up into two or three categories, each in its own large box.

author: m k
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 28, 2024, 06:53:58 pm
content: Scalability is the key.Your old word had limited parts from outside and sort of unlimited from inside, in this case inside is mostly out.Now you have no limits for different kind of parts from outside, you think you have, but that's an illusion.One pro system was a self of cardboard boxes where pink bags were stored.Those boxes are still available.Too heavy items can be a problem.Original tubes are practical, until they are not.I use cardboard tubes to stuff original tubes, long and short.Short ones are not very practical and long ones are occasionally too short.One part in one original tube can also be less than space friendly.It's also sort of a norm that eventually something will break the current system.So a junk box or two will be there, don't fight it.You can also give away some of your earlier mechanical accuracy requirements.This new lead free system will guide your way.

author: watchmaker
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: April 29, 2024, 12:26:42 am
content: You both seem to know where I am coming from. And I had to chuckle at your replies.Indeed, I am (was) trying to employ the inventory strategy I used in my business. And you say that I have entered a Hell from which there is no return.Better to face the facts. Just looking at the cache I bought, I can see your points.All of it is in the original bags.OK. So I can rationalize capacitors, resistors, trimmers, LEDs, switches and transistors. But from there it becomes limitless.Thank you for what I do take as the voice of experience. The best I can do from there is to try and limit what I acquire. Keep some often used actives handy, but be prepared to search out or buy (again?) stuff. NOW I understand why others use inventory software. But having started with CPM, punchcards and paper tape, I HATE software. Learned too many obsolete languages and packages.OK. I made my bed. Some kind of filing system it is.Thanks!