Check out how my ICs came! - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: CountParadox
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: December 19, 2014, 01:31:56 pm
content: Hey all!Just thought I would show you the super safe packaging my ICs came in from chinaGood to know no statics going to get them!!!>pics =DULN2003:I2C level converter(at least these came in what appears to be actual anti static bags? XD):

author: c4757p
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 19, 2014, 01:37:19 pm
content: Fairly typical. As long as they don't get immediate complaints ("these arrived broken into fifty pieces!") they don't care. At least they're bipolar, not MOS...

author: PE1RKI
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: December 19, 2014, 01:44:03 pm
content: i ordered 100 pull up resistors once, those 8 in one sip package types.they arrived in an envelope and about 5 where broken in half.their answer was "is not possible!"

author: grumpydoc
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 19, 2014, 01:50:55 pm
content: QuoteItisa little hard to see how...........unless they were put in that way.

author: PE1RKI
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: December 19, 2014, 02:03:54 pm
content: Quote from: grumpydoc on December 19, 2014, 01:50:55 pmi just put one between 3 fingers and snapped it easily. they are pretty fragile so i do beleive they broke during shipping.and i lost 10 cent to make point

author: opty
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: December 19, 2014, 02:08:29 pm
content: Quote from: grumpydoc on December 19, 2014, 01:50:55 pmOne time I received my chips broken and packaged in nice plastic shrouds, the shrouds were intact (initially transparent, turned white when I tried to bend them so I'm sure they were fine on arrival).... so well, I have blacklisted that seller.Tayada always packaged very well, but haven't used him for long time now.

author: G0HZU
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 19, 2014, 02:13:07 pm
content: Many years ago I ordered some diodes directly from Agilent in the form of an official repair kit for some RF test gear. The repair kit has an official Agilent part number for the pair of diodes.So when I paid my £75 for these two little diodes I expected them to arrive in decent packaging. But instead, they sent the diodes in a tiny square brown envelope (like a little payslip envelope) and then they stapled the delivery/address paperwork to the blank envelope. No jiffy bag or box required!So what arrived at my house (from USA to UK) was all looking a bit worse for wear. Luckily for me the brown envelope had just about managed to stay attached to the paperwork but it was very loose on the staple and also the diodes were still inside the frayed brown envelope.

author: dannyf
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 19, 2014, 02:16:41 pm
content: QuoteThere are anti-static transparent plastic bags.But for those chips, who cares.

author: wraper
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: December 19, 2014, 02:20:35 pm
content: I would care more if they are genuine TI, not knockoff.

author: KJDS
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 19, 2014, 02:51:52 pm
content: I received a couple of hundred bare die, shipped from the US after eight months of ITAR wrangling.These die were tiny, about 0.3mm square, but UK customs had decided they needed to count them. I know not how they managed to lose most of them when they opened up the waffle pack, but I only received about a third of them. Never mind, another eight month delay, another ten thousand on the ICs, really left me popular with the management even though it wasn't my fault.

author: dannyf
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 19, 2014, 02:59:05 pm
content: Quotefunniest story of the month,

author: free_electron
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 19, 2014, 03:44:43 pm
content: Quote from: c4757p on December 19, 2014, 01:37:19 pmbipolars fry just as easy as mosfets due tot static. keep in mind we are dealing with micrometer and nanometer structures. flashover happens very quickly...

author: amyk
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 19, 2014, 04:20:09 pm
content: Quote from: KJDS on December 19, 2014, 02:51:52 pmFor someone who hasn't seen bare die before, it's hard to describe how incredibly tiny they are.

author: KJDS
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 19, 2014, 05:00:08 pm
content: Quote from: amyk on December 19, 2014, 04:20:09 pmI've just measured some table salt using my travelling microscope. The smaller grains are about 20thou, or about 0.5mm, so bigger than the die. the die are also only 100um thick, or about 1/2 a thou thick, so there's the same volume in about 160 die as a small grain of table salt.

author: IO390
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: December 19, 2014, 08:10:45 pm
content: I once bought some old Nixie tube driver ICs from Ukraine. They came in a jiffy bag, nothing else. Just the parts loose in a jiffy bag.

author: Bud
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 19, 2014, 08:27:41 pm
content: Digikey still sends me 56 pon SOIC chips lose in antistatic bags without any hard backing, regardless of my multiple complains that the ICs arrive with leads bent

author: wagon
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: December 19, 2014, 11:05:49 pm
content: I've received resistors in antistatic bags.

author: c4757p
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 19, 2014, 11:08:59 pm
content: I've receivedheader pinsand other connectors in antistatic bags. It's pretty funny. Usually DigiKey

author: IO390
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: December 19, 2014, 11:10:11 pm
content: Quote from: wagon on December 19, 2014, 11:05:49 pmYeah. I almost always receive passive components from Farnell in antistatic bags. To make matters worse, they are always in those red oily biodegradable bags.

author: Phaedrus
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: December 19, 2014, 11:26:26 pm
content: Quote from: c4757p on December 19, 2014, 11:08:59 pmWell with their type of volume it probably makes more economic sense to put everything in the same bags, rather than waste time/money differentiating what needs an AS bag and what doesn't.

author: c4757p
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 19, 2014, 11:39:56 pm
content: Sure, except for the things theydon'tput in antistatic bags.

author: CountParadox
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: December 19, 2014, 11:42:06 pm
content: Quote from: KJDS on December 19, 2014, 02:51:52 pmDude whatCustoms what are you doing stahp are you drunk?Quote from: G0HZU on December 19, 2014, 02:13:07 pm75 quid!? Was there more than just the two diodes ?at that price I would have rather sent it off for repair! D:

author: G0HZU
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 20, 2014, 12:23:06 am
content: QuoteNo, just two diodes in a flimsy envelopeI think the reason that the diodes are so expensive in that kit is that they have been hand selected to meet/match very strict performance characteristics. So I think that only a small percentage of a batch of diodes will pass the tests.Agilent charge a lot of money for repairs so I would have expected a £1500 bill if I'd sent the gear to them to have the diodes fitted.Handing over £75 for a DIY repair kit containing two tiny diodes wasn't a lot of fun but the alternative was a lot, lot worse

author: Fraser
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 20, 2014, 01:10:22 am
content: What some sellers do not seem to realise is that a letter passes through an automated mail sorter that applies pressure across the surface of the envelope. This is most noticeable when receiving modern 'exotic' birthday cards that have fake diamonds or similar 3D objects glued to the cards front. The envelope gets holed whether it is squeezed over the 3D object.I have had items like SMT chips, transistors and diodes just checked in an envelope. When I got the envelope it had a lovely impression of all the SMT parts embossed in its surface but luckily none were lost.The only way that is safe for components is via a padded envelope or better still, a small box. I personally send most items in small boxes to avoid crush 'injuries' in transit. Padded envelopes do not pass through the same 'crushing' mail sorters as ordinary flat envelopes.Aurora

author: LukeW
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: December 20, 2014, 03:19:48 am
content: I once had two 40-pin ceramic DIP microcontrollers sent to me in the post. (Personal mail, not from a company.)They were carefully packed in antistatic foam in an envelope... and both chips broken clean in half. I was surprised to see how much force a mail sorting machine can exert.

author: tautech
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 20, 2014, 03:32:47 am
content: Quote from: c4757p on December 19, 2014, 11:39:56 pmYep that really annoys me.There is NO excuse for missing anti-static protection.Or a miserable attempt using just polystyrene or some pink foamI have sent emails to sellers over this matter, chastising them for failing to follow standard industry practice.I also threaten to name and shame them here.I now insist to sellers that IC's, Fets etc be shipped with proper anti-static protection.Normally there is no further discussion when an ESD document is sent to them.But what worries me more is, if they are quite happy to send without ESD protection, what are their in-house ESD practices like?

author: VK3DRB
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 20, 2014, 06:42:35 am
content: At IBM in the 1990's a vendor shipped a large bag of CR2032 button cells in an ESD bag. The result was the bag was quite warm and putting your hand into the bag and moving it around in the sea of batteries gave you an electric shock. eg: 3V x 50 = 150 VDC.It was the Darwin award for whoever packed those batteries.

author: rob77
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 20, 2014, 06:57:54 am
content: Quote from: free_electron on December 19, 2014, 03:44:43 pmthat's not my experienece... i never had a bipolar damaged by static, compared to many NMOS DIPs turned into decorative items by static electricity

author: westfw
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 20, 2014, 08:43:33 am
content: I bought some mercury switches via eBay, and they arrived with a fair fraction broken.Sorta scary, since mercury is hazmat due to metallurgical properties, as well being poisonous...

author: janoc
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 20, 2014, 05:26:12 pm
content: I have received a pack of 2 STM32F103 chips taped to a scrap piece of a perfboard and wrapped in saran wrap. Pity that I didn't think about taking a photo of that before cutting the thing open but I didn't expect the micros to be packaged like that.I have certainly blacklisted that seller for the future.

author: dannyf
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 20, 2014, 05:33:36 pm
content: I was given a small bag of tssop20 chips in an envelope. I put it in the back pocket of my jeans and forgot about it totally. Wore the jeans for a weak, sitting on it multiple times.The jeans went into a washer / dryer cycle and the chips were discovered when I tried to wear it again.Other than one bent pin, nothing happened to those chips.

author: leppie
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: December 20, 2014, 05:59:54 pm
content: Quote from: dannyf on December 20, 2014, 05:33:36 pmSo they were never used, or they were not damaged?

author: dannyf
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 20, 2014, 06:07:33 pm
content: Some of them have been used, including that one with a bent pin. No problem so far.

author: Vgkid
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 20, 2014, 08:35:10 pm
content: I once bought 15 1k trimpots. Placed in a antistatic box between antistatic foam. That was then sealed in a antistatic silver bag. Then finally placed in a regular shipping box.

author: tom66
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 20, 2014, 09:48:39 pm
content: They're ULN2003... pretty much just an array of transistors... will survive quite a lot of abuse.Now, if they were some CMOS chip... Or a 2N7002, the number of those I have killed, G-S shorted due to ESD, must be in the double digits.

author: nuno
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: December 21, 2014, 02:14:06 am
content: I already mentioned this in another thread, but I once had a uk store send me 125 ATmega328 loose inside 2 static dissipative plastic bags, inside 2 carton boxes. I don't know what was worse, if the bent pins or the black epoxy dust from the 2K or 3K Km of chip to chip rubbing trip. Seller totally blacklisted, of course.

author: janoc
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 10, 2015, 01:02:45 pm
content: Just arrived - SSD1963 display drivers:No, thatisn'tan ESD dissipative plastic foil!

author: LukeW
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 11, 2015, 02:38:11 am
content: A certain major distributor sent me this trimmer the other day

author: rob77
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 11, 2015, 04:38:56 pm
content: Quote from: LukeW on January 11, 2015, 02:38:11 amif i would be the guy packing it, then i would choose even a bigger box - just because you ordered 1 piece

author: dannyf
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 11, 2015, 05:21:39 pm
content: QuoteSomeone gave me one Luminary LM3S chips (it could be 811 or 812) that he had received from Luminary, unsealed. It is in a full tray, and the chip was just in one corner of the tray, which is otherwise entirely empty.

author: marshallh
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: January 11, 2015, 09:11:47 pm
content: I bought some QFP208 fpgas from Sparkfail once (smh...)This is how they cameLarger 0.5mm QFPs like these have very thick packages and long thin leads that bend if you blow on them. I was unable to send them to the asembly house in this form.

author: janoc
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 11, 2015, 09:14:09 pm
content: Quote from: LukeW on January 11, 2015, 02:38:11 amEhm, I have got asingle0805 resistor shipped like that once. But it is in anti-static foam!

author: janoc
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 11, 2015, 09:16:03 pm
content: Quote from: marshallh on January 11, 2015, 09:11:47 pmOK, that's really crazy.At least mine were in a tray and with a piece of cardboard on top. I guess I shouldn't complain too much then!

author: rob77
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 11, 2015, 10:44:00 pm
content: Quote from: marshallh on January 11, 2015, 09:11:47 pmROFLMAOactually i would return them or at least ask for a HUGE discount....question why they're employing someone so retarded he took the effort to repack them like that ? it must have been a significant effort to repack them.... did he wanted the tray so badly ? or what the heck...

author: dannyf
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 11, 2015, 10:49:34 pm
content: QuoteThose are loosies off the assembly line floor.

author: rob77
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 11, 2015, 11:07:43 pm
content: Quote from: dannyf on January 11, 2015, 10:49:34 pmmust have been a shitty pick 'n place then

author: tom66
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 11, 2015, 11:29:05 pm
content: I ordered 10 radial fuses from CPC (along with a set of MUR460 diodes), and they bagged each individually. The fuses have a value of £0.10 each. CPC are ridiculous with their packaging. Included with my £6.50 order were two "air-pak" bags, postage costs, and a large cardboard box ("small parcel" category by RM.)

author: netdudeuk
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 12, 2015, 08:10:05 am
content: A very big UK vendor sent me a 40 pin DIP in an extra box eighteen inches long because there didn't want to shorten the tube and put it in the box with the other components.

author: cosmicray
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 12, 2015, 03:06:46 pm
content: Quote from: Phaedrus on December 19, 2014, 11:26:26 pmA quick check of ULine (large US vendor of shipping supplies) shows 4x6 2-mil AS bags at $25/1k, while normal 4x6 2-mil zip bags at $22/1k. Barely enough difference to worry about.An order I received a few days ago had cut tape resistors, caps, and logic gates, each tape in it's own AS baggie.

author: jaxbird
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 12, 2015, 03:33:23 pm
content: My complaint usually go the other way with suppliers being overly cautious with packaging, like e.g. Microchip, you order a couple of chips and you receive a large FedEX bag with a long cardboard box, inside the long box you find a small antistatic chest like box insulated with antistatic foam and a couple of chips in a tray.In this case the volume of packaging is more than 1000 times the volume of the actual product.Why not just throw the chest like box in a padded envelope and send it?, no one cares about the 100 pages paperwork included.

author: amyk
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 12, 2015, 03:52:44 pm
content: Quote from: LukeW on January 11, 2015, 02:38:11 amReminds me of this.

author: jaxbird
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 12, 2015, 05:21:24 pm
content: Quote from: amyk on January 12, 2015, 03:52:44 pmThat is just an engineer courting his/her sweetheartWe value precision components much higher than simple gold and diamonds. If you are gifted a precision resistor or capacitor in a nice box, do pay attention

author: SeanB
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 12, 2015, 06:11:44 pm
content: Quote from: dannyf on January 11, 2015, 05:21:39 pmI actually can understand that. As a manufacturer the trays are, to them, a no cost item, along with the packaging to send any amount from 1 tray to 100. Samples in an individual tray will be easier using the existing packaging material and a whole tray than stocking a box and packaging that will handle part trays. They just break a single tray into 100 or so empties and mark them as samples and box them, so that samples can be easily sent out by taking the completed single item box ( kept in a separate area probably to avoid confusion) and simply pasting the address label on it, then dropping into the outgoing post or courier stream.

author: LukeW
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 13, 2015, 06:20:41 am
content: Quote from: janoc on January 11, 2015, 09:14:09 pmlol, you ordered a single 0805 resistor? Was it an expensive ultra-precision one or something?

author: c4757p
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 13, 2015, 06:54:19 am
content: Quote from: LukeW on January 13, 2015, 06:20:41 amI've done that. It was arelativelyexpensive resistor, just over $1 IIRC, for use in a repaired voltage standard - not hugely expensive (certainly much less than themainreference resistor, a custom-ordered 68.9kTX2575), but the total order price was already climbing quite a bit and I had absolutely no use for a bunch of low-tempco 1.4k resistors lying about.

author: rob77
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 16, 2015, 04:07:35 pm
content: let me share my very recent experience with delivering sensitive ICs... big thumbs up for TMEit's just 1 piece of cortex M3 (quad flat) in each bag (cheap ones, 5-6Euro each), and yet each bag was sealed with silica inside and the sealing date is documented on a sticker.that's how it should benot like the FPGAs above in this thread.(my name and customer ID censored)

author: FJV
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: January 16, 2015, 05:20:33 pm
content: Quote from: LukeW on January 11, 2015, 02:38:11 amThere is a reason for large over sized packaging.Small items are regularly sent in over sized packages to prevent them being lost due to their small size.For instance the package slips behind a wheel well of a delivery van and is overlooked.So the larger packaging is preferred over the possible hassle the loss of a package creates.For instance when a delay of the part arriving is more expensive than the extra packaging.