How do you organize SMT components for assembly/soldering to PCB? - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: SilverSolder
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 29, 2021, 12:06:42 am
content: How do you do it - line all the SMT components up on the desk before beginning the soldering job, or do you pick these components off the tapes/reelsIs there some kind of special tray that will hold/organize SMT components in a way that you can figure out later, to make assembly easier?

author: KE5FX
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 29, 2021, 12:41:54 am
content: Muffin pans work well. Non-stick surfaces are a problem because you'd like to be able to write on the surface with a marking pen to keep track of what parts are where, but some sandpaper fixes that fairly easily.

author: wraper
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: March 29, 2021, 12:47:37 am
content: I put passives into metal jar caps. Semiconductors in tape are attached onto some rectangular piece of cardboard or different material with double sided adhesive tape.

author: jmelson
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 29, 2021, 01:26:59 am
content: Quote from: SilverSolder on March 29, 2021, 12:06:42 amBefore I had a pick and place machine, I cut the tapes into short sections and kept them in Akro-Mills drawers. Those are the plastic boxes that have dozens of little clear drawers. Now that I have a P&P, I still keep common parts (100 Ohm, 1K, 10K, 100K, etc)in the drawers. And, I have a cart with boxes of reels for the machine. When I need some parts for a one-off, I just go get the required reels. I never keep many parts out at one time, because one wrong hand motion and all the parts are tossed all over the place.Jon

author: SMTech
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: March 29, 2021, 09:51:58 am
content: I think this depends on what you are using (tweezers/manual P&P/pickup tool), how many PCBs you are making/how big they are.If you are making one PCB or several small ones that you can comfortably build in one pass grouped together. I would go through the parts list one value at a time, spill them onto the desk/small dish if you are using tweezers. Stick the tape down to a board if you have a manual P&P/pickup tool.If you are making multiple larger PCBs, stick down all the parts to a board, carefully labelled and then place with a manual P&P. If you don't have one, this gets way more tricky, you need to avoid mixing up parts and they need to be located where you don't knock them, personally I find getting parts out of tape with tweezers sucks...A low tech way is to get two storage bins, go through all the parts and label the strips themselves with a CD marker, put all the parts in one bin, take them out one at a time, spill and place the the required, and move the remainder to the other bin, repeat the process the other way for the next board.On thingyverse there are some examples of little holders for storing and dispensing from short strips of tape that look quite nice.A lazy susan/carousel can work too (some manual p&ps have one fitted) ESD safe carousels are a fairly standard thing you can buy.

author: SilverSolder
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 29, 2021, 02:32:36 pm
content: Interesting, so many approaches! - I was thinking of something like an ice cube tray with rounded bottoms, that can be pre-loaded with the right components, writing e.g. R1, R2, etc. in the tray to make it easy to pick up the right part (using tweezers).This would be for hand-soldering small jobs, e.g. 20 - 30 components max.

author: dkonigs
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: March 30, 2021, 02:27:42 am
content: I've only done small prototype assembly jobs so far, where I'm only doing 2-3 boards at a time. My process works for me, but is probably very slow and inefficient.I basically go through the BOM line-by-line, and:Remove part bag from bin ATake out as many components as I need for the boards I'm working on, putting them on some sort of "tray" (usually its just a smooth piece of wood, but I suppose anything with good contrast can work)Close bag and place into bin BPlace components on board with tweezersHaving two bins helps keep track of what I've used and what I haven't. I'll sometimes even sort the component bags in advance into major categories.Of course if I ever have to deal with larger volumes, I'd probably change the method. But at that point I suspect I'd just outsource the process to someone with a pick-and-place machine.

author: DIYGUY Chris
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: March 30, 2021, 09:54:53 pm
content: Marking pen! sandpaper! hummm all what I can say about the assembly is no matter how hard or easy you make it, don't forget about ESDThis is fundamental

author: KE5FX
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 30, 2021, 10:44:09 pm
content: Quote from: DIYGUY Chris on March 30, 2021, 09:54:53 pmSigh. Yes, be sure to use only ESD-rated Sharpies and sandpaper on your metal pan.

author: KL27x
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 30, 2021, 11:12:30 pm
content: If you're talking about a one-off/proto and non jelly bean parts? Where you ordered just 2-10 parts or less? The most important thing is to not lose or mislabel your parts/cut tapes! Might as well be junk if and after you mix them up and they're out of the bag with the actual part number on it.Making custom jigs is just a part of my life, working with modern SMD parts. I made a bar of HDPE with two slots routed in it. One for the paper cut tape that holds those little caps and resistors and leds. And the other for the plastic strips that hold some of the larger teeny SMD parts. They slide in, and a strip of FR-4 screws down over the center, which holds them in place, immobilizing them after screwing them down. Fine tip sharpie or teeny handwritten tape labels are placed next to each teeny piece of cut tape.

author: Rat_Patrol
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: March 31, 2021, 06:43:01 pm
content: 3D printer?I designed a bunch of these:https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:4144463andhttps://www.thingiverse.com/thing:4136523

author: Kean
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: April 01, 2021, 12:27:02 pm
content: Have you seen the videos by Unexpected Maker? He has his over 3D printed parts turntable.Seehttps://github.com/UnexpectedMaker/manual_pnp_turntable