SMD component storage idea - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: allanw
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: May 08, 2011, 06:06:23 am
content: What do you guys think of this? Found out these drawers at work fit these 2" x 3" plastic baggies from Goldmine Electronics pretty well.

author: johnmx
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: May 08, 2011, 12:07:08 pm
content: Any cheap drawer will do if you just want to store SMD components inside plastic bags.But the story changes if you want to store loose components. I recommend the use of decent drawers and not any cheap plastic ones. The most important characteristic is to close perfectly the top, or you will get very mad when you accidently flip the drawer.For integrated circuits I use these drawers which I buy in local stores:https://www.eevblog.com/forum/index.php?topic=3257.30For resistors and capacitors I use these:http://www.sureelectronics.net/goods.php?id=600

author: sacherjj
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: May 08, 2011, 10:17:33 pm
content: How are the quality of the component kits from Sure Electronics? I have been looking for a good SMD starter kit and their Resistor and Capacitor don't look too bad.

author: johnmx
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: May 09, 2011, 11:09:03 pm
content: I don’t have anything bad to point. They are very cheap, so don’t expect top quality components. I don’t use them at work, just for my personal projects.The kits are not complete, i.e. there are some values missing to complete the E12 series. That’s why I bought extra empty boxes to complete, in this case, the E24 series (0805).You have to be very carefully handling the small boxes because they can break easily.The resistors have 5% tolerance and 1/10W for 0603, 1/8W for 0805 and 1/4W for 1206.

author: sacherjj
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: May 13, 2011, 03:51:42 pm
content: 10 sets of 20 of those boxes is $34.90. Not bad. Shipping them to me is $38. Wow.So a box is $0.369I ordered the free shipping set of 50 SMD resistor values IN BOXES. $18.90 for 50 boxes plus 5000 0805 5% Resistors. If I throw away the resistors, the box is $0.378So for $0.45 more, I get 5000 resistors for free.Wonder how hard those labels are to remove...Edit: Looks like ebay is just slightly cheaper. $6.60 for 20 shipped. $0.33/box

author: johnmx
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: May 13, 2011, 05:07:22 pm
content: Quote from: sacherjj on May 13, 2011, 03:51:42 pmIt's very easy.

author: ElektroQuark
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: May 13, 2011, 06:07:33 pm
content: Dealextreme has a price of 23,90 USD for 100 boxes.

author: sacherjj
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: May 13, 2011, 06:45:53 pm
content: Quote from: EdoNork on May 13, 2011, 06:07:33 pmThey also carry the triple box (one rectangular box that fits three squares.)Anyone trying to find them on there, use "configurable storage toolboxes"

author: Neganur
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: May 13, 2011, 09:28:22 pm
content: Those sets of 20 containers are excellent for 0805 and 1206. I would not recommend using smaller sizes as the lid doesn't close perfectly.If you want containers that close better try the"50 value 0805 SMD assorted Resistor Kit in Box 5000 5%"(18.90$ free shipping) as sacherjj suggested. These boxes are a different kind and close tightly but are incompatible with the cheap ones.I use the containers from the 'resistor/capactitor kits in boxes' for 0603 capacitors and bought ~350 of the cheapo containers from a different source for 0805 components.

author: dfnr2
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: May 15, 2011, 11:36:23 pm
content: I have been using cases fromanalog technologies. When you start looking at E24 or E96 ranges for different sizes (0805,0603,1206), plus cap and inductors, storage gets unwieldly. It's easy to keep one case with 5 decades+ of E24 values of 0805 parts, 200 each, right at my fintertips. When I found them, I went ahead and ordered several kits from those same guys; they were much cheaper than I could have achieved by buying separately, and much less work. I think the combination of having all the parts at my fingertips and the availability of cheap quick-turn PCBs is what changed designing with SMTs from a hassle into a pleasure (along with a few choice tools).