Surface Mount Component Storage? - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / beginners

author: NanoHawk
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: July 21, 2020, 02:40:44 am
content: When I searched this topic I came up with one good conversation from 2011. I'm hoping there might be new ideas out there.Best option for storing cut-tape SMD/SMT devices? I'm also curious how you store your reels for things you use often like passives.I have some Akro-Mils bins for my component parts. Great bins as long as you don't knock them over.My first two small SMD break out boards have a small box from Mouser / Tayda / and eBay(China) of components that I brought in for them. Keeping them in little baggies is going to drive me bananas.I eventually want to build a lite-placer pick and place machine, but still anticipate working with mostly cut-tape for most parts.

author: tautech
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 21, 2020, 02:48:50 am
content: You can buy empty SMD sample books and fill them with cut tape of your most used values.Just the one I have has all my 0805 components in one book plus a bunch of LED's, diodes, IC's etc.Something like this one:https://www.aliexpress.com/item/32588050685.html?spm=a2g0o.productlist.0.0.30bf731a9zOEAe&algo_pvid=c98f543e-f988-4bc7-b26d-a7b85d6d3517&algo_expid=c98f543e-f988-4bc7-b26d-a7b85d6d3517-8&btsid=0ab6f82315952994418126684e7daa&ws_ab_test=searchweb0_0,searchweb201602_,searchweb201603_

author: rstofer
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 21, 2020, 07:04:08 am
content: Dave sells a neat set of uSleeveshttps://www.eevblog.com/product/usleeve/

author: jpanhalt
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 21, 2020, 09:15:21 am
content: I get anti-static sleeve in a roll (about 1.5 to 2" flat). Heat seal and cut. Fold over open end and staple once. That keeps it closed enough so stuff won't fall out, but you can reach in with forceps ("tweezers") to get a part out. For longer strips, I just label the strip and save as is.

author: agehall
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: July 21, 2020, 09:49:21 am
content: This:https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:3952021I've started printing these for all my strips of components now as I need them. Sure, if you only have like 20-30 components in a strip, this might be overkill, but for things like resistors where you might as well just order 1000 even if you just need 10, this is great!

author: Vovk_Z
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 21, 2020, 03:38:23 pm
content: Quote from: tautech on July 21, 2020, 02:48:50 am+1 to a book-like storage. I have bought a 0805 and 1206 resistor kits (about 170 nominals each from 1 Ohm to 10 MOhm) - and it takes space only of a book. Very compact and convenient.

author: Vovk_Z
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 21, 2020, 03:41:41 pm
content: Quote from: agehall on July 21, 2020, 09:49:21 amI agree, but we usually need such a large amount of parts only of a few popular values - for example, 1k, 10k, 100k, and that's all.

author: NanoHawk
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: July 21, 2020, 10:27:13 pm
content: THANK YOU! This is exactly what I was looking for.The film negative style sleeves are a great idea too. I'd love to support Dave but $25 AUS plus 3 toes and a hand for shipping ..... buggers! I will probably order a blank book from China Express (aka AliExpress).The mini-cartridges are absolutely perfect..... definitely overkill for 5 or 10 parts, but great for things I use a bunch of like passives that are .01/ea from Taday with a 50 pc minimum.

author: tautech
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 21, 2020, 10:34:45 pm
content: Quote from: NanoHawk on July 21, 2020, 10:27:13 pmIIRC you can order additional sleeves for the SMD books.....somewhere I saw them offered eons ago.I've just written the values on pockets with a Sharpie but there's plenty of length in each pocket to cross a value out and write something else if required.You could even get away with just writing a value for each decade if you didn't want to deface the pages too much.

author: jmelson
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 21, 2020, 11:52:14 pm
content: Quote from: NanoHawk on July 21, 2020, 02:40:44 amI use Akro-Mils bins for lots of parts, I have more than half a dozen of them near my workbench.Since I have a pick and place machine, I also have a lot of reels of parts. I often cut off the last couple of feet of a reel and put that in the drawers for hand assembly.Anything that is not a specific part only used in one project goes into a drawer.If you start doing more boards, a P&P is the only way to go. I just bought my SECOND machine. I have been using a Philips CSM84 for almost 13 years, it isn't accurate enough for fine-pitch parts. So, I just bought a Quad QSA-30A in an auction. I have to get feeders and get it running.Jon

author: langwadt
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 22, 2020, 12:08:34 am
content: Quote from: tautech on July 21, 2020, 10:34:45 pmthere are empty books and pages on ebay

author: basinstreetdesign
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: July 22, 2020, 03:40:05 am
content: +1 for pocket pages. I use them here:https://imgur.com/a/jNQojEpI got these at a philatelic supply store but they can be had at any hobby/crafty shop.

author: tooki
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 22, 2020, 04:30:19 pm
content: Quote from: jpanhalt on July 21, 2020, 09:15:21 amThey're not colloquially called tweezers, theyarecalled tweezers outside of the medical field.

author: jh15
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: July 24, 2020, 06:26:34 pm
content: Quote from: NanoHawk on July 21, 2020, 10:27:13 pmDave's pouch page says free postage to anywhere.