Protecting IC pins with foam

[Demon]

This is my first attempt by recycling the bags from the manufacturers:




- this was done with the 5mm foam.
- I'm going to order 10mm foam for MOSFETs and other TO-220 and the like (will have to test for transistors).
- it helps to have the ICs mounted on the foam during the application of the tape. The extra weight also helps when you slide the mylar into the drawer.
- the scraps are useful for those "extra" ICs.
- take a pic of the original label on the bag; it'll come in handy when you make labels.
- if you're not planning on adding external labels, place a basic label between the mylar and the front side; it won't be able to come out with that piece of tape along the top edge.




If you REALLY want to surround the ICs with the mylar protective layer, tape a layer on the back of a 3mm thick foam as a "lid".


Let me know if you think of other ways to improve this.

[Ioannis]

All these plastic bags or foams are conductive to some degree. That is why aluminum foil is also used. But i am a bit cautious with that since the chip may touch few pins and not all on the aluminum. Foam is much better since it will short all pins at once with a relatively low resistance.

You did nice job on the plastic boxes. I really like what you did with mylar.

I normally just use the foam and take care to have ESD wrist band on my hand, along with ESD floor mat and a mat on my bench. With these measures I had not a problem in respect with ESD.

Ioannis

[Demon]

I got that roll and set up a cutting board to reduce time (got over 800 drawers).

It's just a test to see if everything goes smoothly; and yeah, I'm waiting for a shorter set of steel rulers with cork backing. This 16in ruler is so cumbersome.

[Ioannis]

I got that roll and set up a cutting board to reduce time (got over 800 drawers).

Nice construction.

Well, you do not need to put antistatic in every drawer. Capacitors, resistors or other hardware have no problem with ESD. Just semiconductors.

Ioannis

[Demon]

Yeah, you're right. I'll adjust as I label the drawers with their proper contents, using stock drawer, lined and padded as required.

But this sure does make cutting so much easier; same thing with my mylar insertion tool.

[Demon]

Nice construction.

Well, you do not need to put antistatic in every drawer. Capacitors, resistors or other hardware have no problem with ESD. Just semiconductors.

Ioannis

Ok, so basically any IC gets a mylar liner, and sits on ESD foam (depending on pin lengths - SMDs just sits on thin 3mm foam mainly cause I have it on hand now).

Discretes need nothing:

- diodes;
- resistors;
- pots;
- rotary encoders (maybe 3mm foam to help protect pins when there's only a few sloshing in the drawer);
- capacitors;
- LEDs;
- ZNRs;
- TVSs;
- photocells.


Anything wrong, or am I missing anything?

[Ioannis]

I think any semi is sensitive in ESD somehow. Though I never saw a LED or zener destroyed, I never tried on purpose also.

See these links:

https://www.radium.de/en/service-too...atic-discharge

https://www.eevblog.com/forum/beginn...nsitive-parts/

Ioannis

[Demon]

The first link doesn't seem worried for standard LEDs, it seems more concerned when there's a module involved (I have none).

electrostatic discharge when touching LED strips is not harmful and usually not even noticeable. On the other hand, LED modules can quickly be damaged to a considerable degree - even at low charges.