Hi Grant, As some other suggested, a datalogger is a useful equipment but the bottom line is that MSDs have a limited floor life, no matter what is the ambient condition in your factory (Ref : J-STD-033A, Table 7-1). The approach that you are using right now represents a significant overkill. Systematic baking can actually be detrimental to your components due to the lead oxidation and intermetallic growth that can result in solderability problems. This is why the IPC/JEDEC standard specifies a maximum cumulative bake time of 48 hours at 125C. The proper method defined by the industry standard is to minimize exposure time and properly track your MSDs once they are removed from their dry bags to insure that they are assembled within their specified floor life. There are automated MSD Control systems available that will accomplish exactly what you require. Using barcode labels or RFID tags attached directly to the trays and reels, feeding material movement to an expert software system that will monitor the total exposure time of each batch of MSDs throughout different environments, i.e. in and out of dry bags, dry cabinets, bake ovens, placement machines, etc. The system automatically applies all the rules and tables provided in J-STD-033A to calculate the remaining floor life and to provide advance warnings and alarms in real time. All of the MSD transactions and process information can be stored in a historical database to provide documented evidence that each MSD was assembled within its specified floor life. This data can be tied to serialized PCBs to provide complete MSD product traceability. The above solution has been widely accepted by major OEM because you can actually demonstrate full compliance with the industry standard. Do not hesitate to contact me directly if you would like additional information on this subject. Best Regards, Francois Monette Cogiscan Inc. Tel : 450-534-2644 Fax : 450-534-0092 [log in to unmask] www.cogiscan.com Date: Thu, 27 May 2004 09:27:50 +0200 From: Grant Emandien <[log in to unmask]> Subject: Baking of MSD traceability - evidence thereof Hi All, Customers are getting more concerned with the need to bake components - some even want all MSD material to be baked whether the humidity card indicates otherwise ot not. We currently bake as requested however but it seems that just baking for the required temp/time and logging in a register is not good enough. Does anyone use a good traceable method which cannot be disputed by customers e.g. time/temp stickers whch can placed in trays? TIA Grant --------------------------------------------------- Technet Mail List provided as a service by IPC using LISTSERV 1.8e To unsubscribe, send a message to [log in to unmask] with following text in the BODY (NOT the subject field): SIGNOFF Technet To temporarily halt or (re-start) delivery of Technet send e-mail to [log in to unmask]: SET Technet NOMAIL or (MAIL) To receive ONE mailing per day of all the posts: send e-mail to [log in to unmask]: SET Technet Digest Search the archives of previous posts at: http://listserv.ipc.org/archives Please visit IPC web site http://www.ipc.org/contentpage.asp?Pageid=4.3.16 for additional information, or contact Keach Sasamori at [log in to unmask] or 847-509-9700 ext.5315 -----------------------------------------------------