Mornin' Everyone! I have Graham's "Das Boot" picture up! It's at: http://stevezeva.homestead.com/files/Connector_Boot.JPG Hey Graham, what is the part number of that boot? I could use that here... -Steve Gregory- -----Original Message----- From: TechNet [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Graham Collins Sent: Tuesday, February 06, 2007 6:27 AM To: [log in to unmask] Subject: Re: [TN] Humiseal Masking Tape Residues/latex peelable Hi Kenny! We use a different style compared to Steve's (for the most part, though we do have a couple of applications like his). I've sent Steve a pic to post on his site. The pic is from my trial before we started using them. In the picture there is a side view of a connector with a boot on it, as well as a top view of a similar connector so you can see what the boot masks. It covers the pins, hardware, and the mating area. The boot in the pic was sprayed and then after it cured I flexed the boot and picked the cured coating off - there are some flakes remaining but nothing that would cause issues in repeated use. We also use a similar boot on header pins - considerably faster than masking them. We purchased the ESD safe versions of these - a conductive rubber is used. The boot in the pic is not ESD safe - which is why it is living in my desk. Kinnarney can also make custom designs for you, but at a price - so ponder the cost carefully vs the labour offset. regards, Graham Collins Process Engineer, L-3 Communications Electronic Systems Inc. Halifax (902) 873-2000 ext 6215 >>> [log in to unmask] 02/05/07 03:34PM >>> Hi Kenny! We look at the labor cost of having to mask something vs. just putting on a cap before we decide to buy caps. In all cases we save masking labor. As far as ESD issues, there isn't any more risk with caps as there is with masking tape. We do all our masking and de-masking under an air ionizer. We reuse them until they get to the point that they can't protect what they are supposed to protect...usually it's because of some sort of damage. I've got a picture of one of our more challenging assemblies to coat that we use plugs on: http://stevezeva.homestead.com/files/Masked_Assembly.jpg As you can see it's a rigid-flex board and we have to mask the flex area beside the connectors. We use a masking paper over the flex area so that we lessen the chance of tearing it during de-masking. The plugs save a lot of masking time. I wish there was an off-the-shelf plug for the 421-pin connector at the end of the flex, but there isn't. The really difficult thing about coating this assembly is getting coating in that PCB area beneath the round connectors. All those connectors stand-off the board quite a bit, and the area of the pins that are exposed beneath the connector shell has to be coated as well which makes things fun... BTW, I don't have the tape residue problem on this board...it's another assembly that I have that problem on. Weird huh? -Steve Gregory- -----Original Message----- From: TechNet [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Bloomquist, Ken Sent: Monday, February 05, 2007 11:49 AM To: [log in to unmask] Subject: Re: [TN] Humiseal Masking Tape Residues/latex peelable Graham/Steve, I've never used boots for conformal coat masking because I always thought it would be expensive. I have a couple questions regarding "Boots". Are you able to use them more than once? Are there any ESD issues? If you do use them more than once how do you know when to stop using them? Have you done any cost trade studies? Thanks, KennyB -----Original Message----- From: Graham Collins [mailto:[log in to unmask]] Sent: Monday, February 05, 2007 9:20 AM To: [log in to unmask] Subject: Re: [TN] Humiseal Masking Tape Residues/latex peelable Hi Guy There is (in addition to CAPLUGS that Steve referred to) Kinnarney Rubber Co. They make some standard and will also do custom stuff. http://www.kinnarney.com/ regards, Graham Collins Process Engineer, L-3 Communications Electronic Systems Inc. Halifax (902) 873-2000 ext 6215 --------------------------------------------------- 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 847-615-7100 ext.2815 ----------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------- 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 847-615-7100 ext.2815 ----------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------- 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 847-615-7100 ext.2815 ----------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------- 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 847-615-7100 ext.2815 -----------------------------------------------------