In a message dated 5/13/99 10:02:59 AM Pacific Daylight Time, [log in to unmask] writes: << Hello Techies Can anyone tell me where to get low tack double sided clear tape in the UK. This is for putting on PCBs and then machine placing SMDs on to check out placement programmes, alignment etc. Low tack so that you can get the SMDs off again without mangled legs. Thanks Keith [log in to unmask] >> Hey there Keith! Well, most double-sided tapes are pretty sticky, but about the lowest tack tape I can think of would be the standard "Scotch" brand double sided tape (normally 1/2 inch wide tape) that you can buy in any office supply store. Scotch is a pretty big company and distributes their tapes worldwide, so I imagine you can buy it at office supply stores on your side of the pond. Another suggestion though, and I know this'll be a bit of a pain in the butt, but instead of covering the whole footprint of your IC's with the double-sided tape, just cover a couple of pads at 2 or 3 of the corners of the device...should give you the holding power you need to check your placement, but minimize the "lead tweeking" to just a few leads that you'll get pulling the parts back up. You probably already know this, but when you can get a CAD file for your placement programs, you'll know your placement accuracy will be dead on. Then it's just a matter of making sure what you're placing matches the bill-of-material. But I also know getting CAD files is easier said than done...I work at a contract assembly company and I probably wind-up teaching the placement on at least 75% of the boards we build here...so I know pardner! -Steve Gregory- ################################################################ TechNet E-Mail Forum provided as a free service by IPC using LISTSERV 1.8c ################################################################ To subscribe/unsubscribe, send a message to [log in to unmask] with following text in the body: To subscribe: SUBSCRIBE TechNet <your full name> To unsubscribe: SIGNOFF TechNet ################################################################ Please visit IPC's web site (http://www.ipc.org) "On-Line Services" section for additional information. For technical support contact Hugo Scaramuzza at [log in to unmask] or 847-509-9700 ext.312 ################################################################ ################################################################ TechNet E-Mail Forum provided as a free service by IPC using LISTSERV 1.8c ################################################################ To subscribe/unsubscribe, send a message to [log in to unmask] with following text in the body: To subscribe: SUBSCRIBE TechNet <your full name> To unsubscribe: SIGNOFF TechNet ################################################################ Please visit IPC's web site (http://www.ipc.org) "On-Line Services" section for additional information. For technical support contact Hugo Scaramuzza at [log in to unmask] or 847-509-9700 ext.312 ################################################################