Good to hear, Rainer, y're quite right, but that was the recipe 20 years ago, and many humidizers were installed, now included in the AC system. We also use ionizers, but even these countermeasures may be unsufficient. In one of our plants people found that a small number of the tiny chips disappeared on the way from tape to board. Where on earth were they? After some time they were found on inside of the P-P! Sitting here and there like butterflies on a flower. And we thought ESD was under full control! OK, this was some years ago, but we do never underestimate ESD risks after that. Ingemar -----Original Message----- From: Blomberg, Rainer (FL51) [mailto:[log in to unmask]] Sent: den 7 september 1999 18:14 To: [log in to unmask] Subject: Re: [TN] ESD and SMT Tape/Reels - Concern I would say not. Even here in Florida we use them in certain build areas to increase humidity to reduce the build-up during the dry winter months. But I hope you realize, higher humidity does not eliminate ESD build-up, it only allows faster, natural dissipation. Rainer Blomberg -----Original Message----- From: Ingemar Hernefjord (EMW) [mailto:[log in to unmask]] Sent: Friday, September 03, 1999 4:36 AM To: [log in to unmask] Subject: Re: [TN] ESD and SMT Tape/Reels - Concern Are humidizers unfashionable today for eliminating ESD buildup? Ours are still on day and night. Ingemar Hernefjord Ericsson Microwave Systems -----Original Message----- From: Clive ffitch [mailto:[log in to unmask]] Sent: den 2 september 1999 17:21 To: [log in to unmask] Subject: [TN] ESD and SMT Tape/Reels - Concern All, I know this has been raised before, but the picture does not seem all that clear. So here goes. We have an issue with some SMT part tapes and reels being supplied using non-ESD compatible materials, where we have measured up to around 1000V on the plastic reels, or as measured on the tapes themselves when peeled back. Some plastics used do appear to be static dissipative/conductive, as do some of the black tapes, but not all. The tape/reels in question are for resistor/capacitor parts, and some SOT23s etc. When challenged, some suppliers have said this is not an issue for other people, and to re-package the parts would cost +300%, but we can have it if we pay. We assemble resistors/capacitors/discretes on the same equipment as more sensitive ESDSs, and feel sure we are not the only people with these concerns; what we want are parts supplied using ESD-safe tape and reel packaging. For the assembly of high reliability equipment, we do not want to have to resort to installing ioniser farms. However, we do not have any leverage in the market place on our own, and our order quantities are small - even insignificant - so the question is, ARE we alone? Is the rest of industry getting what it wants, or do we have to adapt our own practices to accommodate resistors and capacitors being delivered in the packaging that suppliers say we can have them in? All comments to TechNet most welcome. Clive ffitch MBUK Stevenage, England ############################################################## TechNet Mail List 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 web site (http://www.ipc.org/html/forum.htm) for additional information. 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