Reference at ebay is no longer available, do you have another pointer? John Ferrell W8CCW "All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing." -- Edmund Burke http://DixieNC.US ----- Original Message ----- From: "John Day" To: "Microcontroller discussion list - Public." Sent: Monday, November 24, 2008 4:04 PM Subject: Re: [OT]storage of bulk smt components? > At 03:19 PM 11/24/2008, you wrote: >>Artie Jones wrote: >> > Can anyone suggest inexpensive containers that might be suitable for >> > this >> > purpose??? Storage containers should be inexpensive. > > I have bene using this style of container: > http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=270172299622&ssPageName=ADME:B:EF:US:1123 > for some time. They come in several sizes and colours. I have black > ones that are anti-static as well as the colours. Each one is totally > separate so that you can re-arrange them when you need to add another > value in the resistor tray. > > I usually keep them in blocks of 50 ( 5 x 10 ) which is really > convenient to put on the bench when I am loading a board. Because > they are separate they can never "bleed" form one compartment to the > other, and each one has a lid which is held by a spring. The larger > sizes are great for things like connectors, switches, push-buttons > etc. The little ones are fine even for things like SOT-23 and SOT-223 > transistors and regulators. > > Just label the lid with a permanent marker. > > John > > >>I've been using the Raaco A45 and A46 boxes for component storage -- >>they're >>fine for larger SMDs, as long as you push the orange dividers down >>all the way >>(they're a bit stiff and tend not to go all the way down). I've had issues >>with 0805 parts slipping under the dividers and getting mixed up >>though. A bit >>of hot glue or Araldite sorts it, but for what they cost they aren't >>up to much. >> >>The A4 Assorter boxes are much better built, and have separate moulded >>compartments (no dividers). Not as versatile, but less risk of SMDs >>getting >>mixed up. They are expensive though (which is why I've only got two of >>them!) >> >>Maplin have recently started stocking these: >>http://www.maplin.co.uk/module.aspx?moduleno=26150 >> >>They're relatively cheap, the dividers are movable and lock into the >>plastic >>with a nice 'snap', and there's no gap between the divider and the >>box itself. >> I've been using them for resistor kits -- one box will divide into >> twelve >>compartments that are just the right size for axial-leaded resistors on >>paper >>strips. Three boxes are enough to cover the E12 range from 10R to 1Meg. >> >>I tend to keep SMDs on the plastic or paper tapes though, with a >>written label >>on the tape to ID them (usually just a Farnell stock number, component >>value >>and size -- e.g. "MF25 680R 123-4567 RoHS" = metal film 1/4W, 680 ohms, >>P/N >>123-4567, RoHS compliant). I tend to use a silver or gold paint marker for >>black plastic tapes and a black Stabilo Write4All for the paper tapes. >>Works >>pretty well for the most part, but the silver/gold marker tends to wear >>off >>after a lot of handling. The black marker, not so much. >> >>-- >>Phil. >>piclist@philpem.me.uk >>http://www.philpem.me.uk/ >>-- >>http://www.piclist.com PIC/SX FAQ & list archive >>View/change your membership options at >>http://mailman.mit.edu/mailman/listinfo/piclist >> >> >>-- >>No virus found in this incoming message. >>Checked by AVG. >>Version: 7.5.549 / Virus Database: 270.9.9/1809 - Release Date: >>11/24/2008 9:03 AM > > -- > http://www.piclist.com PIC/SX FAQ & list archive > View/change your membership options at > http://mailman.mit.edu/mailman/listinfo/piclist > -- http://www.piclist.com PIC/SX FAQ & list archive View/change your membership options at http://mailman.mit.edu/mailman/listinfo/piclist