Coin envelopes for SMT part, where?

[Joerg]

Ok, 7/8x7/8 smallest size.
http://sheppardenvelope.com/envelopes/miniature.htm

Thanks! That's the ones I had seen and was looking for. AFAIR it was the
1-1/4" by 1-1/4".

 

[Joerg]

Get the bigger ones, 2.5 x 4.25, so you can write lots of stuff on
them.

But then they take up more space and I can't get them into parts
drawers. Usually I only keep 20-30 parts each, for fixing up a prototype
etc.

 

[Joerg]

Staples has 2x3 clear poly bags with a white writable area on them;
they fit into *my* parts drawers just fine

Not sure if putting parts in non-anti-static bags is such a good idea.
I usually leave them in their tape, in units of 10 or so.

IME it's ok. Clean paper isn't very static and stuff like diodes,
resistors, caps has never died an ESD death here.

 

[Joerg]

I have a box of 500, #3 coin envelopes, size 2.5 x 4.25 inches.
They're made by Westvaco/Columbian Envelopes, product ID CO545.

They're great. You can write the description and stock number on the
front, scribble any measurement notes, and tape the Digikey label or
whatever to the back. Packing density is a lot better than film cans
or drawers or whatever.

Well, I don't have to really write on them. Except for part value and a
local ID. It's databased here so when I need, say, a double diode I look
for it on the LAN drive. That tells we what I've got, location and
container number.

But yes, even the big envelopes are better than all the little metal
cans I've got now.

 

[Joerg]

I guess you're not into origami paper art...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Origami

Perhaps get some heavy paper,a glue stick and scissors and make a
bunch.
Maybe pay some kid $2.00 to make'm.
Don't forget to say that it'll be fun to do

I really wanted to avoid that

 

[Joerg]

Here is some 1 11/16" x 2 3/4"
$21 for 500

Try this link:
http://www.actionenvelope.com/ae/control/category/~category_id=7116/~pcategory=7064

Thanks. However, Martin found a source for the roughly 1" by 1" I had
seen back then.

 

[Joerg]

You might look at Stamp Collecting and their Supply houses for such
envelopes. Or for other gear to hold them in sheets.

That's often the shiny "lunchbag" paper (which crackles when you press
and bend it), can be quite an ESD risk.

 

[Joerg]

For stuff on tape, I've found a couple of solutions - film negative binder pages, and similar
products with smaller pockets used for storing baseball/cigarette card collections

http://www.electricstuff.co.uk/smd_storage.html

Good idea. Can become an ESD scare though.

 

[Joerg]

You can always try the gang at rec.collecting.coins to see where they
buy theirs.

Right, didn't think there was such a group. But Martin pointed out a
source already.

 

[Joerg]

Le Sat, 01 Sep 2007 00:08:24 +0000, Joerg a écrit:





Not quite what you've asked but I ordered some of these and am very
pleased with them. Also exists ready filled.

http://stores.ebay.com/smtzone_Empty-enclosure_W0QQfsubZ17QQfrsrcZ1

I've got some of those. It's databased also by coordinates but tough to
write part values onto them.

 

[Jim Thompson]

Ok, guys, I've read it many times that coin envelopes (the paper kind)
are practical for storing SMT. Much less space than all those cans the
size of aspirin packages that stuff the cabinets here. Ok, not as
airtight but that should be fine.

I asked at all kinds of stores, Tarjay, Walmart, Longs, stationary
shops, you name it. None had any, most didn't even know what I was
talking about. Where do you buy them?

Have you tried a hobby store, such as Michael's?

I can recall getting 1" X 1.5" zip locks there.

...Jim Thompson

 

[John Larkin]

But then they take up more space and I can't get them into parts
drawers. Usually I only keep 20-30 parts each, for fixing up a prototype
etc.

They're so thin, there's hardly any volume. I bought a bunch of
plastic bins with lids, loaf-of-sliced-sourdough-bread size roughly,
and have one for caps, one for inductors, one for diodes, like that.
Mostly I just toss them in, although I keep intending to get
organized. You could use some plastic-tray drawer-organizer things and
order parts by value or something, if you're compulsively neat. My
office is directly over the company stockroom, with almost 2e6 parts
in stock, so I can just grab anything from stock. So the coin
envelopes in my office hols mostly samples, exotica, and stuff I use
often, like 0.33 uF caps and such.

Two of the bins are specially reserved, cookies and chocolate.

Really, the bigger envelopes are great, because you can write a lot of
stuff on them, measurement notes, mfr/part number, price, anything. I
tape the Digikey labels to the back, which just fits.

It's interesting how important this seems to be.

John

 

[John Larkin]

IME it's ok. Clean paper isn't very static and stuff like diodes,
resistors, caps has never died an ESD death here.

The only parts we're fairly sure that we've killed from ESD are some
gaasfets and some exotic Harris opamps. Most parts seem pretty rugged.
I've heard rumors that LEDs can be killed from esd, but all my LEDs
seem to light up, even ones that have been kicked around for years.

All our production people follow the esd rules, but engineers, working
in their offices or the lab, often don't, and it doesn't seem to
matter. But our humidity seldom gets below 40%.

John

 

[Joerg]

They're so thin, there's hardly any volume. I bought a bunch of
plastic bins with lids, loaf-of-sliced-sourdough-bread size roughly,
and have one for caps, one for inductors, one for diodes, like that.
Mostly I just toss them in, although I keep intending to get
organized. You could use some plastic-tray drawer-organizer things and
order parts by value or something, if you're compulsively neat. My
office is directly over the company stockroom, with almost 2e6 parts
in stock, so I can just grab anything from stock. So the coin
envelopes in my office hols mostly samples, exotica, and stuff I use
often, like 0.33 uF caps and such.

Two of the bins are specially reserved, cookies and chocolate.

Really, the bigger envelopes are great, because you can write a lot of
stuff on them, measurement notes, mfr/part number, price, anything. I
tape the Digikey labels to the back, which just fits.

It's interesting how important this seems to be.

Yeah, you have a point there. I still got a 5-1/4 floppy storage case
here, used for CDs right now. Occasionally they show up at a yard sale
and the envelopes would fit into those. Maybe even into some 3-1/2" disk
cabinets. One of the cabinets in the lab has 2-1/2" high drawers, maybe
that would also work if I put them in sideways.

 

[Joerg]

Have you tried a hobby store, such as Michael's?

I can recall getting 1" X 1.5" zip locks there.

Zip locks they had but that's an ESD hazard.

 

[John Larkin]

Yeah, you have a point there. I still got a 5-1/4 floppy storage case
here, used for CDs right now. Occasionally they show up at a yard sale
and the envelopes would fit into those. Maybe even into some 3-1/2" disk
cabinets. One of the cabinets in the lab has 2-1/2" high drawers, maybe
that would also work if I put them in sideways.

I found some nice molded clear plastic trays, at Tap Plastics maybe,
that are maybe 10" long and about business-card size. They'd be
perfect for lining up coin envelopes by value or whatever. Just tuck
them away in a cabinet when not in use.

John

 

[RST Engineering \(jw\)]

Try a stamp collecting store.

Jim

 

[RST Engineering \(jw\)]

Had a hell of a day at the old airport last Thursday, didn't you?

Jim

 

[Joerg]

The only parts we're fairly sure that we've killed from ESD are some
gaasfets and some exotic Harris opamps. Most parts seem pretty rugged.
I've heard rumors that LEDs can be killed from esd, but all my LEDs
seem to light up, even ones that have been kicked around for years.

Just debugged a few prototypes for a client. Their assembly provider had
all LEDs reversed. Turns out that the 4V breakdown spec indeed means 4V.
All busted :-(

Luckily I was done before the Fedex cutoff on Friday so I have a free
weekend. Or so I thought. Turns out the pool took a dump. Green clouds
in there despite very controlled chlorine levels. Maybe it didn't like
the cover on there. To add a little spice the pool sweep also croaked
this morning while I was in there cleaning. Again. Oh man.

-> If anyone knows a better pool sweep than the Polaris, maybe a Hayward
or so, please speak up.

All our production people follow the esd rules, but engineers, working
in their offices or the lab, often don't, and it doesn't seem to
matter. But our humidity seldom gets below 40%.

Out here it can be close to 0%. Take the cover off the EMI box, bzzzt
.... BANG! Nice dazzling blue flashes when you do that in the evening.

 

[Joerg]

Try a stamp collecting store.

Yes, I should. First I have to find where there is one in the area ...