Strange things often happen in the workshop: chips are perfectly fine on the production line, but they malfunction once they reach the customer. Upon inspection after return, many are found to be damaged by static electricity. But the workshop has implemented anti-static measures, right? The problem likely lies in something you haven't considered – the plastic trays used to hold the chips.
How dangerous is static electricity?
The static electricity generated by a person walking can reach several thousand volts. Many precision chips today can be damaged by less than 100 volts of static electricity, and some even by as little as 10 volts. This means that simply picking up a chip can cause "internal damage."
Even more troublesome is that this damage doesn't manifest immediately. The chip might fail weeks after reaching the customer, resulting in not only the cost of the chip but also damage to reputation and customer trust.
Two Problem Areas with Anti-Static Trays
Many factories know they need "anti-static" trays, but they often buy the wrong ones:
First problem: "Anti-static" dependent on weather
Cheap trays use "anti-static" materials that work by absorbing moisture from the air to conduct electricity. This works fine in high humidity, but in dry autumn and winter seasons or in air-conditioned workshops, they become essentially ineffective.
Second problem: Thinking that more conductive is better
Materials that are too conductive (like metal) are actually dangerous, as they release all the static electricity at once, causing a greater impact. Good materials should allow the static electricity to dissipate slowly, like building a buffer pool for a flood.
What does a good ESD tray look like?
Reliable materials: PS/PET/PVC, stable performance, unaffected by dryness, and maintains its effectiveness even after hundreds of washes.
Thoughtful design: Each slot for the chip should have rounded edges, and a small gap at the bottom to prevent scratching the chip or generating new static electricity during handling.
Suitable for automation: Precise dimensions that allow robotic arms to grip them securely; stable stacking to prevent tipping or sliding during transportation in the workshop.
1. Doing the Math:
The money saved by buying cheap trays might end up costing you double in the long run:
After a certain factory switched to reliable trays, the chip testing pass rate increased from 92% to over 98%. The saved rework time alone was worth hundreds of thousands of yuan per year.
If you're in the automotive or medical electronics industry, a batch of goods recalled due to electrostatic discharge (ESD) problems could cost millions. A good tray is the cheapest "insurance."
How to quickly assess your trays?
Check the trays you are currently using:
1. Drying Test: Place the tray in a dry environment (such as near an air conditioner vent) for two days, then test the static electricity. If the performance deteriorates significantly, it means it's susceptible to dryness.
2. Wiping Test: Wipe the same spot 50 times with an alcohol swab. If the anti-static effect decreases by more than 30%, it means it's just a surface coating and not durable.
3. Actual Measurement: Borrow an electrostatic tester and actually measure whether there is static electricity accumulation on the tray filled with chips on the production line.
In conclusion:
With chips becoming increasingly sophisticated, the "box" that holds them is no longer just a simple container, but the first line of defense.
We offer free tray electrostatic testing. Send us a sample, and we'll tell you within 3 days whether it's reliable and provide suggestions for improvement.
Don't let a plastic tray ruin your expensive chips.