Author Topic: How do you store/organise SMD components? (or small components in general)  (Read 7666 times)

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Offline MicrodoserTopic starter

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Re: How do you store/organise SMD components? (or small components in general)
« Reply #25 on: October 22, 2020, 11:21:06 am »
I really like my latest setup: projects in ziplock bags in file folders in filing cabinet.

I have one a filing cabinet but I keep my accounts in it. I think for me that having something on my desk and won't take up much more space than an A4 piece of paper yet gives me access to 144 components at a time will be a gamechanger in my PCB construction.

I am looking forward to trying out the Aidetek boxes, I was mistaken on the delivery date, they don't tun up until tomorrow  :(
 

Offline thm_w

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Re: How do you store/organise SMD components? (or small components in general)
« Reply #26 on: October 22, 2020, 08:55:55 pm »
I am sure, but nobody in those threads suggested using the Aidetek little briefcases. They seem perfect for what I need. I don't think I would get on with the folders, but I could stack a few of those briefcases on top of each other. They come in various sizes so each one would be only what I need for a particular PCB so I could just pull that one to pick and place a set of boards. I don't have room for cabinets or drawers. Folders tend to need to be stood a particular way. I don't need a computerised system to keep track of components either.

Asking again has produced, for me at least, better answers.

Well now that I know the answer its easy to work backwards :D:

https://www.eevblog.com/forum/beginners/best-toolbox-for-electronics/
https://www.eevblog.com/forum/beginners/smd-component-storage/
https://www.eevblog.com/forum/beginners/parts-organization/
https://www.eevblog.com/forum/beginners/parts-bin-recommendation/
https://www.eevblog.com/forum/reviews/smd-passive-kits/
https://www.eevblog.com/forum/reviews/wentai-fake/
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Offline MicrodoserTopic starter

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Re: How do you store/organise SMD components? (or small components in general)
« Reply #27 on: October 22, 2020, 10:34:13 pm »
I am sure, but nobody in those threads suggested using the Aidetek little briefcases. They seem perfect for what I need. I don't think I would get on with the folders, but I could stack a few of those briefcases on top of each other. They come in various sizes so each one would be only what I need for a particular PCB so I could just pull that one to pick and place a set of boards. I don't have room for cabinets or drawers. Folders tend to need to be stood a particular way. I don't need a computerised system to keep track of components either.

Asking again has produced, for me at least, better answers.

Well now that I know the answer its easy to work backwards :D:

https://www.eevblog.com/forum/beginners/best-toolbox-for-electronics/
https://www.eevblog.com/forum/beginners/smd-component-storage/
https://www.eevblog.com/forum/beginners/parts-organization/
https://www.eevblog.com/forum/beginners/parts-bin-recommendation/
https://www.eevblog.com/forum/reviews/smd-passive-kits/
https://www.eevblog.com/forum/reviews/wentai-fake/

Knowing the answer does indeed make the question easier to phrase  ;)

I do note that none of those threads are younger than 2 years old, well before my time here started.
 

Offline MicrodoserTopic starter

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Re: How do you store/organise SMD components? (or small components in general)
« Reply #28 on: October 26, 2020, 10:26:14 pm »
Quote
I think I will like it though

Hope you do! Please let us know what you think.

It has finally turned up and it is everything I hoped for. The lids latch firmly but not so firm that there is any danger of components flying everywhere when I open one. The compartments are very small, yet large enough to easily hold 1000 x 0603 resistors (possibly 2000) and appear to fully match the claimed capacity of '500 1206 items'. I have only filled less than 10% of the compartments and I feel it will see me for a while yet. Individual components are easily picked using decent tweezers.

Very happy.

So happy that I have ordered the antistatic version of the same item which has one side with compartments the size of the one I ordered and the other side has larger ones in it.

I noticed that on AliExpress very similar items can be bought for half the price that they are on Amazon (but you have to buy two, so if you only want one then no savings)
 

Offline PlainName

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Re: How do you store/organise SMD components? (or small components in general)
« Reply #29 on: October 27, 2020, 02:32:21 am »
Quote
It has finally turned up and it is everything I hoped for

Bum. I was hoping you'd say it's rubbish and then I wouldn't be tempted to get one myself (which will obviously turn into a set).
 

Offline exe

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Re: How do you store/organise SMD components? (or small components in general)
« Reply #30 on: October 27, 2020, 11:42:17 am »
I noticed that on AliExpress very similar items can be bought for half the price that they are on Amazon (but you have to buy two, so if you only want one then no savings)

For what it's worth, I bought this one for 32euros in single quantity from here, now it's even cheaper: https://www.aliexpress.com/item/909915769.html?spm=a2g0s.9042311.0.0.27424c4dmyoyR0 . If they let buying two different types of boxes that's good: one smd box, and one with bigger compartments for through-hole components is a nice combo.
 

Offline ChristofferB

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Re: How do you store/organise SMD components? (or small components in general)
« Reply #31 on: October 27, 2020, 12:47:21 pm »
My go-to small parts storage solution is microcentrifuge tubes, AKA 'eppendorf tubes' - 1,5ml.

They cost next to nothing (sold in bags of 1000, I paid around 25$), their only downside is the conical end, you kinda need a rack for them. However this can be a block of wood or a sheet of acryllic with holes drilled in it.


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Offline DeanA

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Re: How do you store/organise SMD components? (or small components in general)
« Reply #32 on: October 29, 2020, 12:37:59 am »
My go-to small parts storage solution is microcentrifuge tubes, AKA 'eppendorf tubes' - 1,5ml.

They cost next to nothing (sold in bags of 1000, I paid around 25$), their only downside is the conical end, you kinda need a rack for them. However this can be a block of wood or a sheet of acryllic with holes drilled in it.



Yes, that's exactly what I'm looking for, except with a flat base so they sit upright, just like the ones in the WE development kit with an attached lid.
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Offline PlainName

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Re: How do you store/organise SMD components? (or small components in general)
« Reply #33 on: October 29, 2020, 12:52:40 am »
Aliexpress have plenty. For instance:

1.8ml vials in a pack

 

Offline DeanA

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« Last Edit: October 29, 2020, 02:09:21 am by DeanA »
 

Offline PlainName

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Re: How do you store/organise SMD components? (or small components in general)
« Reply #35 on: October 29, 2020, 02:21:54 am »
I would do without the hinged lid since it will unbalance the vial and negate the benefit of a flat bottom. If the solution is to never have the vial standing on its own when open, it won't matter if the top is hinged or not :)

There are loads of 5ml ones. Took me a while to find the smaller one since I thought 5ml far too big for 0603 and similar parts. Of course, a good setup would have a range of sizes to accommodate the different devices...
 

Offline coppercone2

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Re: How do you store/organise SMD components? (or small components in general)
« Reply #36 on: October 30, 2020, 07:05:22 am »
I don't know how good of an idea it is to put parts like thin film resistors in something that is not ESD proof. I think you are overestimating their durability.

http://www.vishaypg.com/docs/63129/esd_tn.pdf

and

Thick Film resistors are so sensitive to ESD voltages that the application of ESD is sometimes used as a trimming method, as these resistors almost always experience negative resistance changes when exposed to ESD.

ceramic capacitors and wirewound? stuff seem like the only ESD safe components to put in weird bins
« Last Edit: October 30, 2020, 07:11:29 am by coppercone2 »
 

Offline PlainName

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Re: How do you store/organise SMD components? (or small components in general)
« Reply #37 on: October 30, 2020, 02:16:17 pm »
That's a valid concern. Doesn't help to have a static carrier floating around the bench either!

OTOH, there could be quite a difference between a lab test where one end is grounded and the other has an ESD spike applied, and fat-finger grabbing of the device. Well, fat tweezer grabbing :)
 

Offline coppercone2

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Re: How do you store/organise SMD components? (or small components in general)
« Reply #38 on: October 30, 2020, 09:47:37 pm »
i would just get the black one thats slightly more expensive for R and put LC into the normal plastic one,

alot of this energy is build up from the lid opening. Especially with how tight that box is, since its a snap fit.
« Last Edit: October 30, 2020, 09:50:03 pm by coppercone2 »
 

Offline AlfBaz

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Re: How do you store/organise SMD components? (or small components in general)
« Reply #39 on: October 30, 2020, 10:00:34 pm »
I keep my components off site and use this fancy GUI to select the parts I need.
Staff at the offsite facility then place my needed components in labeled anti-static bags and deliver them to my office for consumption  >:D
 

Offline coppercone2

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Re: How do you store/organise SMD components? (or small components in general)
« Reply #40 on: October 30, 2020, 10:53:36 pm »
hope no one coughs, IMO waste of shipping resources to constantly have packages trucked around.. I don't see why the basics can't be kept around
 

Online rsjsouza

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Re: How do you store/organise SMD components? (or small components in general)
« Reply #41 on: November 02, 2020, 04:19:31 pm »
As I mentioned in another post, I usually use coin envelopes in Kraft paper for non-ESD parts and small re-purposed ESD bags for the other items - most of them similar to these ones from Desco. 

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