by David K. on March 30, 2012
There are many considerations when creating an ESD-safe work place and one of the biggest is reducing static electricity from humans. Wrist straps are the most common method of grounding an operator at a workstation, but there are some options to look into when purchasing them. An important, but often overlooked, factor is how the snaps are made.
Machined snaps are made by grinding or cutting a piece of metal into the shape needed. They benefit from increased precision, but can cost more than formed snaps.
Formed snaps are made by stamping a shape into a piece of metal. These can be made much faster and easier, so they tend to be cheaper, but you lose out on the exactness of the machined snaps.
Overall, formed snaps are good for most non-critical applications, especially if you normally sit at your workstation. If precision is important or if you find that your wrist strap accidentally disconnects, then you may want to look into machined snaps.
By using wrist straps with machined snaps you can prevent many accidental disconnects, and also have assurance that the snap will consistently provide a path to ground. Gene Bliley wrote an article for Evaluation Engineering on reducing accidental release problems for his company. It is an interesting read and shows how effective using machined snaps can be if you are having problems with formed snaps. There are many options on the market to get machined snap wrist straps, and if you want more protection some companies offer magnetic snaps.
Has your company had any problems with their ESD-safe program? Leave a comment on what the problem was and how your company fixed it!
by David K. on March 28, 2012
The Hakko FX-888 is a compact soldering station perfect for saving space on personal and business workbenches.
Design:
By combining the great T18 series tips with a compact soldering station, the Hakko FX-888 gives you the soldering control you need without taking over your workspace. The FX-888 hand piece is ESD-safe and has a thin grip for easier use. A dial turn temperature selector on the station controls the ceramic heating element, with both Fahrenheit and Celsius display. The Hakko FX-888 is designed to have a rapid 30 second heat-up and fast thermal recovery to ensure proper tip temperature throughout your soldering.
Hakko FX-888 Includes:
- FX888-23BY – Station power unit
- FX8801-02 – ESD-safe soldering iron
- FH800-01BY – Iron Holder
- A1559 – Cleaning sponge
- A1561 – Wire sponge
- B3466 – Calibration tool
- T18-D16 – Chisel solder tip
Specifications:
- Power consumption: 70W / 26VAC
- Iron power consumption: 65W / 26VAC
- Temperature: 200 – 480°C or 392 – 896°F
- Temperature stability: 1°C or 1.8°F
- Outer dimensions: 120 x 93 x 170mm or 5.1 x 4.7 x 3.9”
- Specification Sheet
Promotions:
Our Hakko FM-206 promotion has ended. Be sure to check out our new Product Spotlights for more promotions!
© 2012 All-Spec Industries
by David K. on March 26, 2012
While we have gone over some information on UL certification, there are many more rating systems in the electronics industry. Each of these rating systems were created to ensure that consumers and companies know exactly what they can expect from their products. Over the next few weeks, I will be detailing some information on various rating systems, starting today with the IP code system.
“IP” stands for “ingress protection”, and it deals with both solid and liquid protection. This rating system was created by the International Electrotechnical Commission, which creates standards for electrical technologies.
The format for the code is the letters IP followed by two numbers, the first for solid and the second for liquid. Higher numbers mean better protection, and the numbers go from 1-6 for solid and 1-8 for liquid.
| First Number |
Solid Protection |
Second Number |
Water Protection |
| 1 |
Protection from objects 50mm and larger |
1 |
Protection from vertically falling water drops |
| 2 |
Protection from objects12.5mm and larger |
2 |
Protected from vertically falling water drops when tilted up to 15° |
| 3 |
Protection from objects 2.5mm and larger |
3 |
Protected against spraying water |
| 4 |
Protection from objects 1mm and larger |
4 |
Protected against splashing water |
| 5 |
Dust-protected |
5 |
Protected against water jets |
| 6 |
Dust-tight |
6 |
Protected against powerful water jets |
| 7 |
(none) |
7 |
Protected from 1 meter immersion in water (tested for 30 minutes) |
| 8 |
(none) |
8 |
Protected from more than 1 meter immersion in water (typically stated on product information) |
So now if you need to know what the rating is on your AEMC digital multimeter, Tempo 2-way telephone set, or Pelican hard protector case, you can figure out just how much ingress protection they offer. Are there any other ratings systems that you want to know about? Let us know in the comments and we may write an article on it next Monday!
by Guest on March 23, 2012
(special thanks to Pam George at Worklon for guest blogging the content below!)
Know The Numbers: The ESD Lab Wear you select should meet the best practices as set by the ESD industry. Make sure the garment has been tested per ESD STM 2.1 Method and has met the compliance standards required by ANSI/ESD S20.20.
Know The Performance: A quality ESD Lab Coat will be made of fabric that is breathable and comfortable. Make sure you select a garment that also retains its full ESD properties after many washings.
Know The Environment: Make sure the Lab Wear you select meets the criteria for a particular ESD device and the environment where it will be worn. This helps protect against unnecessary product loss.
Know the Manufacturer: Select ESD Lab Wear and Cleanroom garments made by an experienced company, known for quality. This ensures the manufacturer knows and adheres to the stringent requirements for ESD control. An experienced manufacturer can also design a custom style for a company’s unique ESD requirements.
–Pam George, Director of Worklon®, Superior Uniform Group
As a manufacturer of Cleanroom and peripheral area apparel, Worklon® offers a comprehensive line of ESD Lab Wear. Since 1962, the Worklon brand has represented comfortable, high quality garments that meet the stringent requirements for ESD control.
by David K. on March 22, 2012
Design:
Today we are proud to announce that we have added a brand new heel ground to our website! The All-Spec GRD550R heel ground is designed to not only fit comfortably over your shoes, but also features bright, high visibility colors. The vibrantly colored heel cup and strap provide managers with easy verification of compliance even from a distance. Also, no one will be absent-mindedly going home with these heel grounds on their shoes, as the bright strap and cup are hard to miss. Non-marking rubber on the heel cup will prevent scuff marks on ESD-safe flooring. By using the GRD550R, you can now comfortably work in static sensitive areas and know that you will be constantly in contact with electrically grounded flooring.
Features:
- Bright straps and heel cup allow managers to have easy verification of compliance
- High visibility colors assist with loss prevention
- Non-marking rubber used in heel cups prevent scuff marks
- Conductive carbon fiber grounding strip comfortably connects heel strap to your skin to provide a path to the ground
Specifications:
- 1 meg ohm resistor
- 22” conductive carbon fiber grounding strip
- Strap color: Neon green
- Cup color: Bright yellow
