Static Control Tips and Tricks

When Should You Clean Your ESD-Safe Mats?

by David K. on October 29, 2012

Here at All-Spec Industries we carry a lot of ESD-safe mats, as well as some mat cleaners. While using mat cleaner is typically simple enough (spray mat with cleaner, let it soak, wipe it off), you may not know when you need to clean your mats. Here are a few times that you should get out your cleaning supplies to keep your ESD-safe mats working correctly.

This first and most obvious time to clean your ESD-safe mats is when there is a visible layer of dirt or grime. If you can see the dirt on your mat then it is thick enough to interfere with its ESD-safe properties. A layer of dirt or dust could create an insulative layer on top of your mat, eliminating or reducing its ESD-safe protection.

Next is if you get flux, solder, or other chemicals on your mat. While it may seem like enough to just wipe your mat off with a dry paper towel, many liquids used in ESD-safe production can leave behind residues. These residues not only can create an insulative layer, but if they are from strong chemicals then they could corrode your mat or the products that come in contact with it.

Lastly, you should clean your mat if your RTT or RTG tests come out with a rating that is lower than expected. It is always best to test your mats regularly to ensure complete protection for your products, and if your mat fails the test cleaning can often help. This will give you a chance to bring your mat back up to its full potential, and increase its life span.

Have any more questions on cleaning ESD-safe mats? Leave a comment below, or visit our website at www.All-Spec.com!

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How to Test RTT and RTG Ratings

by David K. on October 22, 2012

If you use ESD-safe mats you’ve probably seen RTT (Resistance Top to Top or Resistance poinT to poinT) and RTG (Resistance Top to Ground or Resistance poinT to Ground) ratings. These are important ratings that show how mats conduct electrical charges. RTT confirms that the surface of the mat conducts electricity uniformly, while RTG shows that the mat can conduct electricity from its surface to a ground point.

While you can always look up the specifications for your mats if you need to know the RTT or RTG ratings, you may find that you want to test your mats to ensure they are meeting their expectations. To fully test an ESD-safe mat you need a surface resistivity meter. The ANSI ESD S20.20 standard recommends using a meter with 5 lb weighted electrodes. If you have the electrodes on 5 lb weights then they should give you a consistent reading.

To test RTT you simply position both of the electrodes on the surface of the mat, preferably as far apart as possible. You want to have them far away from each other so that you can test as much of the surface at once as possible. If you put the electrodes next to each other, you can only confirm that a small portion of the mat has the correct rating.

For RTG you place one of the electrodes on the surface of the mat, and connect the second one to the ground point. The ground point of a mat is typically a snap, so here you can use an electrode that can snap onto the ground. If you do use a weighted electrode then you must ensure that it is only touching the ground point and not the general surface of the mat.

That is the basic way to test RTT and RTG ratings. Do you have any more questions? Leave a comment below and we will find you the answer!

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How to Cut Foam with Less Particulates

by David K. on September 14, 2012

Sometimes you need to have foam lined shippers or storage, but you have the wrong size conductive or dissipative foam. Cutting foam can be difficult, especially low density foam which can leave behind particulates. There are some tools and techniques that you can use to limit particulation.

One of the simplest methods, if your foam is small enough, is to use a straight edge razor. This works best if the blade is sharp and rigid to give you the most control over your cut. When cutting it is best to pull the blade through the whole foam once, if you saw at the foam you will generate many more particulates. Because you want to make a single pass with the blade completely through the foam, the piece you are cutting needs to be small enough to reach your arm across as well as thin enough for your blade to cut through.

If your foam is too big to use a razor you can use a band saw, but the blade should have very fine teeth or, if possible, a smooth blade. Any serrated blade will cause more particulates, so the smoother the better. Also a band saw works best if it has a high RPM to make the cut as smoothly as possible. If you have the equipment for it you can also hot wire cut larger foam pieces. The hot wire should help reduce particulate by melting the foam.

Have any more questions on foam? Leave a comment below or visit our site at www.All-Spec.com.

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ESD-Safe Trash Cans

by David K. on July 20, 2012

About a month ago we went over 10 essential static control products, but of course those are not all of the ESD-safe items that you can use in your workplace. Two items that did not make it into the list are ESD-safe trash cans and ESD-safe trash liners.

You may think ESD-safe trash cans are unnecessary or superfluous, as once an item is thrown in the trash you typically do not need to protect it. That would be true, but having a static safe trash can is more about removing potential static generators than it is about keeping your trash safe. If you have to move your trash can around your work area or have to replace a liner every now and then, you do not want to have to worry about generating static every single time you interact with your trash can or liner.

So that is why we offer multiple ESD-safe trash cans and liners and suggest you use one in your work area. Be sure to keep your product safe from static damage, no matter where it may happen.

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10 Soldering Accessories for your Workstation

by David K. on July 13, 2012

It is quite obvious that every soldering station needs a soldering iron, but what other items should you be using on your workbench? While worktop real estate can be hard to come by, here are 10 items that you should consider for your work area to make your projects easier and safer.

Soldering Workstation

1. Fume Extractor: The flux used in both lead-free and leaded solder will release harmful fumes when melted, so it is important to have proper protection. A bench top fume extractor/absorber can help keep your air clean and breathable.

2. ESD-Safe Mat: Proper grounding is essential in any ESD sensitive project. If your product can be damaged by static discharge then a properly grounded ESD-safe mat is the protection you need.

3. Magnifier: In order to solder anything you need to be able to see what you are doing. If you are doing any precision work then magnification is essential, options include magnifiers, microscopes, and video inspection systems.

4. Circuit Board Holder: You want your hands to be free to work with the soldering iron and solder, so having a vise or work holder is essential for those of us with only two hands.

5. Solder Wire Holder: Having a proper solder dispenser can help keep your work flowing smoothly. A stationary holder can keep your solder wire from rolling away, and make one handed solder feeding much easier.

6. Solder Tip Cleaning Sponge: While you are working you need to keep your solder tips clean to ensure a long lifespan. Many soldering irons and stations come with sponges, but having a clean sponge or wire pad can be a solder tip saver.

7. ESD-Safe Pliers: Sometimes you need precision or a little extra leverage when working with your components. From bending to twisting, ESD-safe pliers can give you a better grasp on your project.

8. Vacuum Pick-Up Pen: If you need to move small, delicate pieces around your project, vacuum pick-up pens may be your best bet. They have the added benefit of being gentler than pliers, allowing you to place sensitive parts where you need them.

9. Flush Cutters: When you have a small piece of a component sticking out that you need to clip off, flush cutters are extremely helpful.

10. Inspection Arrows: If you are working with a team on a project, then paper/vinyl inspection arrows can allow you to easily point out areas of interest for your coworkers. This is especially helpful if you have to leave notes for the next shift, or point out components for other departments.

Do you have a soldering accessory that you can’t work without? Leave a comment below and tell us what you use at your workstation!

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