ESD protection

[Rob]

About 90 percent of non-mechanical after-sale failures can be attributed to
ESD stresses. The statistics tell the full story.
You especially see products from developmental countries/economies having
HUGE reliability issues because they do not want to spend money on ESD
protection when they first start up and concentrate on production numbers
too much.

Mainland Chinese corporations still haven't all seemed to have figured it
out yet.

The marketing ppl keep saying "Why were their products so reliable with the
first set of samples and the second set are terrible?"

I say "check the weather in the area on that day: first samples were built
while it was very humid".

Sure enough.  ; )

Sometimes though, I want to just wring ppls necks when they reach for
something without at LEAST touching first the surface upon which it lies,
THEN touch the IC or populated board. That simple act alone can save most
modern ICs.

Rob


----- Original Message -----
From: John E Blacet <blacet at monitor.net>
To: <synth-diy at node12b53.a2000.nl>
Sent: Saturday, September 09, 2000 8:50 AM
Subject: Re: ESD protection


> The electronics industry spends a fortune on ESD protection. One reason:
> increased reliability and product life.
>
> A couple decades ago, I worked at a small electronics place where the
> owner was very opposed to spending any money "on that nonsense". We had
> a lot of product failures and our repair business was great. The
> customers were not happy, though!
>
> I pushed for basic ESD procedures and got them through the engineering
> manager. We used AS mats and wrist straps, AS bags and conductive shield
> bags for completed PCAs. ICs stayed in the tubes, not poured out into
> cardboard bin boxes.
>
> The results came slowly but we saw far fewer repairs and DOA product.
> The customers started smiling. Business got better and better....
>
> You may get away with ignoring AS procedures, but it WILL get you sooner
> or later!
>
> A wrist strap and a conductive work surface is a real small investment
> compared to having to replace even one IC or having your gear freak out
> at a gig.
>
> Major electronics manufacturers even install AS floor tile and make
> assemblers wear AS slippers. They would not spend big $$$ if they did
> not have statistical proof of the effectiveness of AS procedures.
>
> ICs contain extremely fine structures and a static charge, even one you
> don't notice, is like a bolt of lightning!
>
> Debate (if any) closed.
>
> Regards.
> -------------------------
> John Blacet
> Blacet Research Music Electronics
> http://www.blacet.com
> -------------------------
> blacet at monitor.net
> -------------------------
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