ENGINEERING NOTES
Engineering notes
Working notes on handling, storage and depaneling PCBs: what the standards ask for, what we measure, and the decisions that show up as yield.
Sep 16, 2026
Can extreme temperatures damage stored boards?
Storage temperature and process temperature are different questions. What the room needs, what the rack needs, and why margin on the rating is the...
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Sep 9, 2026
Storing boards of different sizes in one rack
Most floors run a mix of board sizes, not one. Why fixed-pitch racks fail a mixed shop, what adjustable actually means, and the one...
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Sep 2, 2026
Bags, trays or racks: what each one actually protects against
Bags, totes and racks are treated as alternatives. They are not. Each protects against a different failure, and most production floors need at least...
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Aug 24, 2026
Seven ways boards get damaged in storage
Storage damage shows up at test, not on the shelf. The seven failures we see most often, from stacking populated boards to letting the...
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Further reading
- IPC and ESD standards referenceWhat each standard requires for handling, storage and depaneling, and how limits tighten by IPC class.
- Baking MSD boards per J-STD-033Why a rack's temperature rating decides whether boards change containers for the bake.
- What “ESD safe” actually meansSurface resistance, the S541 bands, and how to read a test report.
- Sizing a rack to your boardsThe four measurements that decide fit, including component envelope against slot pitch.
- Gear, screw or belt adjustmentWhich mechanism suits your changeover pattern, and what wears out.
- Will the rack fit my SMT loader?Chassis height, slot pitch and footprint, plus custom-fixture checks.
- Choosing a depaneling methodV-cut, router or manual break: where the strain goes and what each method costs.
- Blade life and when to changeWhat 100,000 cycles means and the symptoms that appear before scrap.
- How we verify what we sellThe test reports behind every number, what we check before shipping, and what we refuse to claim.
Have a question these do not answer?
Send your board dimensions, bake schedule, loader model or panel drawing. An engineer answers, and we confirm fit before you order.