🚀 go-pugleaf

On Thu, 23 Jul 2009 21:11:15 -0700, "JosephKK"<quiettechblue@yahoo.com>
wrote:

>On Thu, 23 Jul 2009 15:59:19 +1000, "David L. Jones"
><altzone@gmail.com> wrote:
>
>>An interesting question was posted on another forum:
>>"can you get (ceramic) SMD caps (1206,0805 etc) with the values printed on 
>>them?".
>>
>>My first response was that I've very rarely seen this (like maybe once), and 
>>while it is possible (see 
>>http://www.synrad.com/search_apps/application_briefs/117-2.htm), you 
>>basically can't get labeled ones, they are almost always without markings.
>>
>>It got me to thinking, why is it so?
>>My guess would be that it's due to the surface finish (or lack thereof) on 
>>ceramic capacitors, and/or the delicate nature of their multi-layer 
>>construction means they could be more easily damaged or properties altered 
>>by the process.
>>As opposed to most SMD resistors that have a coating on them which would 
>>allow for easy and accurate printing using various technologies.
>>
>>Any know the real reason(s) why ceramic SMD caps don't have markings?
>>
>>Dave.
>
>Simple, because they have gotten away with it for 30 years.


  Six at most.  When I inspected assemblies, many years ago (14?), they
were there, and when I designed assemblies more recently, I began to see
them disappearing.

  Form factor is the reason, and lack of true need, IMO.

  The first thing I do to deck out my proto bench is make out about 300
pcs each of every cap and resistor (and most all tape and reel parts
other than big chips)we have in stock in bulk.  Little 10 or 20 pc strips
fit real nice in a parts cabinet drawer.  Smaller samples of those we
have less counts of, of course. Marking the P/N and or value on the back
and or front with a sharpie IDs each strip just fine.

  That way, future ID through visual comparison is also capable, as the
parts are in my kit cabinet to compare with.