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Re: OT - Method of choice to sort and store assorted transistors (apart from having one bin for every part number)


 

eBay has several vendors selling small modular SMT / SMD Surface Mount Parts containers.
You can get them quite cheaply if you look for the bulk sales.

Just do an eBay (or better still Picclick - much better search engine for eBay) search for SMT or SMT Component Boxes.

They are a nice modular system of clip together boxes, originally designed for SMD / SMT component storage, which have transparent hinged lids that flip up 90 degrees & firmly latch closed.
Some boxes have a small metal spring to open the lid while others use a less durable system of a plastic spring.
These modular boxes are designed to clip together on all four sides & are made in a variety of sizes based on a multiple of the smallest size with a common 21mm height.
The smallest box is 25mm across the front with the latch & 31.5mm on the side (No. 1).? These boxes are ESD safe (antistatic) for storing static sensitive components.

The boxes are manufactured in a variety of colours by several different companies but some sizes are commonly available in only one or two colours on eBay.
Some similar looking clip together boxes do not fit these.? The incompatible boxes often have a module with many smaller boxes in a single unit.
Dimension L, Length, is the front side with the latch.

*No.1? 25 x 31.5 x 21.5 mm? L x W x H *
Black / Blue / Brown / Green / Pink / White / Yellow
ID: 21 x 18 x 18 mm??? This is the smallest module size.

*No.2? 75 x 31.5 x 21.5 mm? L x W x H? Green*
Normally only green but also rarely in blue & pink.
3 modules long (front) x 1 module back.

*No.3? 75 x 63 x 21.5 mm? L x W x H??? Pink *
Normally only pink but also rarely in blue & green.
3 modules long (front) x 2 modules back.

*No.4? 125 x 63 x 21.5 mm? L x W x H??? Yellow *
Normally yellow but also rarely in blue, green, & pink.
5 modules long (front) x 2 modules back.

The great thing about these is that you can clip them together in a nice sized stack for ease of handling.
You can colour code for contents but the "alternate" colours may be more expensive.

I haven't got around to it yet but I have a cheap tool box with drawers in the front that I am going to gut & use slides of plywood in aluminium channel to make the boxes into layer drawers.
Because they are so low & small, a lot of compartments can fit into a small area.

You do find a certain number of faulty boxes.
Sometimes the hinge sort of falls apart when the box opens - you may be able to tension the spring to stop that or keep those boxes in a row other than the back one.
Often they do not fall apart if there is another row behind them.
Sometimes a box will not open fully.? Exercising it will often get it to come right.

If you do end up with too many faulty ones from an eBay seller then they normally have to either send you more or do a discount.

There are some other similar containers that are not interchangeable, often in blocks of containers, so you need to check the dimensions.

Regards,
Brian.

On 04-Dec.-18 08:56, Harvey White wrote:
On Mon, 3 Dec 2018 17:04:15 -0500, you wrote:

If you have more than a couple of each, get small pill bottles with
snap on caps, write the device number on top and keep them in order.
Make small trays slightly higher than the bottle and you can stack
them in a drawer. You could probably stuff a couple hundred in a
drawer.

Not my idea, I saw a collection of smd parts organized that way
(using smaller vials) and it was pretty impressive.
I use bead organization containers for SMD parts. Locally, Michaels
or Hobby lobby may have them. You get about 20 screw top plastic
vials in a plastic case for not too much (look for sales). These are
about 1 inch in diameter.

I put a 3/4 inch colored dot label to discriminate between 1% and 5%
resistors, for instance.

Some containers are available in a 1 3/4 (or so) diameter. Those can
be used for tape mounted SMD parts.

Be aware that these containers are not necessarily anti-static.

Things that need static protection may be left in the tape which can
be cut or curled to fit the container.

Other containers for beads, especially with locking tops, are good for
screws and nuts.

Harvey

Paul

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