Model Shown: No. 4022-00A

Model Shown: No. 4028-00A with Stainless Steel Door Frames

Mepco/Centralab Surface Mount Components in tape and reel packaging. Photo courtesy of Mepco/Centralab, Inc.

Tape-and-Reel Desiccators

• Mix and match several reel sizes in one easy-access cabinet for optimal organization and space use!
• Adjustable stainless steel racks safely support carrier reels of many widths, up to 14" in diameter
• Automatic humidity controls increase SMD yield rates by reducing moisture absorption during storage
• Dry environment also functions as a degassing chamber to prepare plastic components for solder reflow and other heating processes
• Static-Dissipative PVC construction guards against both ESD and static-caused contamination--meets DOD HDBK 263, MIL-SPEC 1686 and 1772 with proper accessories
• A full line of options includes automatic ground break indicator, ionizing, grounded door latch and stands

More and more semiconductor manufacturers are selecting tape-and-reel packaging for their sensitive chips and other components—and for good reason. Embossed carrier tape securely holds parts in place and allows easy feeding into automatic placement equipment. Reels are lightweight and allow easy transport of large numbers of chips while minimizing the possibility of damage. They also make a good storage container—as long as you keep them clean, dry, and organized.

Tape-and-Reel Desiccator™: Making the Most of a Good Idea
Terra's Tape-and-Reel Desiccators provide the optimal storage environment for tape-and-reel packages.

These desiccators offer all of the features you need to maximize the shelf life of sensitive, expensive stored materials. They include air-tight, noncontaminating seals, a complete line of standardized accessories, and the most advanced humidity control system available anywhere, as well as self-balancing nozzles that safely neutralize static charges on nonconductive surfaces (such as tape reels).

In addition, each compartment is equipped with a 304 stainless steel adjustable rack that securely holds reels up to 14" in diameter. This storage method affords full visibility of all stored reels, and allows you to remove the reel you need without disturbing any others. A variety of desiccator sizes allows you to store reels of various diameters in up to 14 compartments. Labeling slots allow easy identification of reels. Wire dividers can be adjusted in .25" increments.

Clean, Durable Design Eliminates Leaks, Outgassing
Constructed of acrylic or Static-Dissipative PVC, the Tape-and-Reel Desiccator™ features easy-open doors and one-piece wall construction to minimize the problem of peeling or sagging gaskets and to ensure a continuous seal. A plenum chamber minimizes backfill; the perforated plenum wall ensures a homogeneous positive pressure and prevents contaminants and moisture from rushing into the rear of the Tape-And-Reel™ desiccator when a door is opened. It also allows easy installation of ionizing nozzles, sensor switches, humidity sensors, and other optional electronics.

All seams are solvent welded to eliminate the problem of outgassing, and all hardware is chrome-plated or 304 stainless steel. In addition, all of our desiccators and accessories are standardized. This means that if you should ever need to replace a latch, a door, or a plenum wall, you can order it without costly custom work.

Static-Dissipative PVC: The Solution to Static and Contamination Problems

Racks allow adjustment of supports in .25" increments

Now available with slide-out drawers

Terra's Static-Dissipative PVC helps to protect static-sensitive materials by dissipating static charges. It also enhances contamination control by eliminating the problem of particle attraction that results from the accumulation of static charges on the cabinet's surface. This advantage is especially important in cleanroom applications, where a desiccator must remain clean inside and out.

This material is completely transparent and maintains its dissipative characteristics under the roughest treatment.

Completely Automatic Nitrogen and Humidity Controls
The Tape-and-Reel™ Desiccator comes with an inlet for the introduction of purge gas (generally nitrogen) and an outlet for the optional Automatic RB® (Relief/Bleed) Valve. The Automatic RB® Valve serves three purposes: it guarantees a uniform positive pressure; it makes desiccators rupture-proof; and it functions as a check valve in case of a negative pressure (such as results when a reel is quickly removed from the desiccator).

The optional Dual Purge System™ regulates the gas inflow to maintain a positive pressure at all times—even when access doors are opened. The NitroWatch® operates in tandem with the Dual Purge System™ to maintain any relative humidity level you desire inside the Tape-and-Reel Desiccator. An LED display provides a continuous readout of the humidity level. A datalogging function even allows documentation of humidity conditions.

For more demanding applications--such as a very high ambient humidity level or the need for frequent access—you may need extra help in order to keep the internal humidity level low. The NitroPlex™ Module provides this added efficiency by monitoring the RH level in each desiccator chamber independently and directing a high-level nitrogen purge only to the chamber where it's needed. These options eliminate all of the guesswork from clean, moisture-free storage. Once you set the appropriate humidity set point for your application, you can rest assured that your products will remain clean and dry, no matter what time of the day or night, or how often the desiccator doors are opened, or how much ambient conditions fluctuate.