Re: Removing Component Part Number

Subscribe to Thread

I have a customer wanting to hide the identity of a particu... - Mar 02, 2000 by Doug Philbrick

How is the component marked. Is it ink marked, laser marked... - Mar 02, 2000 by Stu Leech

Doug: To remove paints, we've tried a bunch of stuff like ... - Mar 02, 2000 by davef

This technique is commonly known as "black boxing". The ma... - Mar 03, 2000 by

Doug Philbrick

#4736

Removing Component Part Number | 2 March, 2000

I have a customer wanting to hide the identity of a particular component on a PCB assembly. The product cannot be potted and since the PCB is the product he doesn't want to pour over that one chip for aesthetics reasons. Any ideas on ways to permanently hide component part numbers that wouldnt be too labor intensive. Thanks

reply »

Stu Leech

#4737

Re: Removing Component Part Number | 2 March, 2000

How is the component marked. Is it ink marked, laser marked or what? What is the material that the marking on? What volume are you looking at? We used a small, pencil-sized sand blaster, loaded with bicarbonate of soda to errode the mark off of plastic parts. If it is laser marked it can be made to visually disappear by applying a thin film of transparent, high gloss conformal coating. The laser simply changes dulls the device surface which makes it (barely) visable.

reply »

davef

#4738

Re: Removing Component Part Number | 2 March, 2000

Doug: To remove paints, we've tried a bunch of stuff like messy, hazardous chemicals (ie, methylene chloride, xylene, toulene). We've blasted (erzat been blasted???), like Stu says. We used etching pens. Auuuurgh!!! Now, we paint over them with inks from Markum (800.462.7536 717.545.8606). (There'sa bunch of ink suppliers out there. Yer choice) Just dab some (we like black, not too jazzy) on with a sponge, cure it (air, oven, UV yer choice), and yer good to go. Ta. Dave F

reply »

dean

#4739

Re: Removing Component Part Number | 3 March, 2000

This technique is commonly known as "black boxing". The majority of IC's are marked with ink. Simply use a tiny piece of sandpaper to "scratch the surface" and render the device blank. This will work with Laser marked parts as well. If your volumes are signifficant have the component manufacturer print an "in-house" number of your selection to aid in security.

Example: standard LM339 could be ABC123 Reverse engineer that!

Now what was that product again...LOL

Dean

reply »