Selecting the correct label solution for SMT labeling is a science. Our company is a supplier of electronic identification products. Please let me know if you have questions regarding materials, printers, etc. I have been in this industry for over fourteen years and would happily share what other companies are doing.
| We use an Intermec 3240 Thermal transfer printer and print on polyimid label material that survives the reflow and wave solder (top side only) process without turning black. Labels run around 3-4 cents per depending on the size (We found Imtec labels to be the lease expensive for our size (1x0.2) | We have had problems with the markings washing off in our cleaner (DI water)in the past but it was due to an incorrect heat setting at the printer. Labels that are processed thru reflow before washing are actually more resistant to washing as the ink gets "baked" on. | Peter | | | We are looking at implimenting a bar code system for a SMT | | | production line. To start we are looking at label printer/applicators. Are there any other companies that we should consider besides Zebra and Imtec?? Thanks for your input. | | | John | | If your looking for a lable printer thats a good choice. Watch out for thermal printers, they print a lable that turns black in the heat intensive process of wave and reflow soldering. | | Heat resistent lables are EXPENSIVE and require different print technology. The newest method of barcoding for cost and durability involves printing a "no cost" white field in the shape of a lable during the legend screening process of PC fab. | | Using a laser marking system off-line or in-line allows the user to selectively ablate the white paint down to the darker (green) solder mask. Systems are available now taht do this in-expensively when you factor in the cost of lables. | | Talk to anybody who uses lables and they'll tell you everything that can go wrong with these little stickers. | | Check out rpssite@aol.com | | Steve
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