Product category:
Electronics manufacturing: equipment, automation, software
News Release from: Lista | Subject: ESD-proof work stations
Edited by the Manufacturingtalk Editorial
Team on 11 February 2003
A Tiny bolt of lightning can be
disastrous
In the electronics industry, electrostatic discharges result in damage totalling billions each year, hence the need for ESD-safe work stations.
In the electronics industry, electrostatic discharges (ESD) result in damage totalling billions each year For this reason, Lista has developed workstations which are safe from ESD
This article was originally published on Manufacturingtalk on 20 Nov 2001 at 8.00am (UK)
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Have you ever received an unpleasant shock when touching a doorknob? When that happens, a bolt of lightning of over 2000 volts enters your body! This natural phenomenon is part of everyday life in the modern world, and it is becoming increasingly important.
Not because the shock is so unpleasant, but because ESD causes considerable damage each year.
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This unpleasant though minor shock would have led to major problems if you had touched an electronic component rather than a doorknob.
This is because sensitive components can be damaged by ESDs of no more than 100 volts.
Humans are not able to feel ESDs with voltages below 2000.
What can a company do to prevent ESD damage? If you really want to deal with the problem effectively, a number of things must be done at the same time.
When a company works with electronic components, the production processes must be checked, employee training is necessary, and ESD-safe workstations must be installed.
If the staff has not received the proper training or been sensitized to ESD, all other measures could be wasted.
Even relatively simple rules regarding behaviour are effective but only if they are applied consistently.
Daily discipline is an important part of preventing ESD damage.
What makes ESD-safe workstations special? The electrostatic discharges must be as small as possible.
And all discharges must be dissipated to earth.
The necessary equipment therefore includes a conductive floor covering, safe production lines and a workstation which is completely dissipative and earthed, and that includes the table (work surface and drawers), chair, shelves, rolling cabinets and accessories.
In addition, shoes and clothing must also be conductive, and all staff members must wear an earthing wrist band when working in a sitting position.
Two things are important about the workstation itself.
Firstly, electric charges should not be dissipated too quickly.
A heavy discharge which takes place within a few picoseconds will result in short-lived currents in the ampere range and thus overheat and damage electronic components.
Secondly, the charges should be conducted off safely.
For a controlled, slow discharge, the surface must have an electrical resistance to earth of between 750 k and 1 G ohms.
Another important thing is to ensure that the entire workstation is dissipative and earthed so that it is truly ESD-safe.
This involves a number of details.
For example, earth points must be installed, and the castors of rolling cabinets must also be conductive and clean.
The quality of the surfaces (e.g powder-coated cabinets and drawers) and consistent attention to details are important parts of a modern ESD-safe workstation programme.
|-------------------------------------------------------------| | | | | |Lista ESD Workstations | | | |Lista has combined the experienced it has gathered over many | | | |years in the development of workstations with the latest | | | |knowledge on the ESD problem.
| | | |The result is a comprehensive ESD workstation line with | | | |worktables, workbenches, assembly trolleys, a flexible | | | |partition system, etc.
A defined electrical resistance to | | | |earth (leakage resistance) of between 750 k and 1 G ohms | | | |ensures a controlled, slow discharge from sensitive | | | |components in a useful time period.
All discharges from | | | |workstation components are dissipated to earth via central | | | |grounding points, grounding cables, grounding wrist bands, | | | |grounding modules or conductive rollers on mobile workstation| | | |equipment.
The Lista ESD workstation line has been checked | | | |and certified according to the IEC 61340-5-1 international | | | |ESD standard.
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