Propeller Chip Sticker
Humanoido
Posts: 5,770
I have a project that needs a white sticker with black identifications for all the pins on a propeller chip. I remember a posted image file somewhere. Search is not pulling it up for some reason. Any ideas?
humanoido
humanoido
Comments
Perhaps somebody can remember which document it was on.
Addit. I now think they may be a sales item, and so perhaps the image I saw has been withdrawn. Part number 120-00003
▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔
Style and grace : Nil point
Post Edited (Toby Seckshund) : 11/29/2009 3:54:59 PM GMT
-Phil
humanoido
▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔
Computers are microcontrolled.
Robots are microcontrolled.
I am microcontrolled.
But you·can·call me micro.
Want to·experiment with the SX or just put together a cool project?
SX Spinning light display·
Want cheap wholesale electronic parts?
Transistor parts wholesale
Good question and I'll tell you why.
Because setting up a new stock code, getting the part on the shelves, making it available for on-line ordering, etc. costs the business no less than a thousand bucks. How is that possible, you may wonder? One person makes the stock code, another places the order, a third and forth put it on the web site, and a fifth person manages the inventory setup. I've used the "loss leader" concept many times in the office and it starts to wear the team a bit thin when I always tell them that we'll make our profit elsewhere. Value their time at $60-120/hour and then factor in the opportunity cost of not placing their time on more valuable efforts that you really recognize (i.e., getting P8X32A-D40 chips in stock) and it becomes very clear.
And, in this case, you can print your own from our artwork on a laser printer using sticky-back paper! Free, and you can have it in five minutes without FedEx or USPS.
Ken Gracey
Parallax Inc.
A thermal label printer works well. If you don't have one maybe you can borrow one. I use a little Brother QL550. It works well.
Post Edited (Bob Lawrence (VE1RLL)) : 11/30/2009 4:28:59 AM GMT
Even the middle 6 pins labelled would be useful, since the rest follow a logical sequence.
I'm sure there are many possible reasons as to why not. I'm curious as to which is correct.
Thanks, Phil, for posting the artwork.
And thank you, Ken, for letting us know it's legit to use it.
-Phil
I often need to take a microscope photo to decipher the unclear faint dim code on the chip. Even so, that photo must be image processed to more clearly bring out the markings! Other times I can get by with two magnifying glasses stuck on my face and very bright light, taking time to reflect the light off the chip at the exact angle. In fact, most chips use a very dark gray process for printing. We all know what very dark gray looks like with a background of black. It's exactly opposite of what we want.
The Parallax Propeller chip is already different from other chips, in terms of its new, innovative and creative introductions of technology. Why not perpetuate this trend by being the first company to print legible white markings on the surface of the chip, that indicate the same as the sticker? This can include the chip number, pin designations, and logo.
Of course we don't want to up the expense so it should be accomplished very cheaply, perhaps less expensive than the current process. In the long run, it would lead to better wiring, and less accidental mistakes during wiring. Certainly it would make wiring more efficient and lessen the time it takes to build a circuit.
humanoido
It's a nice idea in theory. But laser marking has three advantages that I can see: 1) it's indelible, albeit faint, 2) it can be done inline during production without involving pad printer/silkscreen ink or hotstamp foil, and 3) it's 100% reliable. Since chip packaging is outsourced to mass production facilities, it's doubful that one could be persuaded to change their process for one customer.
-Phil
That was the exact reply I was expecting but not the one I wanted to hear. Thanks for your insight as to the inscription process. It looks like it will be up to us hobbyists to print our own labels and go around affixing each. Maybe if enough industries complained and didn't take things for granted, the process could be improved to a state of legibility.
For example, have you seen those high quality green printed circuit boards offered by Parallax? They have legible white labeling that is clear, easy to read, and identifies pins and a lot more. The process is absolutely indispensable and highly valuable to people using these boards. For years, I have admired the quality of these boards and the results of Parallax' labeling process.
humanoido
Post Edited (humanoido) : 11/30/2009 9:29:25 AM GMT
Companies won't complain about the printing because if it is a chip they bought they will already know what it is and will be careful with storage/inventry, dimples etc provide all the information they need on orientation for prototyping and then in production the orientation will be fixed within the reel/waffle tray I suspect.
Rarely will a company be trying to work out what a chip is that is located on a board, if it their board they put if there, if not they have to pretend to be CSI like the rest of use [noparse]:)[/noparse]
As for the PCB, printing a legend is a standard part of the process, PCBs are made on panels, are big and flat and lend themselves to it.
Perhaps Parallax should use ebay for products like the stickers to avoid the overheads, or type faster [noparse];)[/noparse] [noparse];)[/noparse]
Graham
humanoido
The original image did not print at the required size. To get this to work properly, the sticker
was remastered using PAINT, then fed into PICASA3 for printing. I have made a set of instructions
to follow, listed below. In the future I would like to make a change and add the chip part number.
I find it preferable to affix the label with a couple pieces of rolled tape at each end, to facilitate
easy removal. It may be vision personal preference but I find it easier to read black text on a
white background.
humanoido
Post Edited (humanoido) : 12/1/2009 6:06:55 PM GMT
1) Printed on a paper label the size of the DIP40. Cost is basically mailing only because the labels are obsolete so I have a roll that doesn't have a home. The only problem is that the markings can smear if rubbed hard enough. Fine for most installs, but if you are pulling the chip in and out for any reason, it may be an issue.
2) Polyester label, 2"x1.5", fits two labels. Can print either white on black or black on white. Cost 15 cents per label (2 stickers). These cannot smear.
Picture is attached of the two poly labels. If enough people are interested, I will set something up.
▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔
Andrew Williams
WBA Consulting
WBA-TH1M Sensirion SHT11 Module
Special Olympics Polar Bear Plunge, Mar 20, 2010
humanoido
▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔
Style and grace : Nil point
▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔
Andrew Williams
WBA Consulting
WBA-TH1M Sensirion SHT11 Module
Special Olympics Polar Bear Plunge, Mar 20, 2010
Search: Dual use Propeller custom component. Its white and I posted the library object last week.