Surface-mount production lives or dies on uptime, consistency, and the reliability of the materials feeding your pick-and-place systems. SMT splice tape is one of the smallest components on the line, yet the cost of a single splice failure can exceed the cost of a full day’s worth of tape. This guide breaks down the primary splice types, how they work across different machines, and what best practices engineers use today to eliminate feeder jams.
What Is SMT Splice Tape?
SMT splice tape connects the end of one component carrier tape to another, allowing continuous feeding without stopping the line. Most modern lines rely on splicing to avoid expensive changeovers and partial-reel scrap.
Splice tapes are manufactured in widths from 4mm up to 44mm to match carrier tape profiles for:
TapeSplice.com manufactures U.S-made splice products specifically engineered for these platforms.
Common Types of SMT Splice Tape
1. Standard Splice Tape (Single-Ply)
- Uses high-strength industrial adhesive
- Ideal for general-purpose feeders
- Fast application
- Compatible with all machines
2. Splice Tape with Shim (Metal or Plastic)
- Reinforces the joint for better indexing
- Prevents misfeeds
- Essential for older machines
3. Intelligent-Feeder Silver Foil Splice Tape
- Used in Fuji, Panasonic, Samsung, Universal, Siemens intelligent feeders
- The foil is sensed by the feeder to confirm the splice location
- Sierra Electronics supplies soft-foil laminated PET tapes that meet OEM sensing thresholds
4. Two-Ply Leader Tape Extenders
- Attaches from the top and bottom
- Twice the holding power
- Guaranteed to never pop off
- Critical for 4mm carrier tapes and small-pitch components
Best Practices for Strong, Reliable Splices
- Keep alignment within ±0.1mm
- Avoid stretching the carrier tape
- Apply even pressure for adhesive activation
- Use two-ply extenders for narrow tapes
- Avoid Chinese imports with weak PET layers and inconsistent adhesives
- Test feeder recognition when using intelligent silver foil splices
Why U.S.-Made Splice Products Perform Better
TapeSplice.com products are manufactured in Santa Fe, New Mexico with:
- High-tolerance PET film
- 3M & U.S. adhesives
- Controlled die-cut tolerances
- Immediate same-day shipping
For engineers seeking stable supply, domestic splicing materials eliminate feeder jams, reduce line downtime, and improve throughput.