Continuous Efficiency. Zero Feeder Stops. In electronics manufacturing, every second drives profitability. Line stoppages – even brief pauses – trigger cascading delays and higher costs. One of the most common causes is reel replacement at the feeder on SMT pick-and-place machines. This is where SMT feeder splice tape becomes essential. By enabling seamless reel-to-reel transitions […]
Sierra Electronics engineers all splice shims using precision-punched soft brass that complies with EIA-481 sprocket geometry tolerances. Soft brass protects the two most critical machine interfaces: Feeder sprocket wheels Pick-and-place cutter blades Competitors use low-grade copper, which is harder, brittle, and dimensionally unstable. Copper shims: Chip and deform, creating burrs Accelerate blade wear Damage sprocket […]
When uptime is worth more than any component on the line, reliability isn’t optional. In SMT production, every splice is a machine event – a precision interaction that must occur flawlessly at full speed. That’s why serious manufacturing engineers don’t gamble on tools built for low-volume assembly or novelty ergonomic features. They choose the Sierra […]
Splice tool blade failure isn’t random – it’s a material science problem. Hidden Cost: Copper Shims in Imported Splice Cartridges Most imported stapler-style splice cartridges use cheap copper shims. Copper is harder and abrasive against steel cutting edges. As operators splice hundreds of tapes per shift on SMT pick-and-place machines, this friction dulls cutter blades […]
Throughput and Yield Depend on One Overlooked Moment Throughput and yield — the metrics that define a factory’s success — hinge on a subtle, overlooked event: the splice. Every splice is a machine interaction, a handoff between reels. It must be perfectly executed at full speed… unseen, unfelt, uninterrupted. If the splice fails? Everything fails. […]
Optimizing Productivity in High-Performance SMT Assembly In Surface Mount Technology (SMT) manufacturing, sustained machine uptime isn’t optional — it’s a direct contributor to throughput, yield, and profitability. An overlooked but essential element is the SMT splice tape used for continuous reel-to-reel feeding. The right splice improves placement accuracy and keeps productivity high; the wrong one […]
In Surface-Mount Assembly, you’re doing one of two things: Saving pennies on consumables —or— Sabotaging a million-dollar production line There is no middle ground. A splice that slips, peels, misaligns, or jams a feeder doesn’t cost you $0.02 —it costs your factory: Production downtime Missed delivery windows Scrap boards and rework Lost customer trust And […]
Premium SMT Splice Tape vs. Imported Splice Tape – Hidden Costs, Risk & Reliability Comparison Trust is manufactured. Not imported SMT splice tape quality directly impacts uptime, throughput, OEE, and yield. The electronics industry has already endured severe damage caused by counterfeit and substandard components entering the supply chain. The fallout was widespread and expensive: […]
Document No.: SE-ESD-QA-4401 Revision: A Controlled Copy – Uncontrolled if Printed Standards: ANSI/ESD S20.20 • IEC 61340-5-1 • TR53 • ASTM F-150 • EIA-481 (Sprocket & Feed Geometry) 1. PRODUCT & LOT DETAILS Field Entry Product Family SMT Carrier Tape / Flat-Punched Leader / TapeFusion™ Splice Zone Part Number Lot / Batch ID […]
Electrostatic discharge (ESD) is one of the most underestimated risks in electronics assembly. A tiny static shock that humans can’t even feel—as low as 20–30 volts—can damage sensitive semiconductors, introduce latent defects, or compromise system reliability long after products leave the factory. Industry analyses estimate that 8–33% of all electronic failures are ESD-related, especially in […]
