Taping of Components and Tape & Reel under EIA-481 Standard
What do we tape?
SMD and insert components, in tape widths from 8 to 52 mm and with the spacing between cavities required by each component:
- Resistors, capacitors, and diodes
- Transistors, triacs and varistors
- Connectors and memory holders
- Transformers, relays and fuses
- LEDs and displays
- Radial taping for insert components
We maintain Carrier tape stock in a wide range of sizes. When the component does not fit into any existing cavity, we give tooling service to manufacture the tape to its geometry.
What does the EIA-481 standard require and why does it matter?
EIA-481 It's the standard that ensures a tape reel from a supplier will work on any manufacturer's pick-and-place machine. It defines the carrier tape dimensions, the spacing between cavities, the drag perforation, the cover tape peel strength, and the reel dimensions.
In practice, there are three things that deviate from the norm and stop the line:
- The passage between cavities does not coincide The feeder is waiting for it, and the machine loses the record.
- The peeling force of the cover tape is out of range. If it is low, the component comes out before the nozzle; if it is high, the belt drags the part and dislodges it.
- Orientation within the cavity It does not correspond to the drawing, and the entire run is mounted upside down.
That's why the cover tape is chosen, not taken for granted. We work with both families: heat sealed (heat seal) and pressure adhesive (pressure sensitive), depending on the carrier tape material and your line equipment.
Working under EIA-481 is not a label on a card: it's what prevents a 5,000-piece reel from being discovered to be bad mid-run.
The process, in video
This is what a real run looks like on our tapering machine Oubel's OB-T02: component feeding, cavity placement, cover tape sealing and reel winding.
When to outsource and when to do it in-house
It is advisable to outsource when:
- Have many part numbers with different volumes and our own machine would be idle most of the time.
- The component pre-baking is required because of its MSL level and you don't have a calibrated oven.
- It's a timely repackaging: material that arrived in bulk, in tubes or in trays.
- You need inspection and count verified before the material enters the line.
- You got one urgency and your capacity is already compromised.
We work the same way High mix with low volume that high runnersCapacity is adjusted to the project, and emergencies are addressed.
It's best to do it at home when The volume is high and stable in a few part numbers. In that case, we sell you the taper and the consumables, and there's no conflict: that way it works out better for you.
How do we do it?
1. Reception and validation
The component is checked against the specification: part number, quantity, packaging condition, and declared MSL level. If the material arrived exposed, it is detected here, not later.
2. Pre-bake, if the MSL level requires it
The moisture-sensitive components pass through baking and drying according to IPC/JEDEC J-STD-033 before taping. Taping a wet component seals the moisture inside the reel.
3. Tape selection, sealing and reel
The one chosen carrier tape whose cavity and passage correspond to the component, the cover tape with the appropriate type of seal and peel strength, and the reel with its flanges compatible with your power supply.
4. Taping
Automatic or semi-automatic process depending on the component and volume. Capacity is tailored to the project, from a short validation run to high and sustained volumes.
5. Inspection
Verification of presence, orientation and counting, combining automatic inspection with our system Eyve, based on AI vision, and visual verification. The machine doesn't get tired, and the person sees what the machine isn't programmed to: that's why they both go.
6. Sealing, identification and packaging
Reel labeled by part number and quantity. When the component requires it, it is packaged in ESD bag with moisture barrier, desiccant e humidity indicator, with vacuum sealed when applicable.
Need to tape components? Get a quote online
You can estimate your work yourself in the Tape & Reel price calculatorYou choose the component, tape width, sealing type, and additional services, and you get an instant price. If you prefer to discuss it, contact us with your part number and quantity.
What surrounds the tape
The taping process relies on three consumables that we also supply: the carrier tape that houses the component, the cover tape that seals it and the flanges that support the reel. If the terminals need shaping, the component preform It comes first; if the device has firmware, the microphone programming Also. And if the volume justifies doing it at home, we sell the tape and reel machine. Taping is one of the thirteen operations in the catalog of value-added services.
If you tape on your plant
If the volume justifies taping at home, consumables can be purchased online at the SBC Store: carrier tape, cover tape and flanges, The price is per unit, includes VAT, and includes shipping throughout Mexico. If you prefer us to handle it, the service is available on this page.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do they operate under EIA-481?
Yes. It's the criterion used to select the tape, pitch, seal type, and reel for each job, and it's what guarantees that the reel will work in any feeder.
What tape widths do they handle?
Of 8 to 52 mm, with the appropriate step for the component. We stock a wide range of sizes, and if your component doesn't fit any of them, we offer tooling services.
Do you accept bulk material, tubes, or trays?
Yes, those are the three most common inputs. We also repackage reels that come in a format your line can't feed.
What if the component is sensitive to humidity?
It is pre-baked according to J-STD-033 and packaged sealed with desiccant and indicator. Without this step, the taping seals in the moisture.
Do they handle emergencies?
Yes. That's part of what outsourcing is for: absorbing the peak demand that your capacity can't handle.
Is there a minimum order quantity?
We treat a short, high-mix run the same as a high-runner run. What we evaluate is the configuration, not the quantity.
Can they tape insert components?
Yes, we do radial taping in addition to SMD.
Where is it done?
In Guadalajara (Tlaquepaque, Jalisco) and Querétaro (El Colorado), in an ESD area with environmental control. Both plants provide national coverage and we can export.