Archive for Smart Tweezers Maintenance

How to Resolve False Measurements

// February 24th, 2017 // No Comments » // Devices, FAQ, Help, How To, LCR-Reader, Maintenance, News, Smart Tweezers Maintenance, Smart Tweezers Questions and Answers, Uncategorized

False measurements are when the device shows a measurement while not being in contact with a component. The device will stop showing a measurement value when the tips are removed. False measurements will cause the device to continue displaying a measurement and not turn off, leading to the battery being drained.

There are a few reasons as to why the device is showing a false measurement. This could include the tips being misaligned or shifted during transportation or if the device has been dropped or mishandled. Replacing the tips with a new set may also cause false readings. Generally, these false measurements are caused by metal or plastic debris caught between the tips and arms of the device and can be fixed with these easy steps:

  1. Start by removing the tips and cleaning the arms with isopropyl and a soft cloth or gauze to remove any extra debris. Reinstall the tips to the device. If the device is still showing a reading, remove the tips and continue to step two.
  2. Try removing any excess flex cable from in or around the screw-holes. Gently rotate a drill bit by hand or use a Philips head screwdriver that is twice the size of the hole. This will scrape away any extra plastic and gold from the flex cable. The red circles in the image below shows where interference can occur.screw hole on an armDrill bit clearing interference
  3. Sometimes bits of metal remain stuck in the threads from assembly. These bits can be removed using a tap or one of the screws to clear the threads. Tighten and remove a few times.
  4. Cleaning the screws may also help. Sometimes debris can be stuck between the threads.
  5. If all else fails, make sure there is no metal bits stuck under the flex cable around the screw holes. Very rarely does metal get between these two pieces, but it can create false measurements. Always try scraping away extra flex cable first. Use sharp tweezers to remove any visible metal pieces without tearing or damaging the flex cable.

NOTE: Removing the flex cable will damage the glue and may cause issues when re-adhering the flex cable which can impact the accuracy of the measurements.

  1. Make sure to clean away any residual plastic or metal using isopropyl and a soft cloth or gauze before reinstalling the tips.

 

If these steps do not remove the false readings, please contact Siborg Systems Inc.

New Bent-Tips

// October 13th, 2015 // No Comments » // LCR-Reader, News, Smart Tweezers Maintenance, ST-5S

Siborg has recently made new gold-plated bent-tips available for Smart Tweezers and LCR-Readers. This new design is more ergonomic compared to the straight-tip option. The bent-tips make it easier to reach components already on a PCB while holding the device at a more horizontal angle.

All devices will still be equipped with straight tips with the bent-tips as a optional add-on.

 

benttips500

Siborg Releases Maintenance Video for Smart Tweezer and LCR-Reader LCR-meters

// December 27th, 2014 // No Comments » // LCR-Reader, News, Smart Tweezers Maintenance, ST-5S

Siborg Systems Inc. has released a new Smart Tweezers Maintenance video for users looking for a how-to or maintaining their devices. The new  video covers how to replace the screen, flex cable, tips and battery for both Smart Tweezers ST-5S and LCR-Reader. This video will help customers replace key parts of the device instead of sending back to Siborg in Canada, or their local distributor.

Updated Replacement Parts Catalog

// June 4th, 2014 // No Comments » // LCR-Reader, News, Smart Tweezers Maintenance, ST-5S, ST5

Siborg Systems Inc. has updated their online catalog for replacement parts for models ST-2, ST-3, ST-5, ST-5S and LCR-Reader. A Smart Tweezers History is available  here.

Replacement parts available include:

ST-2

  • housing
  • arms/tips
  • jog wheels
  • batteries

ST-5

  • housing
  • tips
  • precision tips
  • screens
  • batteries
  • arms
  • flex cables

ST-5s and LCR-Reader

  • housing
  • batteries
  • arms
  • flex cables
  • screens
  • tips for both LCR-Reader and ST-5S

This larger catalog will better provide users with a place to easily order all replacement parts.

New Calibration Facility Launches in Europe by the End of 2012

// February 28th, 2013 // No Comments » // News, Smart Tweezers Maintenance, ST-5S, Uncategorized

After nearly 9 years on the market, Smart Tweezers have become a highly sought after tool for testing and troubleshooting electronics with Surface Mount Technology (SMT) used by many high-tech companies worldwide. Even with worldwide recognition, calibration for Smart Tweezers is only available in North America and India, creating hassle for companies that require annual calibration and/or calibration verification of their test equipment in order to be ISO compliant.

Without proper calibration facilities, users must seek out alternate calibration techniques such as third party calibrations. Unfortunately, third party calibration is not true calibration but just a verification of accuracy by comparison of measurement accuracy with the actual values of high-precision components. This “calibration” may be common practice, but does not ensure that Smart Tweezers are working at optimal performance.

“In order to calibrate Smart Tweezers LCR-meter, you need to have the Calibration Fixture designed particularly for Smart Tweezers’ calibration and adjustment of the calibration coefficients.” say Michael Obrecht, the Director at Siborg Systems Inc. “This calibration fixture itself needs to be calibrated annually to ensure the highest possible precision.”

The Smart Tweezers’ Calibration Fixture is a semi-automatic device that updates the calibration coefficients stored in EEPROM of every Smart Tweezers unit. The update is based on comparing the results of measurements obtained using Smart Tweezers with values of a few high-accuracy components called “the standard components”. The calibration coefficients are eventually adjusted by finding the best fit to the values of the standard components ensuring optimal performance of Smart Tweezers.

Currently, there are only 3 of these calibration facilities worldwide; Waterloo, Ontario, Canada, Pasadena California, and New Delhi, India. This makes for a lengthy and costly procedure for European companies that use Smart Tweezers, having to send the devices to North America or India, or they use the third party calibration technique. Shipping, handling customs, etc. may not be time or cost effective.

To simplify the process for European users, Siborg Systems Inc. (Canada) and Bokar International (USA) have joined together to establish a new facility at Production Solutions in Poland. Production Solutions has serviced Bokar’s SMT and ESD products for years, and is the first company in Poland to provide Polish and Central European electronic industries with the highest world-class equipment and products for SMT production, rework and repair.

 

Rechargeable Smart Tweezers Battery is not Charging

// September 2nd, 2010 // No Comments » // Smart Tweezers Maintenance

Do not over-discharge the Rechargeable Smart Tweezers batteries, if the voltage goes below 3.5 Volts they will not charge and should be replaced.

Smart Tweezers Spare Tips

// August 23rd, 2010 // No Comments » // Smart Tweezers Maintenance

Why do you need spare tweezers’ tips for Smart Tweezers? The tips are made of gold plated stainless steel and the gold tends to wear out with time. Apparently the wear out mostly depends on the number of touches and the quality of surfaces that are touched. A rough estimate with a moderate intensity of Smart Tweezers’ use would be 2-3 years. Typical contact resistance of the Smart Tweezers Tips is about 20 mOhms. It can be as high as 1 Ohm for a heavily used Smart Tweezers.