How to quickly distinguish commonly used SMT components?

With the development of SMT technology to miniaturization and high efficiency, various commonly used components are getting smaller and smaller. Commonly used chip resistors,  inductors, and chip capacitors become indistinguishable in appearance. So how do you quickly distinguish among commonly used SMT components? Here, the FASTPCBA technicians will introduce you the method of rapid differentiation.

1. The distinction between chip inductor andchip capacitor:

A. Look at the color (black) - generally black is the chip inductor. The capacitor is only black in the chip tantalum capacitor in the precision device, and the other common chip capacitors are basically not black.

B. Look at the model code – the chip inductor starts with L and the chip capacitor starts with C. From the initial shape of the circle is judged to be the chip inductance, and the resistance at both ends of the measurement is a few tenths of an ohm, which is the chip inductance.

C.Inspection - The chip inductor generally has a small resistance value, and there is no such phenomenon that the multimeter pointer is deflected back and forth caused by "charge and discharge". The chip capacitor has a charge and discharge phenomenon.

D. Look at the internal structure - the same components can be found to open the components to see the internal structure, and the coil structure is the chip inductor.

2. The distinction between chip inductor and chip resistor:

A. According to the shape judgment - the shape of the inductor has a polygonal shape, and the resistance is basically rectangle.

B. Measuring the resistance value - the resistance value of the inductor is relatively small, and the resistance value of the resistor is relatively large.

3. The distinction between chip capacitor and chip resistor:

A. Look at the color - the chip capacitor is mostly gray, cinerous, yellow, usually slightly yellower than the cardboard. Some of the chip capacitors have no printing, mainly because they are sintered at a high temperature, which makes it impossible to print on the surface.

B. Look at the mark - the chip capacitor has the symbol "C" in the circuit and the chip resistor has the symbol "R".

C. Measurement method - Generally, the resistance of the chip capacitor is large, and the chip resistance is relatively small. The chip capacitor has a charge and discharge phenomenon, and the chip resistor does not.

As long as you are familiar with the functions and models of various components, you can quickly distinguish between components with similar shapes. In FASTPCBA SMT production line, advanced measuring devices are used to complete the quality inspection of components. From the source to prevent bad components from flowing into the production line. Treat quality, we are serious!