Why is there no cover tape?
Surftape uses a Pressure Sensitive Adhesive (PSA) tape which is used to retain components in the same position and orientation as they are placed  Other forms of tape require a cover tape to stop the component from falling out. The open architecture of Surftape enables inspect in tape or test in tape which are impossible when using a cover tape.

Doesn’t a cover tape on other carrier tapes protect the bare die from contamination and damage?
Not really - The cover tape does not provide a hermetic seal and most embossed tapes have a hole in the base of the pocket for placement assist. So contamination can happen where a cover tape is used. After component placement, Surftape reels should be placed in a sealed bag within the clean room and then removed from the bag only at the customers’ clean room. Any inspection of the reels, which require the reel to be removed from the bag, should only be done in a clean room.

I have a bare die to place into Surftape. How do I decide what tape gap to use?
We recommend any new users of Surftape to supply samples of the product so that the ideal Surftape type can be selected and recommended.  See here for more information.

What is the shelf life of Surftape?
Surftape has a total guaranteed shelf life of 18 months, for empty Surftape or for Surftape poulated with components. Since Surftape is made to order in batches and does not require tooling, it is normal to deliver on a ship-to-stock basis and for the customer to hold only a buffer stock. Therefore it is normally possible for the taping company (or component manufacturer) to offer a 12 month shelf-life for taped product usinf Surftape. In practice, Surftape stored properly should last a number of years.

What are the storage conditions for Surftape?
Surftape should be stored within the normal ‘comfort zone’ for humidity and temperature. The PSA used is sensitive to humidity and temperature, so excessive heat and humidity should be avoided.

Why can’t Surftape be supplied ‘cross-wound’ in long lengths?
It is not recommended to cross-wind this type of tape due to possible damage and distortion of the tape that can occur with this kind of winding. Surftape is supplied on 7”, 13” or 15” reels with single wind.

When inspected under a microscope, the sprocket holes do not appear exactly round or the compartments rectangular - why is this?
The body material is made of plastic which is punched to form the sprocket holes and compartments. Since the material is plastic, it is by its very nature pliable and non-uniform. The punching operation does not ‘cut’ the plastic but ‘tears’ the material from the body. Thus it is probable that the holes will have some irregularity. However, this does not present any problem in the use of Surftape - the sprocket hole is used for mechanical indexing and the compartment is a virtual boundary and is not intended or recommended to be used as a reference for component placement.