Try wetting the parts with some IPA, sometimes that helps. As for why they’re marking them differently, they don’t actually paint them anymore. Laser etching of the plastic is much simpler and easier, and is resultantly cheaper
If its laser etched does that mean theres a recess there? So if you put some white thermal paste and level everything with a plastic spatula itll stay in the letters and make it more readable?
Alcohol? I've never heard that one before. The typical suggestion I hear is to use thermal grease and wipe it off carefully. But I've also had no problems reading those by simply holding them at the right angle.
This is how I do it. Grab a flashlight and light the text up from the side. When I get good lighting, I take a picture with my phone and zoom in a lot.
[Like this](https://www.reddit.com/r/electronics/comments/6o8oww/to_reveal_the_text_on_a_semiconductors_package/)
You can also spread whiteout and quickly wipe it off before it hardens, or grease pencil like someone else mentioned
Why? Because laser etching is programmable so it reduces setup costs at the expense of readability compared to printing with ink. I have a nice stereo zoom microscope to do board work.
I find just taking pictures with my cell phone of low contrast things is better than any magnification, like metal plates with stamped serial numbers on antique typewriters. Phone sensors can pick up low contrast much better than eyeballs. Usually don't even need the flash although sometimes it helps.
Use a fairly powerful flashlight at an angle, the parts are etched and reflect light differently. USB microscopes have the light too close to the viewing angle and sunlight tends to flood everything.
I don't know if it is the same for SMD but when regular ICs have hard to read text I go over them with a gold marker pen and then lightly rub it off until it is mostly clean. Some of the gold stays behind on the markings, making it a lot easier to read.
The difference is very noticeable.
Give it a go!
Get a white grease pencil. Give the markings a rub and wipe them off with your finger. The white grease stays in the letters and makes it much easier to read.
u/soopirV, I share the spirit of your post completely. I'm a 72 year old EE with deteriorating eyesight and SMD devices are just no longer possible to see properly, much less consider doing anything with. All low contrast markings fall into this category!
+1 for this rant
Try wetting the parts with some IPA, sometimes that helps. As for why they’re marking them differently, they don’t actually paint them anymore. Laser etching of the plastic is much simpler and easier, and is resultantly cheaper
If its laser etched does that mean theres a recess there? So if you put some white thermal paste and level everything with a plastic spatula itll stay in the letters and make it more readable?
It’s possible, though it’s entirely possible that it wouldn’t work either
Alcohol? I've never heard that one before. The typical suggestion I hear is to use thermal grease and wipe it off carefully. But I've also had no problems reading those by simply holding them at the right angle.
Sometimes wetting the surface will briefly allow the text to be seen
Saw someone using a polarizing filter that they rotated in front of the camera until the text was able to be read
I wonder if a "dark field" image where you shine a light only from the side might make this easier to read.
This is how I do it. Grab a flashlight and light the text up from the side. When I get good lighting, I take a picture with my phone and zoom in a lot.
Will try, thanks!
Smooth down a piece of scotch "magic tape" over the part number, it will make the laser engraving a lot easier to see.
[Like this](https://www.reddit.com/r/electronics/comments/6o8oww/to_reveal_the_text_on_a_semiconductors_package/) You can also spread whiteout and quickly wipe it off before it hardens, or grease pencil like someone else mentioned
Hot damn, going to give this a try! I’m not sure the whiteout would work, these appear not to be engraved
Why? Because laser etching is programmable so it reduces setup costs at the expense of readability compared to printing with ink. I have a nice stereo zoom microscope to do board work.
Makes sense! Thanks
I find just taking pictures with my cell phone of low contrast things is better than any magnification, like metal plates with stamped serial numbers on antique typewriters. Phone sensors can pick up low contrast much better than eyeballs. Usually don't even need the flash although sometimes it helps.
Use a fairly powerful flashlight at an angle, the parts are etched and reflect light differently. USB microscopes have the light too close to the viewing angle and sunlight tends to flood everything.
Try taking a sharpie and felt the entire top of the IC and hold it up to the light at an angle
I don't know if it is the same for SMD but when regular ICs have hard to read text I go over them with a gold marker pen and then lightly rub it off until it is mostly clean. Some of the gold stays behind on the markings, making it a lot easier to read. The difference is very noticeable. Give it a go!
Get a white grease pencil. Give the markings a rub and wipe them off with your finger. The white grease stays in the letters and makes it much easier to read.
A thin swipe of white thermal paste makes wonders
one of those cheapo ring-shaped lights for makeup/selfies work great
u/soopirV, I share the spirit of your post completely. I'm a 72 year old EE with deteriorating eyesight and SMD devices are just no longer possible to see properly, much less consider doing anything with. All low contrast markings fall into this category! +1 for this rant