How to ensure that pcba components are authentic

Nowadays, merchants and electronic agents are varied and numerous in the market. All claim that its components are original and authentic. The fact is that some of the suppliers often use shoddy parts for their own short-term gain. So, how can we identify fake, second-hand and copied materials?

Find an authorized agent

Nowadays, the quality and the price of different agents come in several levels.

We can verify if an agent is an authorized distributor or not through the official website of the company. We should always try to buy the products through formal channels.

Normally, a qualified agent controls the source of your stock. They can ensure that the lot is original and from the original manufacturer. Seeed buys all of its materials from official channels such as Digikey and Mouser directly.

Look at the reputation of the company.

Generally, a distributor with a good reputation can guarantee its products, since it takes time to establish its reputation and credibility. To maintain the brand image, they will avoid the use of counterfeit components. Seeed also values your brand image and will only buy parts from suppliers with an equally good reputation.

Control and inspect the incoming materials

The most important step is to strictly control incoming materials and carry out inspections. Seeed will inspect each batch of materials to ensure that components are qualified for assembly.

Integrated circuits are key components in printed circuit boards. But, how can we identify if it is new or used?

1. Inspect the component body surface

If a used part has been polished to look new, there may be small scratch patterns on the surface when viewed under a magnifying glass. If it is covered with paint on the surface, it will look shiny and will have no plastic texture.

2. Inspect the printed text.

High-quality producers use laser printers to print the silk screen text. It has a clear appearance, is not visible and is difficult to erase. Normally, the text on restored tiles is printed in a blurred way and is not as sharp. The edges of the characters may be blurred. The characters may be displaced and the tones and colors may not be uniform. In addition, many remodeled chips use templates for reprinting. In this case, if you feel the printed text, it should be easy to know if it is new or if it has been restored.

3. Inspect the component pins

If the component pins are bright with a thin coating, then they can be restored. The original components are tin plated, their color is dark, uniform and they do not rust when scratched.

4. Check the date code

The production code must be specific to a particular lot and must include the production time. If used, the new date label may be unclear or inconsistent with the timeline.

5. Compare the thickness of the component body

The used parts are deeply polished to remove old marks and make them look new.

Therefore, the thickness will be significantly lower than normal. If you compare them with calibrators, it can be difficult to distinguish them if you do not have experience. But if you look at the device in the front and inspect the shape, it may be more obvious. Since the devices with plastic housing are injection molded, the edges of the device will be rounded. But excessive grinding will reduce the plastic body to a rectangular shape with sharp edges, so these components must be restored.

Having provided Chinese manufacturing services to international clients for more than 10 years, Seeed Studios is an expert when it comes to quality inspections of incoming parts. Although the fake parts are becoming less common, inspections are still of paramount importance to avoid the fake parts in circulation. Seeed also works with long-term partners with mutual trust and understanding solidified over the years since the start of Seeed.