Wrapping game board for shipping

mochaman

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I am wondering how people wrap a pcb/game board for shipping? Just wrap in bubble wrap, use a static bag, wrap in newspaper? I have a board that I will need to ship so I was just wondering. Want it to arrive safely.
 
Ive gotten them/shipped them multiple ways,wrapped in bubble wrap,tin foil(with no battery),electostatic bags and just put into a box with packing peanuts(the pink ones).
 
Thanks for the replies. Just wanted to be able to ship it safely, as safe as I can.
 
My favorite was a Primal Rage board still on it's metal backing plate with three smaller boards smashed on top, held together with clear packing tape, wrapped in a few layers of newspaper with more packing tape. Amazingly 3 out of 4 boards worked after I fixed all the caps that were bent or broken off of them. That's the worst I've personally received.

Anti-static wrap or bag (the pink stuff) is the way to go if you have it, then wrap in bubble wrap and place in a box so it doesn't move around at all.
 
I ship boards inside anti-static bags and wrapped in whatever I have around the shop... Smart foam/bubble wrap, bubble wrap, paper wrap, bubble bags, peanuts (preferably anti-static), etc...

Nothing gets shipped back without being in said bag. I HATE having boards shipped to me for repair just thrown in a box with peanuts and no anti-static bag. Peanuts get ground/shredded into tiny bits by the chip legs on the bottom side of the board. This gets into cartridge sockets, under chips, under caps, etc... and peanuts always get jammed into the space between the boards. YUCK!

RJ
 
I'm pretty particular about this topic.

The board should go in an anti-static bag.
It should then be wrapped in bubble wrap, or newspaper I suppose if you don't have bubble wrap.

I then get a box that has a few inches to spare on all sides. I put foam cushion around all 4 corners before inserting it into the box. Cardboard would work I suppose.

bottom line, when I ship a board, I am very very confident that it could be thrown against the wall very hard, and not be impacted at all. If you don't have that confidence, you haven't packed it well enough.
On most occasions after I've done the above process, I then put it into another box which is slightly bigger to give it that extra bit of help.

The board should not be able to move at all, or you should not be able to hear it move if you shake the box.

The 20 minutes it takes to pack a board properly is nothing compared to dealing with someone who is pissed off at you because it arrived dead, paying to have it shipped back, refunding the money, looking like a dickhead on here, etc. Generally these boards are not being reproduced, so it would be nice to preserve them. Even if the board is untested or tested not working, (it could be fixed) it should be well prepared to be hammered by the carrier. (and survive)
 
I use an anti static bag and then a good dose of bubble wrap. If I have it laying around egg crating if not anti static peanuts. The most important thing is to make sure there is ample space between the boards edges and the box in case of damage. I often put a thin layer of peanuts on the bottom of the box to create a barrier.
 
I believe that all boards should be double boxed. One box isn't strong enough. I also like to wrap them in bubble wrap so they can't move around. Or I build a box like this one that holds all the parts securely and is very hard to crush.

Box4.jpg
 
I would suggest to always make sure the PCB has at least 2" of padding around all edges.

I've purchased lots of boards, and people always want to try to cram the board into a box that is too small. They get the free USPS Priority Mail boxes (nothing wrong with that) but then they ship a board in that is exactly the same size as the box. I've had 3 boards received damaged and not-working because of this -- some post guy drops the box, it lands on a corner, and the PCB inside gets all the impact and is damaged.

Once you pack up a board, ask yourself -- will this be OK if dropped from 4' directly onto any corner, on a concrete floor? If there is any doubt, it has not been packed properly.
 
I pack my boards up chuck it down the stairs open retest and then pack it back up.:004_stongue: Just kidding although I have tested my packing on a cheap jamma board and chucked it down the stairs many time until the box was dented up pretty bad. board didnt even move inside the box works great after I took it back out. I also use 300# crush rated boxes I get from a local Directv dumpster. Their refurbed receivers come in those boxes. I have about 40 left before I need to go back and grab some more. I did also work their for 2 + years so i know the warehouse guy and he gives me a ton a bubble wrap too.

-Jake
 
And please, don't use styrofoam peanuts unless you're positive they are anti-static.

The cheap ones generate huge amounts of static. It's unlikely, but still very possible that it can zap any mosfet's or CMOS chips on a board.

-Hans
 
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