But what exactly is ChipDip? Despite its colloquial name, ChipDip is not a single product but a specialized method of applying —specifically targeting surface-mount devices (SMDs) and chip components. Defining the Process ChipDip refers to a selective coating technique where individual electronic components (or small clusters) are literally "dipped" into a liquid coating material, typically a UV-curable acrylic, silicone, or epoxy. Unlike traditional spray or brush coating, which covers an entire PCB, ChipDip is precise. It focuses protection only where it is needed most: on delicate chip resistors, capacitors, LEDs, and small ICs.
Vision-guided ChipDip can now process 10,000 components per hour, with a positional accuracy of ±50 microns. ChipDip is not a replacement for full conformal coating. If your board operates in a salt fog chamber or underwater, you need full encapsulation. But for the vast middle ground—automotive, industrial controls, consumer electronics, and medical devices—ChipDip offers the perfect balance: protection where you need it, access where you don't. chipdip
If a manufacturer sprays the entire board, the light output from the LEDs drops by 15% due to optical absorption in the coating. Worse, the coating on the resistor solder joints cracks after 500 thermal cycles. But what exactly is ChipDip