How can I tell whether an SMT/SMD capacitor is oriented with plates horizontal or vertical?

Is there an industry standard for showing how plates in the SMT cap are oriented? How can you tell if it is a square-rectanguloid instead of being flattish in one dimension?

PCB Assembly
November 3, 2023

You can buy specially marked ones from ATC (American Technical Ceramics, and now owned by AVX, which is in turn owned by Kyocera) if you want to do this.
Or simply choose capacitors that are not square in cross-section, so the orientation can be distinguished even without markings.
Some datasheets have pictures that help if the cap is thinner.

#PCB Assembly

Oliver Smith

Oliver is an experienced electronics engineer skilled in PCB design, analog circuits, embedded systems, and prototyping. His deep knowledge spans schematic capture, firmware coding, simulation, layout, testing, and troubleshooting. Oliver excels at taking projects from concept to mass production using his electrical design talents and mechanical aptitude.

Oliver Smith

What Others Are Asking

How much space should be left between a PCB’s edge and traces and holes?

Last week, I received an email from PCB suppliers, which told that the space between traces and board edge is too small. We were required to make some adjustment on that. So do you have some suggestions on how much space should I leave?

Oliver Smith September 19, 2023

Why the PCB is cold, but LED bulbs are still hot?

I have a THERMAL problem when designing a power LED ALUMINUM PCB. I have 10 5W UV power LEDs.Coldwater flows through water heat sink continuously. The problem is the PCB is cold, but LED bulbs are still hot? Can anyone give me some advice.

Oliver Smith October 27, 2023