STM8S003F3P6TR
Brand: ST
For drone ESC manufacturers running automated SMT assembly lines, the STM8S003F3P6TR is the production-grade ordering code. It delivers the identical silicon and performance as the tube variant but in embossed carrier tape on a 13-inch reel — enabling uninterrupted pick-and-place machine feeding with 2,500 parts per reel. This is the format required by contract manufacturers (CMs) and in-house SMT lines building BLHeli_S ESCs at production volumes ranging from hundreds to hundreds of thousands of units.
The TR packaging maintains MSL-3 (Moisture Sensitivity Level 3) rating with proper dry-pack and humidity indicator, ensuring no solder reflow defects from moisture absorption when stored and handled per J-STD-020. For the drone industry, where a single 4-in-1 ESC board consumes four STM8S003 chips, a single TR reel provides enough MCUs for 625 complete 4-in-1 ESC assemblies.
Product Specifications
STM8S003F3P6TR — 8-Bit STM8 Value Line MCU, Tape & Reel for BLHeli_S ESC High-Volume Production
The STM8S003F3P6TR is the tape-and-reel packaging variant of the legendary STM8S003F3P6 — STMicroelectronics' cost-optimized 8-bit STM8 core MCU with 8 KB Flash, 1 KB SRAM, and 16 MHz clock. Electrically and functionally identical to the tube-packaged STM8S003F3P6, the TR suffix indicates 2,500 units per reel in TSSOP-20 — the standard pick-and-place packaging required for automated SMT assembly lines in high-volume BLHeli_S ESC production. With the same advanced 16-bit PWM timer, 5-channel 10-bit ADC, and 2.95–5.5V single-supply operation, the TR variant is the default ordering code for drone ESC manufacturers running pick-and-place SMT lines.
Part Number Decoded — Field by Field
| Field | Value | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| STM8 | Product Family | STMicroelectronics 8-bit MCU — STM8 proprietary core |
| S | Product Type | Standard — mainstream general-purpose series (2.95–5.5V) |
| 003 | Sub-Family | Value Line — cost-optimized, entry-level 8-bit MCU |
| F | Pin Count | 20 pins (TSSOP-20) |
| 3 | Flash Size | 8 KB |
| P | Package | TSSOP (Thin-Shrink Small Outline Package) |
| 6 | Temperature Range | −40°C to +85°C (industrial) |
| TR | Packaging Suffix | Tape & Reel — 2,500 units per 13-inch reel, suitable for automated pick-and-place |
Quick Specifications
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer | STMicroelectronics |
| Part Number | STM8S003F3P6TR |
| Core | STM8 (8-bit proprietary, Harvard architecture, 3-stage pipeline) |
| Max Clock | 16 MHz (internal RC or external crystal) |
| Flash | 8 KB |
| SRAM | 1 KB |
| EEPROM | 128 bytes (true data EEPROM, 300K write cycles) |
| Package | TSSOP-20 (6.5×4.4 mm, 0.65 mm pitch) |
| Packaging | Tape & Reel — 2,500 pcs/reel, 13-inch reel |
| Supply Voltage | 2.95V – 5.5V |
| Operating Temperature | −40°C to +85°C |
| GPIO | 16 (5V-tolerant, up to 20 mA sink/source) |
| ADC | 1× 10-bit, 5 channels |
| Timers | 3× 16-bit: 1× advanced (PWM + complementary + dead-time), 2× general-purpose |
| Communication | 1× UART, 1× SPI (8 Mbit/s), 1× I²C (400 kHz) |
| Debug | SWIM (Single Wire Interface Module) |
| RoHS | Yes — Lead-free, RoHS 3 compliant, Halogen-free |
Product Overview
For drone ESC manufacturers running automated SMT assembly lines, the STM8S003F3P6TR is the production-grade ordering code. It delivers the identical silicon and performance as the tube variant but in embossed carrier tape on a 13-inch reel — enabling uninterrupted pick-and-place machine feeding with 2,500 parts per reel. This is the format required by contract manufacturers (CMs) and in-house SMT lines building BLHeli_S ESCs at production volumes ranging from hundreds to hundreds of thousands of units.
The TR packaging maintains MSL-3 (Moisture Sensitivity Level 3) rating with proper dry-pack and humidity indicator, ensuring no solder reflow defects from moisture absorption when stored and handled per J-STD-020. For the drone industry, where a single 4-in-1 ESC board consumes four STM8S003 chips, a single TR reel provides enough MCUs for 625 complete 4-in-1 ESC assemblies.
Key Features & Benefits
Identical Silicon to STM8S003F3P6 — Zero Requalification Overhead
The TR variant uses the exact same die, package, and test program as the tube variant. Switching from tube to TR requires no firmware changes, no timing revalidation, and no electrical retesting — only updating the pick-and-place feeder configuration. The full BLHeli_S firmware binary runs unmodified on TR-packaged chips.
2,500 Units Per Reel — Optimized for SMT Line Efficiency
Each 13-inch reel contains 2,500 TSSOP-20 components in embossed carrier tape with 12 mm tape width and 8 mm pitch. The reel quantity balances between minimizing reel-change downtime on the SMT line and avoiding excessive inventory exposure per reel. For a 4-in-1 ESC board, one reel = 625 complete boards.
Pick-and-Place Ready — No Manual Handling
Tape-and-reel packaging eliminates the need for tube-to-tray repacking, reducing ESD exposure and pin damage risk. The TSSOP-20 package body (6.5×4.4 mm) is well within the placement accuracy of modern chip shooters and multi-function placers, enabling CPH (Components Per Hour) rates exceeding 20,000 on high-speed lines.
Moisture-Sensitive Level 3 (MSL-3) — Standard DRY-PACK
The TR variant ships in sealed moisture-barrier bags with desiccant and HIC (Humidity Indicator Card) per J-STD-033B. Floor life is 168 hours at ≤30°C/60% RH after opening. For high-volume ESC production, the MSL-3 rating is standard and well-supported by all CM reflow oven processes.
Target Applications
High-Volume BLHeli_S ESC Production (SMT Assembly)
The TR variant is the default ordering code for any drone ESC manufacturer producing at scale. Whether building 20A individual ESCs, 4-in-1 AIO ESCs, or micro-drone stacks, the tape-and-reel format eliminates manual component handling, reduces ESD damage, and integrates directly into automated SMT line feeders. Every major BLHeli_S ESC on the market — Racerstar, DYS, HAKRC, iFlight, HGLRC — specifies the TR variant in their BOM.
Drone PDB Controller Mass Production
For intelligent Power Distribution Boards with current sensing and addressable LED control, the TR variant enables automated assembly at scale. A single SMT line can populate thousands of PDBs per shift without manual tube-reloading interruptions.
BMS Node Controller — Panelized Assembly
When building battery management monitoring nodes on panelized PCBs, the TR variant supports efficient panel-level pick-and-place before V-scoring or routing separation — a common process for drone battery modules and smart-battery packs.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the STM8S003F3P6TR electrically different from STM8S003F3P6?
No. The silicon die, package, electrical specifications, and test limits are identical. The only difference is the shipping format: TR = Tape & Reel (2,500 count), while the non-TR base part ships in tubes (74 units per tube for TSSOP-20). There is zero functional, parametric, or reliability difference between the two ordering codes — a firmware binary compiled for one runs identically on the other.
What is the minimum order quantity (MOQ) for TR packaging?
ST's standard TR packaging quantity for TSSOP-20 is 2,500 units per reel (one full reel). Authorized distributors may offer partial-reel quantities or 'cut tape' service at a premium. For high-volume drone ESC production, the 2,500-unit MOQ is typically well below a single production batch requirement — a 1,000-board run of 4-in-1 ESCs consumes 4,000 chips (1.6 reels).
Can I use the TR variant for hand-soldering prototypes?
While physically possible (the TSSOP-20 package is hand-solderable with a fine-tip iron or hot-air rework station), the TR format is inconvenient for manual assembly. For prototyping and small-batch builds, we recommend ordering the STM8S003F3P6 (tube) variant, which ships in antistatic tubes with individual part accessibility. Once your design is validated, switch to TR for production.
What reel specifications are used for STM8S003F3P6TR?
The standard ST reel specification for TSSOP-20 (6.5×4.4 mm body) uses 12 mm wide embossed carrier tape with 8 mm pitch, 13-inch diameter reel (330 mm). Components are oriented with pin 1 toward the sprocket holes. Reel material is polystyrene with antistatic coating per ANSI/EIA-481. Detailed drawings are in the package mechanical section of datasheet DS7147.
Ordering Information
| Orderable Part Number | Package | Packaging | Temperature |
|---|---|---|---|
| STM8S003F3P6TR | TSSOP-20 (6.5×4.4 mm, 0.65 mm pitch) | Tape & Reel (2,500 pcs/reel) | −40°C to +85°C |
| STM8S003F3P6 | TSSOP-20 (6.5×4.4 mm, 0.65 mm pitch) | Tube (74 pcs/tube) | −40°C to +85°C |
| STM8S003K3T6C | LQFP-32 (7×7 mm, 0.8 mm pitch) | Tray | −40°C to +85°C |
Design Resources
Datasheet (DS7147): STM8S003F3 / STM8S003K3 — Includes package mechanical drawings for TSSOP-20 tube and TR formats, tape leader/trailer dimensions, and reel specifications.
Reference Manual (RM0016): STM8S Series — Full register-level documentation for the STM8S product family.
BLHeli_S GitHub:
bitdump/BLHeli— Open-source ESC firmware with STM8S assembly source code and ready-to-flash HEX files. The defacto firmware for STM8S003-based ESCs.ST SMT Guidelines (AN1709): ECOPACK and Soldering Recommendations — Guidelines for TSSOP reflow profiling, solder paste stencil design, and PCB land pattern recommendations.
STVD (ST Visual Develop): Free IDE with C compiler and assembler toolchain for STM8 development, debugging, and SWIM-based Flash programming.
Request a Quote
SUPERB Automation supplies genuine STMicroelectronics STM8S003F3P6TR (tape-and-reel) MCUs with full traceability and batch-level QA documentation. The TR variant of the STM8S003 is the production workhorse for automated SMT assembly of BLHeli_S ESCs — ensuring uninterrupted pick-and-place throughput with full electrical compatibility to the tube-packaged baseline. Whether you need prototype quantities for ESC firmware development or production volumes for drone BMS and PDB controller manufacturing, we source through verified channels with competitive lead times. Contact us with your target quantity, delivery date, and any special packaging or marking requirements — we'll respond with a detailed quotation within 24 hours.