I-Connect007 Editor’s Choice: Five Must-Reads for the Week

Estimated reading time: 2 minutes

Trade show season is wrapping up as we move into summer. But we’re not finished yet.

This week, trade shows are at the top of our feed, with our coverage of the Del Mar Electronics and Manufacturing Show and IPC APEX EXPO. These two longtime events are almost polar opposites in size and scope, but Del Mar seems to be expanding from its roots as a “neighborhood gathering” with its move into the Del Mar Fairgrounds. The Del Mar show always has a good “buzz factor,” which is something you can’t buy.

This week, we also have several articles on supply chain security and materials. And if you’ve ever wondered why dielectric constant is so important to so many stakeholders in this industry, you’re in luck. 

I hope you all get a chance to take a few days off and get away from work for a while. Have a good weekend!

A Review of the 2024 Del Mar Electronics and Manufacturing Show
Published May 15

The Del Mar Electronics and Manufacturing Show is one of the smaller trade shows, but it has a huge following. Some attendees say that the Del Mar show feels like a local farmers market, which is a turn of phrase that you’ll never hear regarding IPC APEX EXPO, DesignCon, or productronica. But this year, the show moved into the Del Mar Fairgrounds near San Diego, with 350 exhibitors. Is Del Mar on its way to becoming a big show? Read on. 

Relive the Experience: Real Time with… IPC APEX EXPO 2024 Show & Tell Magazine
Published May 16

If you missed IPC APEX EXPO this year, we’ve got you covered. The 2024 edition of Show & Tell Magazine has complete coverage of the show in Anaheim. I’m mentioning this because we all put a lot of work into this in the weeks after IPC APEX EXPO, and it looks really good. Download your free copy now.

Fresh PCB Concepts: Navigating Supply Chain Security and Traceability Through Standards
Published May 16

Supply chain security is a huge challenge in electronics manufacturing, one that gets more complex every year. Other than due diligence, what can an OEM do to keep substandard and counterfeit parts out of the supply chain? As Jan Pedersen says, a couple of IPC standards lay out guidelines that explain how to do exactly that, and these standards are underutilized right now. Check it out.

American Made Advocacy: What About the Rest of the Technology Stack?
Published May 14

Two years ago, the CHIPS Act provided a much-needed shot of investment to the U.S. semiconductor industry. But what about the rest of the technology stack? As Travis Kelley points out, American companies provide less than 1% of the world’s IC substrates and 4% of the PCBs. If we don’t make some changes soon, these newly minted American chips will be manufactured on Asian IC substrates and PCBs. 

Material Insight: The Dielectric Constant of PCB Materials
Published May 17

If you’ve been in this industry for a while, you’ve probably heard about dielectric constant (Dk) at one time or another. But what does it mean, and why should you care? Our columnist Preeya Kuray has a Ph.D. in material science, and she explains—in layman’s terms—what Dk is and why PCB designers and manufacturers spend so much time studying a material’s Dk.