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What happens when the rule book is no longer useful, or worse, was never written in the first place? In today’s fast-moving electronics landscape, we’re increasingly asked to design and build what has no precedent, no proven path, and no tidy checklist to follow. This is where “Design for Invention” begins.
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From the growing role of AI in design tools to the challenge of managing cumulative tolerances, these articles in this issue examine the technical details, design choices, and manufacturing considerations that determine whether a board works as intended.
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Rules of Thumb: Design007 Magazine, November 2024
November 11, 2024 | I-Connect007 Editorial TeamEstimated reading time: 1 minute
Rules of Thumb
Rules of thumb are everywhere, but there may be hundreds of rules of thumb for PCB design. They’re built on design formulas, fabricators’ limitations, and tribal knowledge. And unfortunately, some longtime rules of thumb should be avoided at all costs. How do we separate the wheat from the chaff, so to speak?
In the November 2024 issue of Design007 Magazine, we delve into rules of thumb—which ones work, which ones should be avoided, and when it’s time to “do the science.” As our contributors point out, rules of thumb are a great place to start—a default position—but designers should have a good understanding of the mechanics that these rules are built upon.
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Trouble in Your Tank: In Complex Systems, Design Rules Aren’t Optional
05/06/2026 | Michael Carano -- Column: Trouble in Your TankThere is no question that the electronics industry, especially in circuit board design and fabrication, advanced packaging, and innovation throughout the value chain, has seen a significant transformation, whether it be in materials, system architecture, HDI and ultra HDI, semiconductors, or chiplets. AI and high-performance computing (HPC) are driving change across several fronts, including material properties, assembly techniques (think hybrid bonding), and power management.
Automating the Repeatable Parts of Hardware Design
03/12/2026 | Kyle Dumont, AllSpice.ioDespite working on some of the most sophisticated technology in the world, many hardware engineers still rely on spreadsheets, tribal knowledge, and sometimes, quite literally, pen, paper, and a highlighter. Delivering new hardware products on schedule often comes down to finding a needle in a haystack disguised as a 900-page specification or datasheet. AllSpice.io set out to automate the repeatable parts of hardware design: the well-defined, rules-based tasks that make sure nothing gets missed and everything lines up.
The Government Circuit: USMCA Review—A Crucial Opportunity to Fortify North American Electronics
12/02/2025 | Chris Mitchell -- Column: The Government CircuitAs the 2026 review of the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) approaches, policymakers have a rare opportunity to reinforce a partnership that powers their shared competitiveness, resilience, and growth. That is the message that I will have the honor of delivering on behalf of the Global Electronics Association in a public hearing at the U.S. International Trade Commission in Washington on Dec. 4. We’ve also submitted our views formally to the U.S. Trade Representative, and we’ve shared our position far and wide.
A New Era for Global Trade and Electronics
10/28/2025 | Chris Mitchell, VP of Global Government Relations, Global Electronics AssociationThe global trade system is undergoing an enormous, systemic paradigm shift. For decades, the World Trade Organization (WTO), with the support of the United States, its traditional European allies, and many other nations, stood at the center of efforts to create fairer, more predictable, and rules-based commerce. Today, however, that model is giving way to a more fragmented reality—so far U.S.-driven—in which individual nations and blocs are striking deals and imposing a variety of rules of their own liking.
China Expands Rare Earth Export Restrictions, Tightening Grip on Global Supply Chains
10/16/2025 | I-Connect007 Editorial TeamChina sharply expanded its rare earth export restrictions on Oct. 9, adding additional elements and refining technologies to its control list while imposing stricter rules on foreign users in the defense and semiconductor industries.