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Beyond the Rulebook
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.
March Madness
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.
Looking Forward to APEX EXPO 2026
I-Connect007 Magazine previews APEX EXPO 2026, covering everything from the show floor to the technical conference. For PCB designers, we move past the dreaded auto-router and spotlight AI design tools that actually matter.
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Dates for Nine Dot Connects’ Rise of Mechatronics Free Technical Seminar Still Available
September 18, 2017 | Nine Dot ConnectsEstimated reading time: 1 minute
Does mechatronic design equal 3D design? When we look back at the concept of 3D, we can see that it has already been a game changer in the way we design products. SOLIDWORKS became the dominant mechanical engineering tool by making it very easy to design in the 3D space. In 2008, Altium Inc. revolutionized the EDA industry by allowing the ECAD world to readily communicate with the MCAD world through 3D design. Prior to this capability, there was a process chasm between these two disciplines.
There has been lot of talk as of late about mechatronics, with the simultaneous blending of electrical and mechanical aspects of the design. This will not only require a new thinking in the way we design in software, it will also require new ways of thinking in manufacturing. If we really step back and think about it, to make mechatronic design feasible, we have think beyond the 2D world in which we design our electronics.
Nine Dot Connects has teamed up with SOLIDWORKS for a 12-city roadshow to explore this topic of mechatronic from a process, software, and manufacturing view. During this lunch & learn presentation, attendees will learn how the electronics industry has changed, where it is going, and the tools that are available to enable them to become part of this new age of mechatronics, regardless of your current trade or skill. With change comes opportunity, with opportunity comes growth. The field of mechatronics is open to those who want to expand their horizons. Anyone who has a role or interest in PCB / FMB design should attend. For those who are currently immersed in it, this is an opportunity to see where the industry is going. For those new to or interested in the field, it is a chance to see where the opportunities lie.
Dates still available are as follows:
- September 19, Tuesday - Livonia, MI
- September 20, Wednesday - Minneapolis, MN
- September 21, Thursday - Bellevue, WA
- September 26, Tuesday - Burlington, MA
- September 27, Wednesday - Columbia, MD
- September 28, Thursday - Huntsville, AL
- October 3, Tuesday - Tampa, FL
- October 4, Wednesday - Austin, TX
- October 5, Thursday - Phoenix, AZ
For more information and to register, click here.
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Simon Khesin - Schmoll MaschinenSuggested Items
Global Electronics Association Expands Free Member Training Library with New Safety and Ergonomics Courses
04/23/2026 | Global Electronics AssociationThe Global Electronics Association today announced three new complimentary courses in safety and ergonomics, expanding its member training library to help manufacturers onboard workers faster and improve production performance.
A Mic, a Tiny Cam, and the Show Floor: The Story Behind 'Take the Mic!'
04/23/2026 | I-Connect007 Editorial TeamI-Connect007’s Take the Mic! program at APEX EXPO 2026 in Anaheim is proving to be a must-watch feature for this year’s event coverage, as we invited company representatives to participate in a sponsored conversation about their businesses and products in a whole new way: in front of a camera at their booths. While our managing editors and guest editors were conducting slightly longer Real Time With… APEX EXPO interviews in our booth, three staff members and guests acted as roaming reporters, conducting short, prearranged interviews with several companies exhibiting on the show floor.
Institute of Circuit Technology Spring Seminar 2026: A Bright Future in Europe
04/23/2026 | Pete Starkey, I-Connect007Through the leafy lanes and spring flowers of Warwickshire and back to Meridan, the traditional centre of England, and now officially part of the Metropolitan Borough of Solihull in the county of the West Midlands, I attended the Annual General Meeting and Spring Seminar of the Institute of Circuit Technology (ICT) on April 14. Out of the AGM came notable changes in leadership at the top of the Institute: the retirement of Mat Beadel as chair and Emma Hudson as technical director. Effective May 1, Steve Driver is the new chair, and Alun Morgan is the new technical director.
Standardization, Workforce, and the Road Ahead for Flex–Packaging Integration, Part 3
04/22/2026 | Anaya Vardya, American Standard CircuitsParts 1 and 2 of this series established the technical foundation and application landscape for the convergence of flexible PCBs and advanced semiconductor packaging. Part 3 addresses what comes next: the standards frameworks, talent pipelines, and strategic imperatives that will determine whether the industry can scale this convergence reliably and competitively.
New Guidance Targets Scope 3.1 Emissions Gap in Electronics Supply Chains
04/22/2026 | I-Connect007 Editorial TeamA new industry guidance document aimed at improving how electronics companies account for Scope 3 Category 1 (Scope 3.1) emissions marks a significant step toward more consistent and effective supply chain decarbonization. A recent webinar hosted by the Global Electronics Association and the Responsible Business Alliance (RBA) addressed a persistent challenge: Despite the material impact of Scope 3.1 emissions, fewer than half of electronics companies currently report them.