-
- News
- Books
Featured Books
- I-Connect007 Magazine
Latest Issues
Current Issue
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.
- Articles
- Columns
- Links
- Media kit
||| MENU - I-Connect007 Magazine
Design007 Survey: Slash Sheets and Material Selection
March 16, 2023 | Andy Shaughnessy, Design007 MagazineEstimated reading time: Less than a minute
Just a few decades ago, selecting PCB materials was a fairly simple task. There were only a few basic types of laminates available, and you had a pretty good idea what kind of material you were going to use before the design cycle began.
Now, selecting the right material for your design can be a daunting task, because there are so many options available—any of which might be the perfect choice, or a disaster.
In this survey, we’re asking our PCB designer readers to discuss their material selection processes and the use of references such as slash sheets during this process. The results will be published in upcoming issues of Design007 Magazine.
From the survey responses we’ve seen so far, designers are split when it comes to slash sheets: Almost half say they never consult slash sheets, but almost 30% say they always use them when making material choices. What is your material selection process?
To take this survey and share your voice with the PCB design community, click here.
Testimonial
"Our marketing partnership with I-Connect007 is already delivering. Just a day after our press release went live, we received a direct inquiry about our updated products!"
Rachael Temple - AlltematedSuggested Items
Designing Without a Rulebook: When Engineering Becomes Innovation
05/05/2026 | Stephen V. Chavez, Siemens EDAWhat if the very rules that made you successful as a PCB designer are the ones now holding you back? This reminds me of walking the floor and attending sessions at both PCB West 2025 and APEX EXPO 2026, where one common theme stood out: More designs with traditional PCB “best practices” simply don’t apply. It’s not because they’re wrong, but because the problems we’re solving have fundamentally changed. In some cases, those best practices can actually limit performance. This is where PCB design moves beyond optimization and into something far more challenging: designing without a rulebook.
Custom LIDAR Optics Support Mission-Critical Performance
05/05/2026 | PRNewswireMeller Optics, Inc. has introduced custom fabricated LIDAR optics that can be engineered for specific UV to IR transmission requirements featured in airborne, ground, and maritime defense systems.
EMI Strengthens Test Capability with Acculogic Flying Probe System
05/04/2026 | Express Manufacturing, Inc.Express Manufacturing, Inc. (EMI), a global electronics manufacturing services (EMS) provider, has added the Acculogic Scorpion 980E Flying Probe Test System to its inspection and test operations, giving the company greater flexibility in how it validates and supports today’s increasingly complex electronics.
SEMI Appoints Julie Rogers Executive Director of the ESD Alliance
05/01/2026 | SEMISEMI, the industry association serving the global semiconductor and electronics design and manufacturing supply chain, announced the appointment of Julie Rogers as Executive Director of the Electronic System Design Alliance (ESDA), a SEMI Technology Community.
IBM, Dallara to Advance AI and Quantum-Powered Design for High-Performance Vehicles
05/01/2026 | IBMIBM and the Dallara Group, a world-leading racing and high-performance vehicle manufacturer, announced a collaboration to advance vehicle design and optimization using AI and explore the use of quantum computing.