Target Condition: Are Autorouters Friend or Foe?
Fresh PCB Concepts: Assembly Challenges with Micro Components and Standard Solder Mask Practices
Elementary Mr. Watson: Retro Routers vs. Modern Boards—The Silent Struggle on Your Screen
I-Connect007 Editor’s Choice: Five Must-Reads for the Week
June 9, 2023 | Andy ShaughnessyEstimated reading time: 2 minutes
It’s summertime, but the industry is staying pretty busy. This week, we have news about our industry putting pressure on our elected officials to provide funding for U.S. companies under the CHIPS Act, and a counterfeit parts symposium presented by SMTA in Maryland next month. We also bring you articles about ultra HDI design and material selection, and our most recent On the Line with… podcast with Zac Elliott of Siemens.
Next week, it looks like San Diego is the place to be as the International Microwave Symposium kicks off June 11 at the San Diego Convention Center. Our own Barry Matties and Nolan Johnson will be at the show all week, and our good friends Ventec, American Standard Circuits, Rogers and more will be exhibiting there. Don’t miss out.
Electronics Industry Leaders Call on Congress to Support $100M in PCB Sector Funding
Published June 6
Sure, the CHIPS Act is a step in the right direction, but we as an industry have to hold Congress’s feet to the fire. This letter from executives from 26 electronics manufacturers across the U.S. is a step in the right direction. It’s an election year, so our senators and representatives might be more amenable to our ideas than during an off year.
NASA to Keynote the Symposium on Counterfeit Parts & Materials
Published June 6
Counterfeit parts are a continuing problem in our industry. SMTA is hosting the Counterfeit Parts & Materials Symposium June 27–29 near my hometown in Hyattsville, Maryland, and NASA’s Dr. Peter Majewicz is presenting the keynote. If you’re in the defense sector, this is right in your wheelhouse.
Sustainability in Logistics Discussion Continues
Published June 7
This week, we dropped a new “pod,” as the kids say, continuing our conversation with Siemens Technical Marketing Engineer Zac Elliott. In this installment, Zac explains how logistics, done improperly, can create waste downstream in a variety of ways. Managing Editor Nolan Johnson has proven to be the breakout podcast star.
A Focus on Ultra HDI
Published June 5
John Johnson just joined American Standard Circuits, and he’s bringing along his expertise in ultra HDI. In this interview with Barry Matties, he shares his thoughts on these tiny traces and his plans for moving ASC forward in the ultra HDI realm.
Slash Sheets: Don’t Fall Into the Trap
Published June 8
When you’re selecting materials for a design, what documents do you consult? In this article from Geoffrey Hazelett, he explains why designers shouldn’t use IPC slash sheets in their material selection process, and he offers his thoughts on the best way to find the right laminate for your job.
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