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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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Bowman's New XRF Measurement System Satisfies Need for Multi-Use Flexibility and Precision
October 10, 2023 | Bowman XRFEstimated reading time: 1 minute
Quality departments and contract shops that test many different plated parts need an XRF analyzer with an expansive measurement area, selectable spot sizes, and high levels of both precision - and speed.
Bowman's K Series benchtop XRF meets all of these requirements. It has a 12″x 12″ measurable area for parts up to 9″ tall. Selectable spot sizes accommodate a wide range of features; focal distances from .25″ to 3.5″.
A cantilever door design gives operators easy access; a servo motor-driven programmable stage streamlines sample positioning. Table-view functionality images the entire measurable area and allows the operator to navigate to any location with a single click.
The standard K Series configuration includes a 4-position multi-collimator. Variable focus simplifies measurements in recessed areas. Programs can use pattern matching and automatic focus for the most precise measurements.
As with all Bowman XRF systems, the K Series features a Silicon Drift Detector (SDD) and long-life micro focus X-ray tube.
Bowman’s K Series is a robust system built and backed by the technology leader in XRF analysis. It is ideally suited for the analysis of metals from aluminum through uranium (13-92 on the periodic table) and for the testing of printed circuit boards, wafers, connectors, electronic components and precious metals on jewelry, upscale hardware and other decorative objects.
The K Series is the 9th XRF in the Bowman benchtop portfolio. Like the other 8 systems, K Series instruments simultaneously measure up to 5 layers (base plus 4 plated layers), 10 elements in each layer.
To quantify plated thickness from the detected photons, K Series systems run Bowman’s Archer software. A unique Graphical User Interface makes this advanced, proven software easy to use, highly intuitive, and visually ergonomic. Archer generates customizable Excel reports with no MS Office required, and unlike competitive platforms, there is no need to install a software plug-in to export data to customer ERP systems.
Bowman customers are supported by a robust local service network that provides same-day response for every XRF requirement, worldwide. Equipment evaluation, selection, commissioning, maintenance and modernization is provided for users of all major XRF brands.
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Simon Khesin - Schmoll MaschinenSuggested Items
What’s Next for PCB Materials? I-Connect007 Podcast Series Turns to Supply Chain Resilience
04/16/2026 | I-Connect007 Editorial TeamI-Connect007 continues its six-part podcast series with Isola experts titled, PCB Materials: The Backbone and Future of Electronics, with the release of Episode 5, which shifts focus to one of the industry’s most urgent challenges: supply chain resilience.
Podcast Hits the Mark in a Materials Market
04/15/2026 | Marcy LaRont, I-Connect007The base material of a printed circuit board is its literal and functional foundation. Isola, founded in 1912 in Düren, Germany, is one of the longest-standing manufacturers of glass-reinforced laminates in the electronics industry. Originally focused on insulation and fiberglass materials, the company played an early role in supplying the foundational substrates that enabled the growth of PCB technology. As electronics advanced, Isola evolved alongside the industry, expanding from basic glass-epoxy laminates into high-performance copper-clad materials and engineered prepregs.
I-Connect007 to Launch Weekly Show & Tell Newsletter Series Featuring APEX EXPO Highlights
03/12/2026 | I-Connect007Building on our tradition of delivering comprehensive coverage of APEX EXPO 2026, I-Connect007 will present a five-episode Show & Tell Newsletter series, arriving in subscribers’ inboxes each Friday, March 27 to April 24. The special series will highlight key moments from the Global Electronics Association’s annual trade show, offering readers an inside look at the people, companies, and ideas shaping the electronics manufacturing industry.
Podcast Episode 2—AI Is Changing the Rules: Are Your PCB Materials Ready?
03/10/2026 | I-Connect007I-Connect007 announces the release of the second episode in its new six-part podcast series, PCB Materials: The Backbone and Future of Electronics. In “5G, AI & Beyond—Designing for High-Speed Performance,” we explore how artificial intelligence is reshaping the rules of electronics design, demanding unprecedented speed, power, and high-frequency performance that push beyond the limits of traditional materials. As AI applications scale rapidly, are yesterday’s materials becoming obsolete?
I-Connect007 Launches Six-Part Podcast Series Highlighting the Critical Role of PCB Materials
02/24/2026 | I-Connect007I-Connect007, the leading media source for the electronics manufacturing industry, today announced the release of the first episode in a new six-part podcast series, “PCB Materials: The Backbone and Future of Electronics.”