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I-Connect007 Editor’s Choice: Five Must-Reads for the Week
April 5, 2024 | Andy Shaughnessy, I-Connect007Estimated reading time: 3 minutes

Spring has definitely sprung; it was 81 degrees last week in Atlanta, and this week it’s been in the 40s. That’s typical spring weather in Atlanta. My newly cut lawn is looking great, thanks to my “yard guy” Clive.
And now our industry’s trade show season is in full swing. I’m all checked in and heading to Anaheim to cover IPC APEX EXPO next week. There’s a lot going on there this year, especially in PCB design. The number of design-related conference classes continues to grow with each show. That’s a good thing: New designers are entering the workforce, slowly but surely, and many companies are losing their subject matter experts to retirement.
IPC APEX EXPO will be held in Anaheim for the next couple of years. The last time I attended in Anaheim was about 20 years ago, and I never did make it to Disneyland. I’m shooting for some Mouse time this year.
I need to finish packing, so without further ado, here’s my must-reads for this week. I hope to see you in California.
Tim’s Takeaways: The Art of Technical Instruction
Published April 4
Speaking of PCB design, do you have what it takes to be a design instructor? You might. As columnist Tim Haas explains, there’s a need for design instructors, and if you’re constantly doing research and reading the latest white papers, you might be a great candidate for a design instructor. He also provides a few horror stories from his design teaching days. Check it out.
Creators of SMT UHDI Test Board Vehicle Discuss this Important Project
Published April 4
Chrys Shea led the development of the SMT test vehicle a few years ago. As features continued to shrink, the industry saw a need for a UHDI test vehicle, so Chrys and Altium’s David Haboud sprang into action. In this audio interview, they discuss what it took to update the test vehicle to UHDI and why technologists working in UHDI should check it out for themselves.
Global Sourcing Spotlight: Don’t Be Afraid of Global Sourcing
Published April 3
No matter how good things are going, some of us have this nagging suspicion in the back of our minds that there’s another snafu waiting around the corner, and another supply chain shutdown probably ranks Numero Uno in that category. But as columnist Bob Duke explains, despite two shooting wars and our stressful relationship with China, global sourcing is not only looking solid—it actually might help bring nations closer together and stave off potential conflicts. As he says, “Business is all about people.”
Checking In With ICAPE Group
Published April 3
ICAPE operates in countries around the globe, from China to South Africa to the U.S., so the company has a pretty broad view of the fab industry. In this interview, ICAPE’s Erik Pedersen explains how they approach sustainability, what sustainability actually entails, and why value engineering is so critical.
IPC APEX EXPO 2024: There’s an App for That
Published April 3
If you’re heading to IPC APEX EXPO, you’ve probably noticed that there are so many classes and “special events” taking place, often at the same time. Make it easy on yourself and scan this handy-dandy APEX QR code, and you’ll be able to see each day’s events at a glance while getting alerts for the events that are most important to you.
Suggested Items
Meet the Author Podcast: Martyn Gaudion Unpacks the Secrets of High-Speed PCB Design
07/10/2025 | I-Connect007In this special Meet the Author episode of the On the Line with… podcast, Nolan Johnson sits down with Martyn Gaudion, signal integrity expert, managing director of Polar Instruments, and three-time author in I-Connect007’s popular The Printed Circuit Designer’s Guide to... series.
Showing Some Constraint: Design007 Magazine July 2025
07/10/2025 | I-Connect007 Editorial TeamA robust design constraint strategy balances dozens of electrical and manufacturing trade-offs. This month, we focus on design constraints—the requirements, challenges, and best practices for setting up the right constraint strategy.
Elementary, Mr. Watson: Rein in Your Design Constraints
07/10/2025 | John Watson -- Column: Elementary, Mr. WatsonI remember the long hours spent at the light table, carefully laying down black tape to shape each trace, cutting and aligning pads with surgical precision on sheets of Mylar. I often went home with nicks on my fingers from the X-Acto knives and bits of tape all over me. It was as much an art form as it was an engineering task—tactile and methodical, requiring the patience of a sculptor. A lot has changed in PCB design over the years.
TTCI Joins Printed Circuit Engineering Association to Strengthen Design-to-Test Collaboration and Workforce Development
07/09/2025 | The Test Connection Inc.The Test Connection Inc. (TTCI), a leading provider of electronic test and manufacturing solutions, is proud to announce its membership in the Printed Circuit Engineering Association (PCEA), further expanding the company’s efforts to support cross-functional collaboration, industry standards, and technical education in the printed circuit design and manufacturing community.
Bell to Build X-Plane for Phase 2 of DARPA Speed and Runway Independent Technologies (SPRINT) X-Plane Program
07/09/2025 | Bell Textron Inc.Bell Textron Inc., a Textron Inc. company, has been down-selected for Phase 2 of Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) Speed and Runway Independent Technologies (SPRINT) X-Plane program with the objective to complete design, construction, ground testing and certification of an X-plane demonstrator.