-
- News
- Books
Featured Books
- design007 Magazine
Latest Issues
Current IssueSilicon to Systems: From Soup to Nuts
This month, we asked our expert contributors to weigh in on silicon to systems—what it means to PCB designers and design engineers, EDA companies, and the rest of the PCB supply chain... from soup to nuts.
Cost Drivers
In this month’s issue of Design007 Magazine, our expert contributors explain the impact of cost drivers on PCB designs and the need to consider a design budget. They discuss the myriad design cycle cost adders—hidden and not so hidden—and ways to add value.
Mechatronics
Our expert contributors discuss the advent of mechatronics in PCB design, the challenges and opportunities this creates for circuit board designers, and the benefits—to the employee and the company—of becoming a mechatronics engineer.
- Articles
- Columns
Search Console
- Links
- Events
||| MENU - design007 Magazine
Networking Opportunities and Technical Learning at SMTA Wisconsin
May 22, 2024 | Barry Matties, I-Connect007Estimated reading time: 6 minutes
SMTA’s 2024 Wisconsin Expo & Tech Forum wrapped up another well-attended event on May 7 in Milwaukee, with more than 50 exhibitors. Visitors had plenty of time on the exhibit floor between sessions to meet with key industry suppliers and look at everything from tools to tests.
The event also included tech sessions, a keynote panel discussion, a lunch sponsored by Ellsworth Adhesives, and lively discussions on unlocking success in SMT manufacturing.
Mike Marshall, a field application engineer at NCAB gave an insightful opening tech session focused on lowering the cost of PCBs through smart design choices. Mike has been in the industry for 40 years and has vast real-world experience. He provided many smart points for designers to consider, from hard to soft costs, and broke down each in a well-thought-out presentation. In some cases, he said that your choices could save you a lot of cost and cycle time and stressed that the best way to start is by collaborating with your manufacturer at the beginning of the design process. This is good advice we often hear from those in the supply chain.
After the sponsored lunch, a five-member keynote panel, moderated by chapter president Paul Wilson, kicked off the afternoon. The keynote panel included Marc Apell of ITW EAE, Joe Clure of Kurtz Ersa, Geoffrey Post of MacDermid Alpha, Marshall Summers of Universal Instruments, and John Neiderman of ZESTRON.
The room was full, and the panel sparked a lively discussion on unlocking success in SMT manufacturing in two key areas: efficiency and quality. Much of the conversation revolved around the solder paste application to reflow.
The panel provided some counterintuitive advice on process optimization. One point was to improve output by reducing conveyor speed and adjusting fans rather than adjusting heating temperatures. As they pointed out, the boards may come out slower, but the time you save waiting for oven temps to increase or decrease is a net gain.
Page 1 of 2
Suggested Items
Automation Innovations and Better Process Control
09/06/2024 | Barry Matties, I-Connect007Mark Skaer specializes in automation at Omron. In this interview, he sheds light on the challenges and solutions integrating sophisticated automation technologies in various manufacturing settings by emphasizing the importance of understanding customer needs to tailor effective solutions. With a rich background in electrical engineering, Mark plays a pivotal role in showcasing Omron’s state-of-the-art automation capabilities through trade shows and technical demonstrations.
Curtiss-Wright Wins $26M Contract to Provide Aircraft Arresting Systems and Support to the Belgian Air Force
09/06/2024 | Curtiss-Wright CorporationCurtiss-Wright Corporation announced that it has been awarded a $26 million multi-year contract by the Belgian Air Force to implement a modernization program for its aircraft arresting systems.
AMOLED Panels Become Mainstream Display for Smartphones, with Shipments Set to Grow by Nearly 25% in 2024
09/06/2024 | TrendForceTrendForce’s latest projections show global shipments of AMOLED smartphone panels are anticipated to surpass 840 million units in 2024, reflecting a remarkable growth of almost 25% from 2023.
Bachmann Electronic Opens a Branch in Norway
09/05/2024 | BachmannThe Austrian company Bachmann electronic, which specializes in automation technology for maritime applications, renewable energies, and industry, is expanding its international footprint with a new branch in Norway.
Global Smartphone Production Sees Slight Rebound in 3Q24 but Faces a 5% YoY Decline
09/05/2024 | TrendForceTrendForce reports that global smartphone production experienced a 3% quarterly dip, totaling 286 million units in 2Q24.