-
- News
- Books
Featured Books
- pcb007 Magazine
Latest Issues
Current IssueDon’t Just Survive, Thrive
If we are to be relevant and prosper during these next critical decades in electronics, we must do more than survive. As an industry, we can and must thrive. In this issue, our contributors explore these concepts meant to help you take your business to the next level.
Material Matters
Materials management is nuanced, multifaceted, and requires a holistic systems approach for business success. When building high mix, low volume, and high technology, managing materials and overall cost containment are even greater challenges.
Additive Manufacturing
In this month’s issue, we explore additive manufacturing technology for the PCB fabricator: where it stands today, the true benefits, and where it seems to be headed.
- Articles
- Columns
Search Console
- Links
- Events
||| MENU - pcb007 Magazine
The Thrill of Victory: IPC Design Competition
May 23, 2024 | Michelle Te, I-Connect007Estimated reading time: 3 minutes
![](https://iconnect007.com/application/files/7817/1649/2873/kris_moyer_300.jpg)
The final heat of the 2024 IPC Design Competition took place on Tuesday, April 9, during IPC APEX EXPO. IPC’s Kris Moyer and Patrick Crawford served as judges and onsite supervisors for the event, which featured five competitors—four online and one live at IPC APEX EXPO. The grand prize winner was Dinesh G., followed by Paul Brionez in second place (he placed third last year), Ajeesh Francis in third, and runners-up Joseph Chiu and Harish G (last year’s champion).
I met with Kris and Patrick during the final heat of the design competition and asked them to walk me through what was happening, what they look for as judges, and how the event has evolved since its inception in 2022.
Michelle Te: Kris, tell me about the design competition that’s taking place today. What are the contestants doing right now?
Kris Moyer: Today is the final heat of the IPC Design Competition. We have a total of five competitors here: two finalists from IPC India's design competition, as well as the three finalists from IPC USA's preliminaries, which began in January.
This year, we gave them a fully finished schematic design, which in this case is like one of those dancing light boxes that dances to the music of your voice. It has a microphone amplifier, a microphone input stage, an amplifier stage, and a bunch of LEDs and clock driver stages. I have a similar string of LED lights around my place that can change with the music and dance and give me some mood lighting or change colors if I want.
This is something that you could put in a lightbox on your wall, and you would see changes in the color LEDs as they change with the music. This year, we did something unique: We decided to make it our IPC logo in the shape of the board, so you can see all the cutouts.
So, rather than one solid, rectangular board shape, we actually have the logo and the various parts of our letters all cut out. That makes it a very challenging shape to work with. It’s difficult for the contestants to get all the parts physically placed and complete all the routing. There are many narrow channels, and a very thin gap to get a signal from point A to point B. Also, being a somewhat rounded shape means we can't use the standard placement—placing components in a nice, rectangular grid. They have to use different rotation angles.
Te: What’s the judging process?
Moyer: As soon as they're done, they will submit their projects to Patrick. Once we have all five projects, Patrick, me, and the other judges will all meet in the same room, and we'll just go through our rubric right there on the spot. We should know by the end of the day today who the winner is, and then on Thursday, we’ll make the announcement.
Te: What do they get for winning in addition to bragging rights?
Patrick Crawford: There is a cash prize associated with winning. Design007 Magazine usually has coverage of the winners, and every contestant gets a shout-out. The IPC Design Competition is a great way to get your name out in front of the industry.
Te: They get their name in lights, and it’s always good to have your name known in the industry.
Crawford: Sure, it’s definitely a résumé-enhancer, especially if you’re one of the winners.
To read this entire conversation, which appeared in the 2024 issue of Show & Tell Magazine, click here.
Suggested Items
Enhance Your Electronics Expertise Through IPC Courses in August
07/25/2024 | Corey Lynn, IPCAs the global leader in standards, training, and certification for the electronics industry, IPC is pleased to announce an array of upcoming online instructor-led courses this August. These courses are designed to equip professionals with the latest skills and knowledge required to excel in the ever-evolving field of electronics manufacturing and design. Whether you want to deepen your expertise in PCB design and manufacturing, understand the intricacies of intermetallic compounds, or learn about counterfeit part mitigation, IPC has a course tailored for you.
The Knowledge Base: The Value of Industry Certifications
07/24/2024 | Mike Konrad -- Column: The Knowledge BaseIndustry certifications have become increasingly significant in the modern job market, offering a range of benefits to both individuals and employers. These certifications serve as formal recognitions of expertise and proficiency in specific areas, validating a person's skills and knowledge. In the context of the electronics assembly industry, certifications are particularly valuable, given the technical nature of the work and the rapid advancements in technology.
Tom Edman Leads IPC Board of Directors
07/17/2024 | Marcy LaRont, PCB007 MagazineIPC elected several new board members at IPC APEX EXPO in April, including new Board Chair Tom Edman, CEO of TTM, who assumes the role from Bob Neves, CTO and chair of Microtek Laboratories. Tom and TTM have long been active in many facets of IPC. I caught up with Tom and asked him about his new board appointment, IPC, and the industry he serves. He emphasizes IPC’s work in standards and advocacy as especially important for our industry.
Getting Clear About Certification With Charlie Capers
07/17/2024 | I-Connect007 Editorial TeamWalk through the entrance at Zentech Dallas and you’ll see a wall of certification plaques prominently displayed. Beyond being impressive and a point of pride, these certifications tell a story to potential customers: This company is ready to do business. Charlie Capers, former vice president and general manager, shares his insights on quantifying the ROI of certifications. You may not see it on paper, but it’s definitely there. He also talks about his expectations for new hires and shares a case study about the importance of collaborating with your PCB designers.
Winners of 2024 IPC Masters Competition China Announced
07/17/2024 | IPCFrom July 8-10, the 2024 IPC Masters Competition China was successfully held in Pudong, Shanghai. This year’s competition, was the largest in the history of the Greater China region, bringing nearly 400 electronics industry elites from 18 provinces and municipalities.