Connect the Dots: Designing for Reality—Surface Finish
Fresh PCB Concepts: Tariffs and the Importance of a Diverse Supply Chain
Elementary Mr. Watson: The Road Ahead—Advances in PCB Design Technology
Strip Etch Strip: Episode 9 of On the Line With... Designing for Reality Podcast Now Available
July 25, 2024 | I-Connect007Estimated reading time: Less than a minute
Don't miss the latest episode of "On the Line With... Designing for Reality," where we walk through the PCB manufacturing process. At this stage, we have a panel made up of all the internal layers laminated together, through-holes drilled, and the outer layer copper features covered with a protective layer of tin. Join us as ASC Sunstone’s VP Matt Stevenson guides us through the process sequence for outer layer strip, etch, and strip.
This series offers specific insights that can impact circuit board manufacturing, providing tips and tricks for optimizing design, fabrication, yields, and cost.
I-Connect007 is committed to delivering digital content that meets the needs of the electronics industry, including magazines, books, newsletters, market reports, podcasts, and event coverage. As the industry's longest-running digital media company, I-Connect007 is a leading publisher of original content for the global electronics industry.
Visit our educational resource center to access more free content.
Share on:
Suggested Items
Connect the Dots: Designing for Reality—Surface Finish
01/29/2025 | Matt Stevenson -- Column: Connect the DotsIn the previous episode of I-Connect007’s On the Line with… podcast, we discussed the solder mask and legend process, one of the final steps in the PCB manufacturing process. The board is nearly complete. We just need to wrap up production by applying a surface finish to protect the copper from oxidation and facilitate soldering components onto the board.
Fresh PCB Concepts: Tariffs and the Importance of a Diverse Supply Chain
01/28/2025 | Team NCAB -- Column: Fresh PCB ConceptsWith the new Trump administration, we anticipate an increase in tariffs on products from China, including printed circuit boards (PCBs). The current U.S. tariffs on PCBs from China is 25%, with two-layer and four-layer boards excluded from the tariffs until May 31, 2025. I’ve recently received a lot of questions about tariffs, even from the engineering end. While we are uncertain what the future will hold, this situation illustrates why it’s important to have a diverse supply chain.
Global PCB Connections: The Future of HDI PCBs
01/16/2025 | Jerome Larez -- Column: Global PCB ConnectionsHigh-density interconnect (HDI) printed circuit boards (PCBs) transform modern electronics by providing increased functionality, reduced sizes, and enhanced performance in complex designs. They do so by using advanced techniques, such as finer line and space definitions, microvias, and additional board layers. Specialized via structures—namely blind, buried, and stacked vias—offer complex routing while conserving space. This allows for the development of highly compact electronic devices. This article delves into HDI PCB technology, the function and benefits of blind, buried, and stacked vias, and their impact on PCB performance and design.
The Chemical Connection: Can Changing Spray Nozzles Improve My Etch Quality?
01/13/2025 | Don Ball -- Column: The Chemical ConnectionWhenever the need to improve etch quality due to tightening customer specifications arises, the inevitable question asked early on is, “Will going to a different type of nozzle or nozzle flow rate make my etch quality better?” Unfortunately, the answer is most likely, “Probably not.” (Sorry, folks.) So, why not?
Data Paints a Picture—Can You See It?
01/09/2025 | Marcy LaRont, PCB007 MagazineAndrew Kelley is CTO of Xact PCB, a company founded by engineers with firsthand experience in PCB fabricators. Xact PCB has developed a cutting-edge system to monitor and predict the registration of inner layers through advanced registration control systems. By leveraging data collected from various production stages, Xact PCB’s GX tool enhances precision. It minimizes errors, ensuring that the final products meet their customers' exact specifications while eliminating the need for costly pilot lots.