Dana on Data: Best Practices in Interpreting Drawing Notes—‘Use Latest Revision’
Connect the Dots: Sequential Lamination in HDI PCB Manufacturing
Target Condition: The 5 Ws of PCB Design Constraints
I-Connect007 Editor’s Choice: Five Must-Reads for the Week
May 9, 2025 | Andy Shaughnessy, Design007 MagazineEstimated reading time: 2 minutes
Trade show season is wrapping up as we head into summer. Where has the time gone? I hope you all get the chance to take a vacation this year, because I know you’ve earned one. Speaking of which, when was my last vacay? If I can’t remember, it’s probably time for one.
It’s been a busy week in electronics, with fallout from the back-and-forth on tariffs taking up most of the oxygen in the room. We have quite an assortment of articles and columns for you in this installment of Must-Reads. See you next time.
Hunting for Clues: Feng Xue Solving Circuit Board 'Crimes' With AOI Standard
Published May 8
My ex-wife was a big fan of Agatha Christie’s Poirot, a PBS series about a Belgian detective named Hercule Poirot who always catches the bad guy. And as IPC’s Linda Stepanich explains in this IPC Community article, IPC standards committees often rely on the A-Team Hercule when creating standards to detect defects with AOI. Check it out.
Voices of the Industry: Alpha Circuit
Published May 6
Many are worried about the effects of tariffs on their bottom line in the short and long term. In this interview, Alpha Circuit CEO Prashant Patel explains how tariffs and the changing economy are impacting his company and the overall electronics manufacturing industry. As the Chinese say, “May you live in interesting times.”
Nick Koop Launches IPC Flex Design Class
Published May 6
More of our readers are moving into flex and rigid-flex design every year. They need more knowledge, but there aren’t many flex design classes available. TTM’s Nick Koop is filling the void with his new IPC class, Flex and Rigid-Flex Design for Manufacturability. This two-week course begins May 12, so if you’re working with flex or rigid-flex, don’t miss out.
Navigating Global Manufacturing in an Era of Uncertainty
Published May 7
Our old friend Phil Stoten is now the host of the IPC podcast MADE IN EUROPE. Phil always has his finger on the pulse of European electronics manufacturing, and he shares his thoughts on the current outlook on the continent. As he says, “For European manufacturing, adaptability is no longer just an advantage; it's essential for survival.”
Driving Innovation: Registration in PCB Production Throughout the Process
Published May 6
If you’ve ever encountered challenges with registration when fabricating a PCB, you’ll understand why columnist Simon Khesin compares this process to building the perfect cheeseburger: “You wouldn’t want your tomato sliding off one side, the patty leaning in the opposite direction, and the cheese hanging unevenly.” Speaking of cheeseburgers, is it time for lunch?
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Trouble in Your Tank: Metallizing Flexible Circuit Materials—Mitigating Deposit Stress
08/04/2025 | Michael Carano -- Column: Trouble in Your TankMetallizing materials, such as polyimide used for flexible circuitry and high-reliability multilayer printed wiring boards, provide a significant challenge for process engineers. Conventional electroless copper systems often require pre-treatments with hazardous chemicals or have a small process window to achieve uniform coverage without blistering. It all boils down to enhancing the adhesion of the thin film of electroless copper to these smooth surfaces.
OKI Launches Rigid-Flex PCBs with Embedded Copper Coins Featuring Improved Heat Dissipation for Space Equipment Applications
07/29/2025 | BUSINESS WIREOKI Circuit Technology, the OKI Group’s printed circuit board (PCB) business company, has developed rigid-flex PCBs with embedded copper coins that offer improved heat dissipation for use in rockets and satellite-mounted equipment operating in vacuum environments.
Flex Reports Net Sales of $6.6 Billion for Q1 Fiscal 2026
07/28/2025 | Flex"Our first quarter results are a great start to FY26 and a testament to the strength of our strategic focus on high-growth end-markets like data center and power," said Revathi Advaithi, CEO of Flex. "
North American PCB Industry Sales Down 8.6% in June 2025
07/28/2025 | Global Electronics AssociationThe Global Electronics Association announced the June 2025 findings from its North American Printed Circuit Board (PCB) Statistical Program. The book-to-bill ratio stands at 1.06.