Elementary, Mr. Watson: The Design Matrix—Revealing the Hidden Truths of Reality
Connect the Dots: Designing for the Future of Manufacturing Reality—Surface Finish
The Pulse: Caught in the Crosshatch—A Cautionary Tale of Detective Work
Signal Integrity Meets Additive Innovation in the Latest Issue
May 18, 2026 | I-Connect007 Editorial TeamEstimated reading time: 1 minute
Signal integrity and metallization are deeply intertwined, and this month’s I-Connect007 Magazine explores that convergence in detail. As Managing Editor Marcy LaRont explains, achieving electrical performance targets doesn’t stop at design; it depends heavily on how boards are fabricated, particularly through precise metallization processes.
This issue examines how semi-additive and modified semi-additive processes are enabling finer features, tighter tolerances, and improved signal performance. Contributors break down everything from plating chemistry and microvia reliability to noise management and return-path continuity.
You’ll also find forward-looking insights on AI-driven design tools, advanced packaging, and digital twins. These technologies are reshaping how engineers approach increasingly complex systems.
The takeaway is that PCB innovation now demands a holistic view, where materials, processes, and design strategies work together to ensure performance, reliability, and scalability in next-generation electronics.
Share on:
Testimonial
"Advertising in PCB007 Magazine has been a great way to showcase our bare board testers to the right audience. The I-Connect007 team makes the process smooth and professional. We’re proud to be featured in such a trusted publication."
Klaus Koziol - atgSuggested Items
What Heterogeneous Integration Means for EMS Providers
05/14/2026 | Nolan Johnson, I-Connect007Dr. Ravi Mahajan, an Intel Fellow and Director of Intel’s Technology and Pathfinding group, delivered a keynote at the APEX EXPO 2026 technical conference on using heterogeneous integration (HI) as a strategy and on how advanced packaging technology serves as the technical apex for implementing that strategy. Mahajan’s previous papers and industry presentations on such topics as interconnect density, signal integrity, power delivery, thermal path, and assembly yield as system-level constraints confirm him as an expert on package optimization.
More Than a Field Trip: Young Students Step into the World of Electronics and Semiconductors
05/13/2026 | Michigan Tech Electronics HubThe energy is electric at Michigan Technological University as 164 fourth graders from Michigan’s western Upper Peninsula trade their traditional desks for a day of high-tech exploration. The students are here to pilot Stories & Semiconductors, a new educational series. By following the adventures of characters who solve problems through electronics, young students don’t just read about technology; they build it themselves.
I-Connect007 Announces Upcoming Issue of Advanced Electronics Packaging Digest
05/13/2026 | I-Connect007The next issue of Advanced Electronics Packaging Digest examines the materials, architectures, and integration strategies shaping the next phase of electronics innovation, from reinforcement materials under thermal and frequency pressure to heterogeneous integration and advanced packaging as a system-level scaling factor.
A Necessary Shift From Gerber to IPC-2581
05/07/2026 | Tracy Riggan, Global Electronics AssociationIPC-2581 is an open, vendor-neutral data exchange standard developed by the Global Electronics Association to streamline the exchange of PCB design information across fabrication, assembly, and test. It replaces multiple legacy formats—including industry standards, Gerber, and ODB++—with a single, comprehensive, XML-based dataset that captures all manufacturing details.
Meet Emerging Engineers: Patrick Owen and Eric Mickenbecker, Summit Interconnect
05/05/2026 | Michelle Te, I-Connect007Patrick Owen and Eric Mickenbecker both work for Summit Interconnect, and are in their second year of the Global Electronics Association’s Emerging Engineer Program with mentor Brian Chislea. They stopped by the I-Connect007 booth at APEX EXPO and shared a bit of their story with me. Patrick has worked at the Hollister, California, plant since 2018, while Eric has been at the Chicago site since 2023. Like many of their peers, they came to the electronics industry from different paths, but are both excited about making an impact.