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New Supply Chain Management Products
March 15, 2010 |Estimated reading time: 7 minutes
— These online and software supply chain assistance products are designed to enable faster prototype builds, add security to the bill of materials (BOM) for a job, and make locating components easier for SMT assemblers. They simplify requests for quotes (RFQ) and enable reverse engineering of obsolete parts despite missing data.Online EMI, Thermal Management, and Wireless M2M Stock Locator
This online stock locator system for EMI, thermal management, and wireless M2M product lines provides Laird Technologies’ customers an electronic platform to directly access qualified distributors and their available inventory through the Lairdtech.com Website. This launch completes the integration of the entire Laird Technologies standard product portfolio inventory into the online stock locator system. Users can view EMI and thermal management product inventory and order directly from the distributors, using a single destination to search the EMI, thermal management, and wireless M2M inventory of several select distributors at the same time. The system can identify all Laird Technologies products based on partial or entire part numbers, as well as by global region of availability. Results from the part number search offer customers several simple options from requesting a quote to, in some cases, purchasing the product online from the distributors that best fits their needs. The browser-based interface is accessible at Lairdtech.com in the Standard Products Categories section. The stock locator is also accessible through the Product level pages of the site, including the EMI Solutions, Thermal Management, and Wireless M2M & Telematics sections of the Website. Laird Technologies, http://www.lairdtech.com
Software Aides Designers to Select Proper Power Supply Capacitors
The free SpiCalci Software guides designers to select the proper switch mode power supply (SMPS) capacitor to match application requirements. The upgraded SpiCalci 5.0 SMPS software incorporates AVX's newest capacitor technologies, including TurboCap, the rugged MH Series, and the expanded MIL PRF 49470 product offering. In addition, the software allows the user to select critical parameters, build a part number, and view charts such as ESR, impedance versus frequency, temperature change versus applied current, and maximum current over frequency. AVX’s SMPS capacitors suit filtering capacitors on the input and output of power supplies or as snubber capacitors. The SpiCalci 5.0 software ensures customers select the appropriate capacitor and performance characteristics for their application. It helps designers select the appropriate value of capacitor to meet the demands of their individual application. AVX Corporation, www.avx.com
Development Tool Selection Service
Digi-Key Tools Xpress provides embedded design engineers with a worldwide sales and distribution network for development tools. The development tool program gives engineers the capability to compare tools based on features and performance before making a purchase. This comparison capability was developed by Embedded Developer and is modeled after its signature device-compare process. Additionally, the Digi-Key Tools Xpress program provides embedded engineers with more purchasing options from Digi-Key's offering of embedded development tools. Engineers can minimize research time concerning tool options and availability and maximize design efficiency. Having access to the broadest array of development tools, emulators, debuggers and evaluation kits is critical to the design engineering community. The primary objective of the Digi-Key Tools Xpress program is to search out those innovative third parties. This program offers engineers the ability to find, compare and purchase tools available for immediate shipment. Digi-Key Corporation, www.digikey.com and Embedded Developer LLC, jointly owned and operated by Hearst Electronic Group and Convergence Promotions, www.EmbeddedDeveloper.com
Authorized Reverse Engineering Services
To re-create, manufacture, and distribute pin-for-pin replacement parts with matched cycle for cycle timing for aftermarket semiconductor devices, Rochester Semiconductor Replication Process (SRP), delivers the same specifications and performance characteristics as the original products. Rochester engineers deconstruct and electrically analyze the semiconductor device, re-design the part using scope and scanning electron microscope (SEM) images, and re-engineer it onto a matched mature foundry process to replicate the original components. Even when the IP and design archives are no longer available, Rochester’s design engineers can build the semiconductor component from scratch. In some cases, Rochester engineers can add capabilities and technologies to the semiconductor device to make it RoHS compliant or achieve commercial-to-military upgrades, radiation-hardened level enhancements, higher-temperature tolerances, and other performance improvements. The re-creation and manufacturing of semiconductor devices provided by Rochester is authorized by the original manufacturer. The modern-day semiconductor foundries support a tighter process window than was originally achieved resulting in a more consistent high-quality, high performance semiconductor. Rochester has reversed-engineered processors, ASICS, coprocessors, controllers, memory, Op Amps, logic and linear semiconductors with voltages ranging from 3 to 100 V and line widths as small as 0.18 µm. Recently re-created devices include several ASICS, Texas Instruments TMS32044 DSP, and Intel’s IXF1002 Dual Port gigabit Ethernet controller. These devices have provided a reliable continuous supply of end-of-life semiconductors to the aerospace, telecomm, military and medical industries. Rochester Electronics, www.rocelec.com
PCB Fab Service
In addition to PCB assembly, the Screaming Circuits Website allows engineers to quote and order PCBs, made by Sunstone Circuits, at the same time. PCB fabrication and assembly go hand-in-hand. With the combined online fab and assembly quote and order process, design engineers can get both at once with no additional cost or time delays. The Screaming Circuits Website allows quoting and ordering of just assembly or assembly with PCB fabrication. This is enabled by partnership with Sunstone Circuits and the Circuit Design ECOsystem. Screaming Circuits, www.screamingcircuits.com and Sunstone Circuits, www.sunstone.com
Flex Circuit Prototypes Web Portal
A new online circuit prototype service offers customers a rapid turnaround service to order prototype quantities of single-sided flexible printed circuits on polyester films. Customers can access this service via the simple user interface at www.InkJetFlex.com, upload files directly to the print queue and pay using all major credit cards via PayPal. Conductive Inkjet Technology (CIT) formed the InkJetFlex.com manufacturing service to give customers easy access to its digital roll-to-roll circuit printing facility, targeting new product design engineers where turnaround time and cost are key requirements. At a price point of around $40 per square foot of prototype circuit the service provides a design engineer with the ability to try out new circuit designs rapidly with minimum effort and approvals. The developer can progress designs with the knowledge that the exact same manufacturing process can be used for subsequent high-volume product launch. Conductive Inkjet Technology Ltd, www.inkjetflex.com and www.conductiveinkjet.com
Quick Turn Offering for Flex and Rigid Flex
Epec Engineered Technologies is now delivering quickturn flex and rigid-flex PCBs. With expanded manufacturing capabilities, Epec is now providing seven-day flex and rigid flex PCBs. The seven and ten day quickturn fabrication is also supported by Epec’s in-house circuit design and engineering team. Epec Engineered Technologies, http://www.epectec.com/flex/index.html
Secure Data Upload
Replacing its customer FTP data transfer process with a Web-based data transfer page using 256-bit VeriSign Security. Circuit Express’s secure data upload encrypts customer data during transmission. Although FTP is a good method of transmitting data, HTTP upload with 256-bit data encryption is the best commercial method available. FTP’s biggest vulnerability is that it leaves customer’s data on Web servers until it is downloaded and deleted by the Customer Service team. The new Secure Data Upload site transfers data directly to servers within the company’s security protocol. Maximum upload file size is 50 megabytes (MB). The new system allows all customers to transfer data to Circuit Express without FTP software or changes to Web browser settings. CEI Customer Service will receive immediate automated notification that data has been received with accompanying quote instructions rather than customers having to first transfer data then email instructions separately. Customers will first go to www.circuitexpress.com/ceidata and enter their name, company name, email address, phone number, part number and revision level for the part number they are uploading. Quantity, Delivery, and Special Instructions are optional fields that enable the Customer Service team to respond to RFQs with the fastest quote return time possible. An upload status indicator in green text will notify the customer when the upload has completed. To get quotes returned to customers within one hour requires getting RFQs in the hands of quoters as quickly as possible and the new upload site makes this possible. Circuit Express Inc., www.circuitexpress.com
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