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Beyond the Rulebook
What happens when the rule book is no longer useful, or worse, was never written in the first place? In today’s fast-moving electronics landscape, we’re increasingly asked to design and build what has no precedent, no proven path, and no tidy checklist to follow. This is where “Design for Invention” begins.
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From the growing role of AI in design tools to the challenge of managing cumulative tolerances, these articles in this issue examine the technical details, design choices, and manufacturing considerations that determine whether a board works as intended.
Looking Forward to APEX EXPO 2026
I-Connect007 Magazine previews APEX EXPO 2026, covering everything from the show floor to the technical conference. For PCB designers, we move past the dreaded auto-router and spotlight AI design tools that actually matter.
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Comparing Apples to Apples
by Sandra Ruroede
Recently, I went to a store to try on wedding dresses. I tried on eight dresses that were all the same size. Of the eight dresses, six fit and the other two did not. In fact, I would say that one of the dresses was approximately two "sizes" too small, yet the size on the tag was identical to the other seven dresses. The sales associate explained that wedding dresses tend to run smaller than regular clothes. Hmmm. That didn't explain why two of the dresses didn't fit while the other six did. And it brought up another question: Why are there no standard clothes sizes?
Why do wedding dresses "tend to run smaller"? Smaller than what? If there are no industry-accepted standards, how can the customer shop in a time-effective and cost-effective manner?
Why do I bring up clothes standards in an electronics magazine? Simple: Right now there are no accepted industry standards for placement machines, reflow ovens, inspection machines, etc. Customers are not obtaining all of the information needed to make educated decisions. And most customers pay a lot more for SMT capital equipment than they do for clothing.
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More Columns from Various Archived Columns
Slash Sheet Chaos: Is What You See, What You Get?Moisture in Materials: Avoiding Process Gremlins
Material Witness: Beat the Heat--A Non-Math Intro to Thermal Properties
Material Witness: Considerations in Using TC Materials for PWBs
Material Witness: Are Your Materials Up to the Challenge?
Material Witness: Thermal Oxidation of Materials, Part I
Material Witness: Thermal Oxidation of Materials, Part II
Material Witness: R.I.P. Speedboard C