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March Madness
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.
From Silos to Systems: 2026 and Beyond
Welcome to the debut issue of I-Connect007 Magazine. This publication brings all of the pieces together from PCB design and fabrication for a closer alignment and a more integrated electronics manufacturing landscape.
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Trace Currents and Temperature, Part 4: Via Heat
Part 1 this series discussed the role of resistance and then formulated a basic model for analysis. Part 2 explored various results that were empirically obtained. Part 3 explored how to use the melting temperature of a trace to our advantage. In this fourth and final part of the series, I examine a way to deal with vias.
Recall the model developed in Part 1. I hypothesized that trace heating was a function of the i2R power dissipated in the trace, and trace cooling was a function of surface area. Perhaps these same fundamental principles can be applied to vias when looking at their current-carrying capacities.Read the full article here.This column originally appeared in the March 2013 issue of The PCB Design Magazine.
More Columns from Brooks' Bits
Brooks' Bits: Internal Trace Temperatures—More Complicated Than You ThinkBrooks' Bits: Electromagnetic Fields, Part 3 - How They Impact Coupling
Brooks' Bits: Electromagnetic Fields, Part 2: How They Impact Propagation Speed
Brooks' Bits: How Electromagnetic Fields Determine Impedance, Part 1
Trace Currents and Temperature, Part 3: Fusing Currents
Trace Currents and Temperature, Part 1: The Basic Model
The Skinny on Skin Effect, Part 3: Crossover Frequency
Brooks' Bits: The Skinny on Skin Effect, Part 2