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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.
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.
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Doug Brooks Webinar: Thermal Conductivity of PCB Dielectric Materials
January 6, 2016 | I-Connect007Estimated reading time: 1 minute
Veteran PCB design instructor Doug Brooks will be teaching a webinar at 1 pm on January 14, 2014. This webinar, scheduled for 1 pm Eastern, will be a discussion of the importance of thermal conductivity data to PCB design, along with an example of a problem in which direct measurement of thermal conductivity explains an apparent inconsistency between measured empirical data and theoretical modelling.
PCBs are ubiquitous in modern technology. For those traces that will carry a significant current, it is important to size the trace correctly in order to control the temperature of the trace. Too small a trace can result in excessive temperature (reliability is directly related to trace temperature) while too large a trace can waste valuable board area.
Increasingly, PCB designers are looking to computer thermal modelling and simulation to optimize trace size. Imperative to the construction of an accurate simulation model is accurate thermal conductivity data, which can vary for PCB materials from manufacturer to manufacturer and in some cases even from batch to batch.
Brooks is the founder of the design bureau UltraCAD Design, and he is the author of and design bureau owner of "Signal Integrity Issues and Printed Circuit Board Design" and "PCB Currents: How They Flow, How They React."
For more information, or to register, click here.
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Dragonfly Energy Secures Additional Nevada Tech Hub Funding
05/07/2026 | Globe NewswireDragonfly Energy Holdings Corp., an industry leader in energy storage and maker of Battle Born Batteries®, announced it has been selected for a second consecutive round of funding through the Nevada Tech Hub.
Designing Without a Rulebook: When Engineering Becomes Innovation
05/05/2026 | Stephen V. Chavez, Siemens EDAWhat if the very rules that made you successful as a PCB designer are the ones now holding you back? This reminds me of walking the floor and attending sessions at both PCB West 2025 and APEX EXPO 2026, where one common theme stood out: More designs with traditional PCB “best practices” simply don’t apply. It’s not because they’re wrong, but because the problems we’re solving have fundamentally changed. In some cases, those best practices can actually limit performance. This is where PCB design moves beyond optimization and into something far more challenging: designing without a rulebook.
Custom LIDAR Optics Support Mission-Critical Performance
05/05/2026 | PRNewswireMeller Optics, Inc. has introduced custom fabricated LIDAR optics that can be engineered for specific UV to IR transmission requirements featured in airborne, ground, and maritime defense systems.
Trouble in Your Tank: In Complex Systems, Design Rules Aren’t Optional
05/06/2026 | Michael Carano -- Column: Trouble in Your TankThere is no question that the electronics industry, especially in circuit board design and fabrication, advanced packaging, and innovation throughout the value chain, has seen a significant transformation, whether it be in materials, system architecture, HDI and ultra HDI, semiconductors, or chiplets. AI and high-performance computing (HPC) are driving change across several fronts, including material properties, assembly techniques (think hybrid bonding), and power management.
EMI Strengthens Test Capability with Acculogic Flying Probe System
05/04/2026 | Express Manufacturing, Inc.Express Manufacturing, Inc. (EMI), a global electronics manufacturing services (EMS) provider, has added the Acculogic Scorpion 980E Flying Probe Test System to its inspection and test operations, giving the company greater flexibility in how it validates and supports today’s increasingly complex electronics.