PCB Chat

PCB Chat 129: Electronics Design Market Update with Wally Rhines

Electronic System Design (ESD) industry revenue increased 14% to $4.4 billion in the fourth quarter 2023, with printed circuit board design software leading the way, up 21% for the period. 

Wally Rhines, executive sponsor of the SEMI Electronic Design Market Data report, gives his quarterly update on the state of the electronics design software market.

PCB Chat 128: The Latest HDP Consortium Projects

The High-Density Packaging User Group, the nonprofit consortium of electronics manufacturers and suppliers that collaborate on various technical problems in order to reduce cost and time to market, has nearly 25 projects underway, several of which are due to be completed this year.

We spoke this month with Madan Jagernauth, marketing director and project facilitator of HDP, about their current research on lead-free solder alloys, the recent conference Best Papers, and whether the consortium members are ready to tackle artificial intelligence.

RM 139: Environmentally Responsible Alternatives to Traditional PCB Fabrication

Today, we delve into an increasingly critical aspect of technology and electronics manufacturing - the pursuit of environmentally responsible electronics manufacturing. Our industry has witnessed many environmental revolutions. 

The elimination of popular cleaning solvents brought on by the Montreal Protocol in 1989, soon followed by strict VOC regulations pertaining to cleaning chemicals.

The switch from lead-based solders to lead-free alloys, led by the Restriction of Hazardous Substances Directive, known as RoHS, implemented within the EU in 2003 and adopted nearly worldwide, regulations regarding the disposal of electronic waste (e-waste) resulting in many countries mandating regulations and programs for the safe recycling and disposal of electronic products, and more.

These regulations and others have inspired some companies to seek eco-friendly alternatives to traditional printed circuit board (PCB) fabrication. 

The combination of numerous environmental regulations has resulted in many companies’ implementation of sustainability programs.

As our world becomes more connected, the demand for electronic devices continues to rise, and with it, the importance of mitigating the environmental impact of their production.

On this episode of The Reliability Matters Podcast, Mike Konrad speaks with Mark S. Edwards. Mark wrote an article entitled “Environmentally Responsible Alternatives to Traditional PCB Fabrication.” 

He works as a strategic account manager within MacDermid Alpha Electronics Solutions, on the global Business Development team for Circuitry Solutions. Mark has been involved in electronics manufacturing since the late 1980s and brings a passion for process automation, circuit assembly, solders/fluxes, adhesives, coatings and PCB fabrication – all with a focus on repeatability and reliability. 

Edwards holds a B.S. degree in mechanical engineering technology from Oklahoma State University and began his career at a defense electronics company in Dallas, Texas, that was later acquired by Raytheon. 

He has uncovered trends and synthesized customer needs for electronic hardware in the telecommunications, defense, automotive, industrial controls segments in the Americas, and now globally, in his newest role.

 

Chapters:

00:00:00 - The Pursuit of Environmentally Responsible Electronics Manufacturing

00:02:23 - Uncovering Trends in Electronic Hardware

00:04:56 - Circuit Board Fabrication and Environmental Responsibility

00:07:25 - The Changing Priorities of the Manufacturing Industry

00:09:40 - Green Alternatives to Traditional Circuit Boards

00:11:59 - Sustainable Alternatives to PCB Fabrication

00:14:21 - Fabrication Performance and Reliability

00:16:43 - Green PCB Fabrication Challenges and Obstacles

00:18:58 - The Challenges of Adopting Greener Solutions

00:21:22 - Environmental Sustainability in the Supply Chain

00:23:43 - Environmental Impact of PCB Fabrication Methods

00:28:20 - The Disappointment of EV 85 Fuel

00:31:07 - The Cost Implication of Going Green

00:33:31 - Recycling and the Circular Economy

00:35:55 - Recycling Circuit Boards and Extracting Precious Metals

00:38:15 - Simplifying the PCB Fabrication Process

00:40:40 - The Importance of Standards and Regulations in the Electronics Industry

00:42:54 - Demand for Environmental Responsibility in PCB Fabrication

00:45:10 - The Importance of Sustainability in the Supply Chain

00:47:20 - The Importance of Sustainability in Circuit Assembly

00:49:49 - Environmental Impact of Board Fabrication

00:52:02 - The Green Movement in Business

 

 

PCB Chat 127: Matthias Wagner on AI-Based PCB Design Tools

Matthias Wagner is chief executive and cofounder of Flux, a developer of a browser-based PCB design platform and programmable simulator.

When spoke with Matthias last spring, the company was introducing Flux Copilot, an AI-powered hardware design assistant. Flux Copilot uses a large language model that the company’s engineers trained and integrated into its design tool.

Flux recently added vision capability to its signature tool, whereby users can upload photos of images such as block diagrams to CoPilot and it can recommend parts for their design.

This week, we talk about those advances, some real-use cases Flux is seeing, the Renesas-Altium merger, and more. 

RM 138: Hand Soldering and Rework Best Practices

Today we're diving deep into the world of precision and craftsmanship—two crucial elements in the realm of hand soldering and rework of circuit assemblies.

Whether you're a seasoned electronics enthusiast, a hobbyist, or just someone with a curious mind, this episode promises to demystify the art and science behind hand soldering and rework. We'll be exploring the latest tools, techniques, and trends that define this intricate process, shedding light on the unsung heroes who meticulously bring circuit assemblies to life, or in the case of rework, back to life.

There is archaeological evidence that soldering was employed as early as 5,000 years ago in Mesopotamia. Soldering and brazing are thought to have originated very early in the history of metal-working, before 4,000 BC. Sumerian swords from 3,000 BC were assembled using hard soldering techniques.

While soldering applications have morphed and expanded over the centuries, the basic “rules” of soldering have not. On this episode, we’re going to talk about an obvious soldering application, at least to my audience, and that’s soldering of electronic assemblies.

From the evolution of hand soldering with numerous technological advancements to the challenges faced by DIYers and professionals alike, we've got it all covered, thanks to Mike Konrad's subject matter expert guest, Debbie Wade. 

Wade is managing director of ART A-R-T, Advanced Rework Technology, a fully independent training organization, which has been presenting various training courses for over 30 years. She has been in the electronics industry for over 20 years with the last 15 of those years at Advanced Rework Technology. 

Wade comes to us well-credentialed. She chairs the IPC-A-620 Training Committee and IPC European Training Committee, and with her Master IPC Trainer status for IPC-A 600, 610, 620, 7711/21 and J-STD 001 is an expert in the field of fabrication, assembly, process and acceptance of board and cable assemblies. 

She has been presented with numerous awards from IPC in recognition of her contribution to IPC standards and training courses.

So, grab your soldering iron (metaphorically speaking), get ready to dive into the flux, and join us as we unravel the secrets of successful hand soldering and rework. Stick around for valuable insights, practical tips, and maybe even a few stories from the trenches of hand soldering and re-work.

Chapters:

00:00:00 - The Art and Science of Hand Soldering and Rework

00:03:01 - The Unique Art of Hand Soldering, Featuring Debbie Wade

00:06:30 - The History of Advanced Rework Technology (ART)

00:09:57 - The Impact of IPC Certification on Careers and Companies

00:13:14 - Investing in the Right Equipment for Soldering and Rework

00:16:22 - Controlling Heat in Soldering

00:19:24 - Creating the Heat Bridge

00:22:29 - Challenges in Soldering Electronic Components

00:25:39 - The Dangers of Using Soldering Guns for Electronics

00:28:32 - Common Mistakes in Hand Soldering

00:31:42 - The Importance of Flux in Soldering

00:34:38 - Proper Flux Application and Potential Issues

00:37:35 - The Problem of Flux Buildup on Test Points

00:40:50 - Appearance vs Function in Solder Joints

00:43:42 - Choosing the Right Soldering Iron

00:46:55 - Safety Precautions in Hand Soldering

00:49:50 - Appearance and Plating Issues

00:52:48 - Inspecting Different Classes of Products

00:55:39 - The importance of human control in machine programming

00:58:45 - Bespoke courses and certifications for inspectors

01:02:01 - The Importance of Proper Component Selection and Soldering

01:05:09 - Differences in Soldering Dummy Parts

01:08:04 - The Art of Hand Soldering

01:10:55 - The Importance of Reliability

RM 137: Building a Sustainable Career with a Sustainable Impact

Today, we delve into the crucial aspects of maintaining well-being on this journey — how to sidestep the notorious burnout, and perhaps more importantly, how to fuel and maintain your motivation. Because, let's face it, the road to creating a meaningful impact can be demanding, and it's essential to navigate it with resilience and purpose.

Join Mike Konrad for a conversation with Rick Coulson. Rick recently retired from a 34-year career at Intel, most recently as senior fellow in the Intel Optane Group. 

Coulson is a passionate advocate for career sustainability and for servant leadership. He was awarded the Intel Achievement Award four times for his team's work on storage subsystems and SSD technology. He holds more than 90 patents.

Coulson has a bachelor's in electrical engineering and computer science from the University of Colorado and a master's in electrical engineering from Stanford. He is currently a board member at Co-Serve International, a nonprofit dedicated to teaching Servant Leadership around the world. With Co-Serve he has been to Kazakhstan eight times. He’s on the advisory board of Vooks, a company which produces award-winning books that are loved by parents and educators alike, and he’s part of an additional stealth mode startup (sounds mysterious). He enjoys mentoring and coaching.

PCB Chat 127: David Schild on US Strategy for Supply Chain Readiness

We welcome back one of our favorite guests, David Schild, the executive director of the Printed Circuit Board Association of America. PCBAA was founded about three years ago to advance US domestic production of PCBs and base materials. The organization is made up of corporate members of all sizes, and includes fabricators, assemblers and suppliers.

Schild brings us up to date on the US Department of Defense's National Defense Industrial Strategy, how industrial production is tied to military readiness; the House Select Committee on the Strategic Competition Between the United States and the Chinese Communist Party's December 2023 report on how to staunch the flow of IP offshore and rekindle tech leadership and economic resilience; and whether the US government plans to get into the manufacturing business.

PCB Chat 126: Andrew Scheuermann on AI in Electronics

Artificial intelligence is perhaps the most discussed – and least understood – topic in technology today.

We in electronics design and manufacturing know, of course, that automation is part and parcel of what we do. But while the landscape has changed, be it the transition from mechanical drawings to CAD tools with their autorouters, or from manual and semi-automatic printers and placement machines to lights-out factories where cobots have replaced operators, the industry still has a long, long way to go in terms of widespread implementation of AI, or even understanding what it all means.

Andrew Scheuermann joins Mike Buetow to share some perspective on this emerging technology. Scheuermann, along with his business partner Tim Burke, is cofounder and CEO of Arch Systems, a Silicon Valley-based developer of software tools that collect raw machine data and use predictive analytics to calculate manufacturing key performance indicators, or KPIs.

Scheuermann has published numerous scientific papers in the areas of semiconductors, electronics manufacturing, and renewable energy. He has a Ph.D. in Materials Science from Stanford, and is also part of StartX, a startup accelerator for company founders who are affiliated with Stanford that has invested over $200 million across various companies, including 13 now valued over $1 billion. 

RM 136: Environmentally Responsible/Sustainable Conformal Coating

Reliability Matters covered the topic of ultrathin conformal coatings back in November. We covered various conformal coating materials from traditional acrylics and silicones to ultrathin parylene coatings. What other coating materials are available? Where do these types of coatings fit within specific applications? Where do health and safety, environmental concerns, and sustainability programs fit in with a coating process?

To answer these other questions, Dr. Cassandra Zentner, VP of Health and environment at Actnano, a manufacturer of coating materials, talks with Reliability Matters host Mike Konrad.

Dr. Zentner earned a BA from Oberlin College and a Ph.D. in organic materials chemistry from MIT.

PCB Chat 125: Manny Marcano on Spinoff of Accelerated Designs

EMA Design Automation has for years been the exclusive distributor of OrCAD Cadence in North America. Through acquisitions and internal development, EMA now has a series of its own software products for library management, component supply chain data. And this year EMA announced it would spin off those CAD-agnostic products into a new subsidiary called Accelerated Designs.

EMA president and founder Manny Marcano joins Mike Buetow to break down the thinking behind the new company, its products, management and distribution agreement, and gives his take on Cadence's thoughts.