Recorded conversations and interviews on electronics design and manufacturing with the editors of PCD&F/Circuits Assembly, brought to you by the Printed Circuit Engineering Association (PCEA)
Episodes
Friday Jan 12, 2024
Friday Jan 12, 2024
Printed circuit board and multichip module design software revenue soared 24% year-over-year to a record $426 million in the third quarter 2023, according to the ESD Alliance's latest Electronic Design Market Data (EDMD) report.
ESD Alliance spokesperson Wally Rhines joins Mike Buetow to explain the latest data trends.
Tuesday Jan 09, 2024
Tuesday Jan 09, 2024
In today's increasingly connected and digital world, PCBs are the unsung heroes that power our devices, from smartphones to spacecraft. Yet, the art and science of designing these crucial components often go unnoticed. That’s where this episode comes in.
Today, we shine a spotlight on the critical role PCBs play in modern technology and explore the best practices that drive innovation and reliability.
In this episode, Mike Konrad tries to unravel the mysteries of PCB design, tackle complex challenges, and unlock the secrets to creating high-performance, efficient, and reliable circuit boards. Whether you're a seasoned PCB designer looking to sharpen your skills, a budding engineer eager to learn the ropes, or simply a tech enthusiast curious about the technology that shapes our lives, this episode has something for everyone.
He is joined by Dr. Zach Peterson. Zach is a well-known researcher and electronics designer. In 2017, he founded Northwest Engineering Solutions as a technology consultancy and has since grown the company into an innovative design and manufacturing house for advanced electronic products.
He conducted his Applied Physics Ph.D. research in ZnO random laser theory and stability and his M.Sc. Physics research in chemisorptive sensors for environmental monitoring at Portland State University. He also received his MBA (Leadership & Finance) from Adams State University. His work has been published in over a dozen peer-reviewed journals and conference proceedings, and he has written 2500+ technical articles on PCB design for a number of companies.
He is a member of IEEE Photonics Society, IEEE Electronics Packaging Society, American Physical Society, and the Printed Circuit Engineering Association (PCEA). He previously served as a voting member on the INCITS Quantum Computing Technical Advisory Committee working on technical standards for quantum electronics, and he currently serves on the IEEE P31-86 Working Group focused on Port Interface Representing Photonic Signals Using SPICE-class Circuit Simulators.
He will speak on Signal Integrity in Thin PCB Materials and IC Substrates at PCB East in June.
Tuesday Dec 26, 2023
Tuesday Dec 26, 2023
Episode 134 - 2023 Podcast Season Wrap-Up
On this episode, I have no guests as this is the final episode of the Reliability Matters Podcast for the 2023 season. Instead, let's review what happened on the podcast this year. A special thanks to my guests and listeners/viewers for making this podcast so successful.
Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction to Reliability Matters Podcast
00:00:12 - The Electronic Assembly Industry Techniques
00:00:26 - Review of the 2023 Season
00:00:43 - Liquid Metal in Electronic Circuits
00:00:56 - Instant Solidification of Liquid Metal
00:01:14 - Counterfeit Component Detection
00:01:31 - Making Sense of Big Data in the Electronic Assembly Space
00:01:49 - IPC Apex Expo: Supply Chain Challenges
00:02:07 - Circuit Assembly Failures and Big Data Analysis
00:02:22 - Interview with David Raby on High Liability Contract Manufacturing
00:02:37 - Training for Effective and Entertaining Reliability
00:02:53 - "Fire Your Hiring Habits" with President and CEO of IPC
00:03:08 - Introduction to Highly Accelerated Life Testing
00:03:25 - 3,600 Mile Solo Kayak Journey Down the Missouri River
00:03:42 - Moisture Mitigation Best Practices
00:03:59 - Life as a Technical Consultant
00:04:14 - Network Reliability and Cybersecurity Threats
00:04:30 - Innovative Approaches to Education and Industry Icons
00:04:46 - Conformal Coating Materials with Lisa Rizzo
00:05:01 - Introduction to Wireless Wearable ESD Monitoring Device
00:05:16 - The Reliability of Circuit Assemblies
00:05:32 - Reliability of Circuit Assemblies and Emerging Technologies
00:05:47 - Increasing Challenges in Electronics Engineering
00:05:59 - The Silver Tsunami and Retirement
00:06:31 - Motivation for Starting the Podcast
00:06:45 - Gratitude for Support and Encouragement
00:06:59 - Gratitude for the Subject Matter Experts
07:13:00 - Acknowledging EMS Industry Experts
00:07:27 - Subscribe to the Podcast or YouTube Channel
00:07:39 - Release Schedule
00:07:55 - PCB Chat and Accendo Reliability
00:08:11 - Suggestions and Contact Information
00:08:26 - Wishing You a Joyous Holiday Season
Tuesday Dec 12, 2023
Tuesday Dec 12, 2023
We are all aware of the damage electrostatic discharge can wreak on components and electronic products. We mitigate ESD damage through various forms of monitoring. We wear wrist and heel straps, stand on ESD-safe flooring, utilize ESD workstations, and more. We even have ESD testing locations that will test a human standing on a specialized testing station. But what happens the moment that person steps off the tester?
My guests today are Dr. Daan Stevenson and Dr. Jonathan Tapson of IONA Tech, a manufacturer of a novel wearable ESD monitoring device that provides constant real-time ESD monitoring.
Normally, we don’t talk about specific products on the show. We usually limit our conversations to best practices. This is a bit of an exception to rule. From time to time, a product is introduced that is so novel, it's worthy of a conversation. And that’s the case here.
Dr. Daan Stevenson is chief executive officer of IONA Tech. Dr. Stevenson has a background in mechanical and aerospace engineering. During his doctoral research, he studied the high voltage charging of spacecraft, which are electrical capacitors in the same way that the human body is. While working to design an automated ground station for UAVs, he frequently damaged electrical components from electrostatic shocks. This motivated the creation of IONA Tech, with the goal of advancing technology in ESD mitigation.
Our other guest is Dr. Jonathan Tapson, chief technology officer of IONA Tech. Dr. Tapson was professor of electrical engineering at Western Sydney University before moving to Colorado in 2016. He spent his early career conducting sensor and instrumentation research, with a strong industrial focus. During this time he spun out three companies from his research, all of which are successful today. His specialties include low-noise circuits and systems design, mechatronic design and the integration of machine learning into real-time systems.
Wednesday Dec 06, 2023
Wednesday Dec 06, 2023
David Schild is executive director of the Printed Circuit Board Association of America. PCBAA was founded in 2021 to advance US domestic production of PCBs and base materials.
We discuss major investment announcements by US PCB companies, industry funding from the Defense Appropriations Subcommittee, the need for intense engagement at every level of government, and the latest on the Protecting Printed Circuit Boards and Substrates Act of 2023.
Tuesday Dec 05, 2023
Tuesday Dec 05, 2023
Robert Feranec is a hardware designer with over 20 years’ experience in the electronics industry, and specializes in PCB design, signal integrity and high-speed digital design. In addition, he is also a self-described passionate content creator on YouTube, where he has developed a large series of help-guides for PCB design and electronics engineering. His company, FEDEVEL Academy, also provides courses on electronics design.
We talk about autorouting, simulation tools and teaching board design concepts on this edition of PCB Chat.
Wednesday Nov 29, 2023
Wednesday Nov 29, 2023
Today we’ll dive deep into the world of conformal coating. More and more assemblies are being subjected to conformal coating to protect the assembly from harsh environments. What’s leading the drive to conformal coat electronics assemblies? What types of conformal coating options are available? What are the advantages and disadvantages of each type?
For circuit assemblies, the protective embrace of conformal coatings ensures reliability, longevity, and performance. As technologies advance, so does the demand for innovative solutions to safeguard our electronic products.
Whether you're a seasoned industry professional, a curious tech enthusiast, or just someone who's new to the world of conformal coatings, this episode is your go-to source for in-depth information on the growing trend of applying conformal coating to circuit assemblies.
So, join us as we peel back the layers, and immerse ourselves in the world of electronics protection, and learn how conformal coatings play a pivotal role in keeping our devices humming, even in the harshest environments.
To better understand conformal coating, I invited Lisa Rizzo to the show. Rizzo is Senior Director of Strategy & Emerging Applications at HZO. HZO is a global leader and innovator in protective solutions that, according to them, “keep the world running.”
They provide products to markets including consumer electronics as well as high-reliability markets including automotive, industrial, medical, and IoT to deliver a more resilient, reliable, and durable level of protection. HZO specializes in nanocoating solutions that safeguard electronics, electrical products & critical applications in an ever-changing market.
Tuesday Nov 21, 2023
Tuesday Nov 21, 2023
We are all aware of the supply chain issues our industry has faced. Beginning with electronic components, it has spread to so many other types of parts are industry relies on. Fortunately, it looks like we are beginning to come out the other end of the supply chain shortage. But the supply chain problems have further spread to the labor market. If you are in a position to hire people for your company, you know firsthand how difficult that process can be today.
Adding to the level of labor acquisition difficulties is the great “Silver Tsunami,” otherwise known as the great retirement. As mentioned on Reliability Matters episode 130, the fact is, Baby Boomers are entering retirement in greater numbers. According to government data, from now until 2030, 10,000 boomers will hit retirement age each day. Millions will begin to officially retire. Some of these retirees are designated subject matter experts within their companies. Not only are people retiring, they are taking with them a vault of valuable knowledge.
This has created an even larger demand for consultants within our industry. I’ve had several industry consultants on my show over the last few years, including today’s guest: legendary industry consultant, Bob Willis. If you’ve been in this industry longer than 18 seconds, there’s a good chance you’ve at least heard his name. If you’ve been in this industry for virtually any length of time, there’s a good chance you’ve seen his videos, read his books, or watched him present at numerous industry conferences and symposiums. If I reviewed Bob’s complete professional biography, it would take an entire episode.
During our conversation, we discussed Bob's newest book, Robotic Soldering Inspection and Defect Guide. Anyone who makes a donation to Bob's chosen charity will receive a download of his book as well as access to Bob's complete book collection:
- Robotic Soldering Inspection and Defect Guide
- Pin in Hole Intrusive Reflow Desing
- Assembly & Defect Guide Package
- On Package Assembly Inspection & Quality Control
- Solder Paste Print Inspection & Defect Guide
- Lead-Free Defect Guide 3
- Conformal Coating Inspection & Defect Guide
- QFN LGA Assembly Inspection & Defect Guide
- PCB Surface Finishes Inspection & Defect Guide
- Cleaning & Contamination Defect Guide
Click the following link for more information: https://www.justgiving.com/page/bob-willis-roboticsolderingbook
Friday Nov 03, 2023
Friday Nov 03, 2023
Printed circuit board and multichip module design software revenue increased 6.3% in the second quarter to total $369 million, according to the ESD Alliance's latest Electronic Design Market Data (EDMD) report. The four-quarter moving average for PCB and MCM, which compares the most recent four quarters to the prior four, rose 11.7%.
As a whole, ESD industry revenue increased 5.3% to $3.96 billion in the second quarter from $3.76 billion in the second quarter of 2022. The four-quarter moving average rose 9.5%.
Wally Rhines joins Mike Buetow to explain the latest data trends.
Thursday Oct 26, 2023
Thursday Oct 26, 2023
Baby Boomers are entering retirement in greater numbers. From now until 2030, 10,000 Boomers each day will hit retirement age. Millions will begin to officially retire. This is creating a terrific opportunity for young college graduates to enter our industry.
Several years ago, I was a speaker at the SMTA, Pan Pacific Strategic Electronics Symposium in Hawaii. I shared my breakfast table with a longtime colleague, Dr. Ron Lasky, a professor at Dartmouth College. Over the course of breakfast, he asked me how I got into this industry and, more specifically, how I started my company. Dr. Lasky is an engineering professor at Dartmouth’s Thayer School of Engineering. He also teaches entrepreneurship to his soon to be engineers. Dr. Lasky invited me to come speak to his students. I was more than happy to take him up on his offer, and I have spoken to his students on the subject of entrepreneurship every year for the past several years.
I have been impressed by the emphasis on entrepreneurship within the Thayer School of Engineering. We live in a time of marvelous evolution within the electronics space. So many new and innovative electronic products are being introduced, fueled by IoT (Internet of Things), the electrification of automobiles, advances in communication, and so much more.
Education is the bedrock of our industry. It is the foundation for which much of our industry and the products we make are built upon. I’ve had Dr. Lasky on my show several times, and I thought it would be a great idea to invite his boss, the dean of Dartmouth’s Thayer School of Engineering, onto the program.
Dr. Alexis Abramson is the 13th dean of the Thayer School. Prior to joining Dartmouth, she was the Milton and Tamar Maltz Professor of Energy Innovation at Case Western Reserve University and served as a director of the university’s Great Lakes Energy Institute focused on creating sustainable energy technology solutions. During the Obama administration, Dr. Abramson served as chief scientist and manager of the Emerging Technologies Division at the US Department of Energy’s Building Technologies Program. In 2018, she served as technical adviser for Breakthrough Energy Ventures, a $1 billion effort launched by Bill Gates to combat human-driven climate change.
Dr. Abramson’s research has focused on novel techniques for thermal characterization of nanostructures, the design and synthesis of unique nanomaterials for use in alternative energy applications, virtual energy audits for building energy efficiency, and strategies to accelerate technology commercialization at universities and research institutions.
Dr. Abramson earned a bachelor's and master's in mechanical engineering from Tufts University and a Ph.D. in mechanical engineering at the University of California, Berkeley.