Supply Chain Solutions for Electronic Assemblies Has this happened to you? You’ve finished a new PCB design that is ready for its prototype build and the race is on. Marketing has put the pressure on engineering for this “must have” device that they can show off, and everyone is expecting you to deliver it as soon as possible. You got the design done in record time and are ready to send it to the manufacturer when the word comes back to you that there is a problem. One or more of the that you Read Article Create Your PCBA Manufacturing Documentation with Draftsman In my numerous years in the electronics industry, we have come a long way. From using tape on mylars for PCB layouts to advanced CAD systems, the industry has moved what can only be described as light years ahead over the last 30 years or so. Gone are the days (thankfully) of a hand drawn schematic which is then translated by someone into physical that are connected by hand (even in early layout programs this was true). Netlist? What was one of Read Article Prioritize Precision Querying in Circuit Board Design Software There is nothing worse than losing your car keys when running late to an important meeting. Car keys are small and remembering where you put them becomes impossible given the projects taken on in the interim. They could be anywhere. These days it is possible to use RF devices to locate your keys. Having user-friendly technology keeps stress levels low. Working with a complex circuit design within EDA tools can pose the same problem. With Read Article Tips for Connecting Hidden Pins with Altium Designer By far, the greatest form of entertainment is magic and even a century after his death Harry Houdini is still hailed as the magician ever. Although, acclaimed for his various escapes, Houdini was the first to perform the often duplicated “Vanishing Elephant” magic trick. Of course, the elephant, named Jennie, did not vanish but was only hidden from the vast majority of the spectators. When designing a highly congested printed circuit board (PCB) Read Article Multi-Board Design Basics in Altium Designer The webinar touches on electrical and mechanical challenges of system and product level multi-board PCB design. A demonstration follows, showing Watch Video Sneak Peek and Meet the Keynotes for AltiumLive 2018: ANNUAL PCB DESIGN SUMMIT First, on behalf of Altium, allow me to personally invite you to join us for the 2nd annual AltiumLive PCB Design Summit! As most of you know, Altium launched our first ever User Conferences last year in San Diego and Munich which were met with high praise from attendees, sponsors, the industry and the media. This October, in true Altium fashion, we are “upping our game.” In this issue of OnTrack, we will give you a sneak peek of the agenda and Read Article Formula Student SAE Competition of Japan: The Kyoto Institute of Technology Racing Team Aims for Third Win The Kyoto Institute of Technology racing team Grandelfino aims to win its third consecutive victory in the Student Formula SAE Competition of Japan. We asked them about what makes their team special and what are the key points to win. I hope you will enjoy our first ever student team interview coming to you from Japan. Junpei is from the Kyoto Institute of Technology and is part of the Grandelfino project team that hopes to win their third Read Article Concurrent Engineering with Bill Brooks from Nordson Asymtek In this OnTrack episode learn about what is involved in true concurrent engineering & get practical tips for including stakeholders early on in the design process with Bill Brooks from Nordson Asymtek Read Article How Bill of Material Software Can Protect You from Unintended Errors Editorial credit: Willrow Hood / Shutterstock.com OK, I’ll admit it; I like the original Star Trek just as much as the next guy. Even with its laughable science, cheesy effects, and starships constructed with painted plywood for bulkheads, it still had relatable characters and compelling stories. But one thing that always bugged me was how our heroes could be all the way across the galaxy and jump into an alien spaceship and drive it like a pro Read Article PCB Layout Tips to Design a Clap Switch Circuit I’m a self-professed workaholic. On a typical workday, lunch breaks become nonexistent as I obsess on my latest project or focus on clearing my list of tasks. During my off-days, however, I move to the opposite end of the spectrum. I became the epitome of laziness as I spend the whole day unwinding. I become immobilized as I sink deeper into the couch while watching my favorite TV shows. In these moments, I wish I could prepare dinner with a Read Article PCB Via Noise Coupling in Multilayer PCBs Call me boring, but as I’ve gotten older, I’ve become tired of taking my dates to bars. Shouting over people just to get to know someone is not my idea of a great time. The funny thing is that as everyone else talks louder, I have to talk louder to compensate. This level of crosstalk creates a vicious feedback loop and does not make for a romantic evening. Vias are critical features in multilayer PCBs that are used to route connections between Read Article Crosstalk in Mixed-Signal PCB Traces and Ground Planes Learn how to suppress mixed signal crosstalk and EMI in PCBs with the right ground and power plane arrangement. Read Article Component Symbol Information Management and Display Usability Building a library of PCB components requires compiling information on footprint, electrical specifications, simulation models, pin arrangements, and other specifications. The amount of information in any component library is massive and needs to be aggregated into a single module in your PCB design software. A PCB component library should be flexible enough to allow designers and engineers to define proprietary components and implement the Read Article PCB Production for Industry Manufacturing with Supplier Information Moving to PCB production is that breathtaking and nerve-wracking final step in bringing your next electronic device to life. Manufacturers require that a specific set of deliverables be provided by engineers and designers before they begin production. This includes your bill of materials, CAD/CAM drafts of your PCB, Gerber files, and component sourcing information. Probably the most important piece of information is the pricing and lead time Read Article How to Make a Ground Plane for Your PCB Design Wondering how to make a ground plane? Some helpful tips for creating ground planes in your PCB design using Altium Designer. Read Article Design for Manufacturability (DFM) and Assembly (DFA) tips with Jay Colognori Get Design for Manufacturability and Assembly tips from Jay Colognori, Director of Business Development at Electronic Instrumentation & Technology (EIT) in this OnTrack Podcast episode. Watch it now! Read Article Start Your Schematic Right with the Best Way to Organize Electronics Components and Management Software I loved building models when I was a kid. Whether it was airplanes, cars, ships, or tanks, it didn’t matter as long as I was gluing pieces together. You can imagine my disappointment then when none of my sons shared the same interest. In fact we just discovered a couple of old models tossed in a box that they had started and then given up on. The really sad thing is that the instructions for these kits are missing, and I have no idea now what Read Article Pagination First page « First Previous page ‹‹ Page133 Current page134 Page135 Page136 Page137 Page138 Next page ›› Last page Last » Load More