PCB Components

The Benefits of a Circular Economy for Electronics

The Benefits of a Circular Economy for Electronics The concept of a circular economy for electronics is a transformative approach to production and consumption. It emphasizes the reuse, repair, refurbishment, and recycling of electronic products to create a closed-loop system, minimizing waste and the use of finite resources. This article explores the key benefits of advancing a circular economy for electronics, and what this translates to in tangible measures (figure 1). It also covers actions Read Article

New Global Semiconductor Co-Investment Programs

New Global Semiconductor Co-Investment Programs The worldwide pursuit of semiconductor co-investment programs; a recap of the 2024 IEEE Electronic Components and Technology Conference (ECTC) Read Article

Building Neural Networks on FPGAs

Building Neural Networks on FPGAs In this article Ari Mahpour demonstrates how to get a Neural Network running on the FPGA fabric of a Zynq SoC using hls4ml and the Pynq Z2. Read Article

PCB Manufacturers Offering the Shortest Turnaround Times

PCB Manufacturers Offering the Shortest Turnaround Times With the growing demand for PCBs in just about every electronic device in development, time is of the essence. For manufacturers or even hobbyists, quickly getting hold of a functional prototype can be the difference between success and missed opportunities; as a solution to this time-intensive problem, some manufacturers have started offering quick-turn PCBs. Note from the editor: The text below lists several companies offering quick-turn PCB Read Article

2:44:54 Altium Designer On-Boarding Workshop Get the Most from Altium Designer 24 Watch Video

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Can Buyers Be Proactive About Obsolescence?

Can Buyers Be Proactive About Obsolescence? Ever changing technologies and fluctuations in supply and demand in the semiconductor industry lead to more cases of component obsolescence—a historical response to evolving technology or shifts in the supply chain. More than 70% of electronic components become obsolete before they are installed and buyers are always trailing behind their suppliers as they develop newer, more capable parts. This can likely occur through discontinuation of certain Read Article

PCB Layout Replication Article

PCB Layout Replication: The Perfect Tool for Test Jigs Altium Designer 24’s ‘Layout Replication’ feature represents everything you want from a great design tool; taking over tasks that are both crucial to the mission and tedious to execute. Anyone who has laid out a production test fixture for an array of small PCBs knows it’s like walking a tightrope between the need for precision and the repetitive task of placing and routing circuits multiple times. Imagine what you could do with all the time Read Article

0:53:55 Bridge the Information Divide: Altium 365 Meets Z2Data Watch the webinar to learn how Z2Data can help you build resilience in engineering, compliance, and procurement through the comprehensive supply chain and component data. Watch Video

Unpacking Semiconductor Packaging: Insights with Jan Vardaman

Unpacking Semiconductor Packaging: Insights with Jan Vardaman In this episode of the Altium OnTrack Podcast, host Zach Peterson sits down with Jan Vardaman, president and founder of TechSearch International. With decades of experience in semiconductor packaging, Jan shares her expert insights into the global semiconductor industry, focusing on the shift away from Asia for advanced manufacturing and the critical need for an integrated supply chain in the U.S. This episode not only highlights the Read Article

0:53:41 Bridge the Gap Between Engineering and Procurement: Altium 365 BOM Portal Watch the webinar to learn how to make informed decisions and mitigate supply chain risks with Altium 365 BOM Portal, BOM management application purpose-built for electronics engineering and procurement. Improve your time to market and proactively manage electronic component supply chain risks. Watch Video

Beyond the Datasheet: Real-World Testing of Voltage Regulators

Beyond the Datasheet: Real-World Testing of Voltage Regulators Mark delves into the intricate world of electronic components, specifically focusing on the performance of linear voltage regulators compared to switching regulators. He provides an in-depth analysis of how these components work, their advantages, and limitations. Mark's exploration includes a detailed examination of different brands and models, assessing their efficiency, noise levels, and voltage dropout. He highlights the practical implications of these differences, emphasizing the need for real-world testing over solely relying on datasheets. Mark's findings are particularly relevant for those dealing with sensitive circuits, where choosing the right regulator can significantly impact the performance and efficiency of the project Read Article

0:46:51 Design with Confidence: Altium 365 Meets SiliconExpert Watch the webinar to learn how SiliconExpert Integration in Altium 365 can optimize your workflows and elevate your design process.
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Pin Plating Materials for PCB Connectors

Durability of Pin Plating Materials for PCB Connectors Pin headers have an important specification that determines their durability: the plating material. Here’s how you should select platings for your PCB pins. Read Article

Multi-CAD Engineering Top Challenges

Multi-CAD Engineering: Top 6 Challenges In an ideal scenario, every engineer, manufacturer, contractor, and customer would utilize the same CAD system, simplifying collaboration efforts significantly. However, the reality of product design is far from this ideal. Various companies opt for different ECAD systems, requiring accommodating this as part of electronics product development. Even within a single organization, it's common to find different departments or divisions employing Read Article

Hands-On with Altium 365's New BOM Portal

Hands-On with Altium 365's New BOM Portal In this episode of the OnTrack Podcast, we explore the innovative BOM Portal in Altium 365, a cutting-edge tool transforming PCB design and electronic development. Tech Consultant Zach Peterson sits down with Ananth Avva, General Manager at Altium's Cloud Platform, and Damir Khayrutdinov, Product Manager at Altium, to discuss the tool. Altium's BOM Portal, compared to ActiveBOM, offers a seamless and efficient approach to managing bill of Read Article

30:24 Bridge the Information Divide: Altium 365 Meets Z2Data Watch the webinar and learn how Z2Data integration can help you build resilience in engineering, compliance, and procurement through the Watch Video