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Growth and the PCB Design Learning Zone

Growth and the PCB Design Learning Zone The phone rang at my desk. Tracy was on the other end. It had been several weeks since she had surgery for her implant. I could tell from the tone of her voice that she had exciting news. “Do you think you might be able to get an afternoon off?”, she asked. “Sure, how come what’s up?” I responded. “Well, it’s been 5 weeks since my surgery, and everything is completely healed up. I wanted to ask.” She hesitated for a moment, “Wanted to know if you Read Article

High-Quality, Reviewable PCB Component Libraries

Mastering PCB Design: Best Practices for Developing Accurate and Reliable Component Libraries Over many years, I have seen many elaborate PCB Library systems. The best ones were not based on the size, but rather on the quality of the information. The old axiom is “not Quantity but rather Quality.” I recently sat with a VP of Engineering, and I asked what he thought of his PCB Library. He thought for a moment and said, “I believe it is pretty good.” I asked my question another way, “But do you know?” There is a difference. If I tell you Read Article

Smart Architecture for Successful PCB Component Libraries

Smart Architecture for Successful PCB Component Libraries Organizing is what you do before you do something so that when you do it, it is not all mixed up. - A. A. Milne Architecture is the specific structure that governs our collected data. It determines how we store, arrange, and utilize the data in the system. In a way, the architecture of your PCB library is like the architecture of a building. You need to have it completed before you build your library so you don’t wind up with a virtual Hotel Del Read Article

In-House Manufacturing for Electronics Projects

In-House Manufacturing for Electronics Projects The news media like to embellish the advances and proliferation of affordable 3D printers, sometimes calling them ‘a factory in your home’. While this concept of being able to avoid buying products at a store and building them at home sounds ideal, I personally don’t believe we’re anywhere near it being a reality. I purchased my first 3D Printer in 2012, built my first CNC router in 2007 and purchased my first CO2 laser cutter in 2014, so I have Read Article

EIPC: A European Community of PCB Technology Professionals

EIPC: A European Community of PCB Technology Professionals and Manufacturers In mid-June, I had the great pleasure of attending my first EIPC Conference in Leoben, Austria (pictured above). EIPC (European Institute for the PCB Community) is an organization that has been around for over 50 years and serves the European Electronics Industry and supply chain while maintaining activities that involve the global industry. In this article, I speak with Tarja Rapala, the technical director for EIPC to discuss the purpose Read Article

1:29 What Does the Industry Ask for From Students? Watch Video

1:50 Should CID Require Recertification? Watch Video

2:17 The Evolution of Design and Manufacturing Watch Video

1:35 Ben Jordan on the Different Ways to Use a Tool Watch Video

3:26 Why is It So Beneficial for Designers to Visit Their Board Shops? Watch Video

1:48 Should Tool Centric Certifications be a Thing? Watch Video

Engineers Embrace Failure on the Way to Success

Engineers Embrace Failure on the Way to Success I'm sure you have worked on a project where you have spent days or weeks trying to make a solution work and at the end wish you had changed directions. I'm a big fan of the 'Fail early, fail fast' concept from software engineering, but I took many years to apply it consistently to electronic design. Some professional environments discourage failure, and unfortunately, many educational settings only offer the option of right or wrong. Changing Read Article

OnTrack Newsletter: PCB Design Zen, Component Management and Brain Food - June 2019

OnTrack Newsletter: PCB Design Zen, Component Management and Brain Food - June 2019 OnTrack Newsletter – July 2019 VOL. 3 No 3 To view this email as a web page, click here OnTrack Newsletter July 2019 VOL. 3 No 3 AltiumLive 2019: The Hat Trick The third annual AltiumLive: Annual PCB Design conference is almost here again and will be located in San Diego and Frankfurt. Learn more about all that’s in store for this year’s event and how we plan to pull off a perfect hat trick! Read Article EIPC: A European Community of PCB Read Article

1:51 What Data Does the Manufacturer Really Need? Watch Video

57 How Important is It to Consider Array Design? Watch Video

1:01 How Can Design Issues Impact Assembly Turnaround Time? Watch Video

55 How Many Jobs a Day Do You Handle at Advanced Assembly? Watch Video