I-Connect007 Editor’s Choice: Five Must-Reads for the Week

Estimated reading time: 3 minutes

Some situations came up for me this week (delayed flights and malfunctioning work software) that highlighted how much we rely on tools every day. When they’re working, we barely think about them. When they’re not, we’re suddenly reminded of everything else that has to be in place for the work to get done: good processes, knowledgeable people, communication, teamwork, and sometimes ingenuity.

I’ve observed that engineers aren’t any different in their work. Their tools may be considerably more sophisticated than our content management systems, but those tools exist within a much larger ecosystem. As our new columnist from Flexible Circuit Technologies points out, engineering judgment matters.

My choices this week range from educating the next generation of PCB designers to selecting materials for high-power applications and understanding power module assembly—I’m not sure I understand it, but I know a lot more now than I did before! I’m also highlighting the newest issue of I-Connect007 Magazine, which has a fantastic assessment of the importance of working within the electronics ecosystem. If you like analogies, you’ll love this issue.

August I-Connect007 Magazine: The Electronics Ecosystem, From Design to Development
Published August 18

Managing Editor Marcy LaRont masterfully weaves together the connections that take a product from idea to reality, as well as the people, processes, and technologies that make it happen. This collection of articles, columns, and graphics is a good reminder that understanding your own piece of the process is important, but understanding how it all fits into the larger ecosystem can make all the difference.

Powering the Future: From Substrate to System—The Power Module Assembly
Published August 18

Columnist Brian Buyea of Remtec instructs us on power module assembly. What is that? Well, I’m not sure, but I certainly learned more about the importance of power electronics, as he walks us from the substrate level through the completed system, showing how materials, design, packaging, thermal considerations, and manufacturing all have to work together.

A University Model for Training the Next Generation of PCB Designers
Published August 19

We often talk about the need to bring up the next generation of electronics industry professionals, but what are we actually doing about it? If you’re John Watson, you’re putting your money where your mouth is. John has been teaching PCB design classes at Palomar College and recently expanded his offering to three other universities. John has a passion for finding professionals in even the most unlikely of places. Find out what he’s been doing and maybe it will inspire you to take that step toward a new career or helping someone else do the same.

A Practical Approach to Material Selection for High-Power PCBs
Published August 17

This article offers a practical look at the decision-making process for choosing a PCB material. Apparently, it isn’t simply a matter of finding something with the right numbers on a datasheet. When you have high-power applications, you have a host of requirements that must be weighed against each other. Drew Delaney of Isola Group shares some tips, reinforcing the idea that good engineering comes from understanding how your choices affect the entire product.

Flex Connections: Four Lessons in Engineering Judgment for PCB Designers
Published August 20

Let’s welcome our newest columnists from Flexible Circuit Technologies. This group of engineers brings a combined 140 years of experience to the table, so you know you’re getting real-world applications in every word. We start with Dan Skweres, who focuses on engineering judgment through the wise phrase, “Just because you can, doesn’t mean you should.” (Something I try to remind myself when I want a cookie.) Dan’s message is fitting in an industry where having better tools only makes knowing how and when to use them more important.