Dan’s Biz Bookshelf: ‘Abundance: How We Build a Better Future’
Trouble in Your Tank: In Complex Systems, Design Rules Aren’t Optional
Estimated reading time: 9 minutes
Conversations with...HSIO President Jim Rathburn
Rathburn: Yes, but the term "teaching" is not the real principle. Technology transfer varies from shop to shop depending on the existing infrastructure and capabilities, and we are very selective as to the proper fit between the supplier and their current capabilities and reputation in the industry. We basically provide an example design as a baseline to build and identify the capability gaps, then identify the additions required to qualify production. We have found that much of existing equipment and infrastructure is already being used and the incremental adder to ramp production is relatively minor. In some cases, we consider funding equipment purchases to remove potential roadblocks to adoption.Beaulieu: So what is the next step? Where do you go from here?
Rathburn: We are currently working to have smaller- to medium-volume production availability by the end of the year for rigid PCBs, flex circuits, and package substrates from multiple suppliers. We are accepting selective orders and will be announcing general availability this fall. We are working with the customer base to verify we are doing the right things to meet their needs, and provide some level confidence with an intersect point where they can start using our design rules and supplier base. Once the design rules are adopted, it is difficult to go backwards to larger feature size conventional technology so it important for us to enable multiple suppliers to ensure availability at the proper volume and cost points. In some cases, we ask our customers who would be the buyers of circuits which suppliers they might suggest to be candidates for production availability. The next phase is for the suppliers to open availability to a wider audience with their customers. In many cases, existing designs that are not fine geometries may see significant benefit from building with our approach and customers buying 3 or 4 mil line space boards or flex circuits should definitely contact us.
Beaulieu: I’m sure people will want to know more about this. Where can they find more information?
Rathburn: Any interested parties, whether a customer who buys circuits or a supplier who produces circuits, can e-mail me with questions at jrathburn@hsiotech.com. When released to full production, the normal sales channel and process will serve as the best route. As I mentioned earlier, we are being very selective with the projects and companies we are working with to make sure we can meet demand and provide the performance and support we are known for in our segment of the interconnect world.
Beaulieu: Thanks for taking the time to talk to me today. I have to say--and I mean this--I feel that this is one of the most important interviews I have ever done. You and your company are giving the PCB industry hope.
Rathburn: Thank you, Dan, that's nice of you to say. I enjoyed our talk today.
Beaulieu: This is stunning work. As you well know, our industry has done very little R&D of late. It used to be that the OEMs would do the process development and then turn it over do the technology transfer to their vendors (the shops), but with the demise on captive board shops and the rise of the CM’s rather than OEMs, very little of this work has been done. PCB fabricators have been struggling to stay alive to fight another day rather than looking toward the future. To have a company like HSIO paving the way to the future is a Godsend I predict this is going to change everything.
For more information, visit www.hsiotech.com.
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