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Advanced Materials Roundtable

Driven largely by the need for advanced chip technology for super compute ability and AI applications, low Dk, low-loss resin systems, and heavy copper laminate are attracting significant attention and global resources. There are numerous unavoidable challenges in this market that will impact manufacturers and the supply chain, and they may be hitting critical mass sooner than OEMs and fabricators think. In this roundtable discussion, moderator Marcy LaRont speaks with topic experts: Mark Goodwin, John Fix, and Ed Kelly.

CMMC Compliance and AI Integration with Accurate Circuit Engineering

James Hofer of Accurate Circuit Engineering (ACE) delves into the challenges and benefits of integrating AI and meeting stringent security requirements. Discover how ACE navigates CMMC, its impact on data management, and the strategic advantages of certification for businesses.

A Mic, a Tiny Cam, and the Show Floor: The Story Behind 'Take the Mic!'

I-Connect007’s Take the Mic! program at APEX EXPO 2026 in Anaheim is proving to be a must-watch feature for this year’s event coverage, as we invited company representatives to participate in a sponsored conversation about their businesses and products in a whole new way: in front of a camera at their booths. While our managing editors and guest editors were conducting slightly longer Real Time With… APEX EXPO interviews in our booth, three staff members and guests acted as roaming reporters, conducting short, prearranged interviews with several companies exhibiting on the show floor.

An Interview With Keynote Speaker Zack Kass on the 'AI Renaissance'

Zack Kass is an AI evangelist, technologist, businessman, and the author of The Next Renaissance: AI and the Expansion of Human Potential. He was a key player in bringing open AI to market and the keynote speaker at APEX EXPO 2026. Immediately following his presentation, I brought Zack to our booth, where we had a most eye-opening conversation about both the positive and negative impacts of artificial intelligence, and going beyond what’s “impossible.”

PHOTO GALLERY: A Walk on the Lighter Side

APEX EXPO isn’t all business! To wrap up our last photo gallery, we’re sharing some of our favorites from the show—a walk on the lighter side. We’re highlighting those in-between moments: quick selfies, familiar faces reconnecting, robot dogs, booth-side laughs, and the kind of candid snapshots you only get when people are genuinely enjoying themselves. At the end of the day, it’s not just about what we do, it’s about the people we do it with.

Changing Times: Siemens Plans to Sell Former Mentor Graphics Wilsonville Campus

Siemens announced it will be selling its Wilsonville, Oregon, property, which has served as the campus for Mentor Graphics, which was later acquired by German EDA-giant Siemens, as reported by The Oregonian on April 20. Siemens will maintain one building on the sprawling 53-acre campus, citing the move to hybrid and remote work over the past few years as a key factor in the decision.

Standardization, Workforce, and the Road Ahead for Flex–Packaging Integration, Part 3

Parts 1 and 2 of this series established the technical foundation and application landscape for the convergence of flexible PCBs and advanced semiconductor packaging. Part 3 addresses what comes next: the standards frameworks, talent pipelines, and strategic imperatives that will determine whether the industry can scale this convergence reliably and competitively.

Single Pair Ethernet (SPE): A Valuable Option for Modern Designs

When it comes to designing PCBs and full systems for increasingly complex electronics hardware, who doesn’t want to reduce complexity and cost? Single-Pair Ethernet (SPE) has emerged as a solution and is gaining rapid attention across industrial electronics and PCB design because it enables Ethernet communication over a single twisted pair, replacing the traditional two- or four-pair cabling used in standard Ethernet networks. This seemingly simple shift has significant implications for designers: smaller connectors, reduced cable weight, longer reach, and the ability to carry both data and power over a single pair.

Applications, Challenges, and the Future of Flex–Packaging Integration, Part 2

In the second of this two-part series, Anaya Vardya of American Standard Circuits examines applications, challenges, manufacturing considerations, and future trends emerging from the convergence of flexible printed circuit boards and advanced semiconductor packaging. Applications driving the convergence include consumer electronics, automotive systems, medical, wearables, aerospace and more.

From AI to AEP, an Impressive Array of Keynotes at APEX EXPO 2026

Each year at APEX EXPO, the Global Electronics Association provides an impressive lineup of keynote speakers to kick off the largest electronics manufacturing event in North America. This year included four keynote speeches, on topics ranging from the promise and peril of AI to the power of electronics, quantum computing, and the importance of heterogeneous integration in advanced electronics packaging.


PHOTO GALLERY: Putting in the Work on Standards, Professional Development

Behind every standard, innovation, and step forward in electronics are the people who show up to do the work. This week's photo gallery highlights the attendees who filled meeting rooms and classrooms throughout APEX, collaborating on standards development committees, sharing expertise, and investing in their own growth through professional development. These are the faces of progress, gathered not just to learn, but to contribute and shape what comes next.

AI, Connectivity, and Systems-Level Thinking: New Frontiers in Advanced Packaging

The upcoming issue of Advanced Electronics Packaging Digest examines key developments shaping the next phase of electronics innovation, from the reliability challenges of AI-driven packaging to emerging connectivity standards and the broader systems-level implications of artificial intelligence.

Podcast Hits the Mark in a Materials Market

The base material of a printed circuit board is its literal and functional foundation. Isola, founded in 1912 in Düren, Germany, is one of the longest-standing manufacturers of glass-reinforced laminates in the electronics industry. Originally focused on insulation and fiberglass materials, the company played an early role in supplying the foundational substrates that enabled the growth of PCB technology. As electronics advanced, Isola evolved alongside the industry, expanding from basic glass-epoxy laminates into high-performance copper-clad materials and engineered prepregs.

Don’t Call It Ground, Call It Return

If you’ve studied electrical or computer engineering, or have just read an electronics schematic, circuit diagram, or other application notes, you've likely seen the term “Ground,” often abbreviated GND. This is used in school and during the teaching of electronics circuit analysis to indicate a reference or zero-voltage node for circuit analysis. It is also taught that there is no current in GND since the voltage is zero. These are assumptions made for the purpose of simplifying the introduction to circuit analysis.

Make the Smart Move

It’s incredibly easy to become fixated on shiny new EDA software, the latest high-speed routing algorithms, or the most advanced fabrication techniques. New tools and technologies are creating sophisticated simulation platforms that automate routing, check design rules, and simulate performance. However, they cannot replicate the nuanced judgment, imaginative solutions to space constraints, or collaborative spirit that define printed circuit engineering excellence. That is your most significant return on investment.

PHOTO GALLERY: A Show Floor Showcase, Part 2

Take a walk back through APEX EXPO with our photo gallery, capturing the faces, moments, and energy from across more than 400 booths on the show floor. This week, we’re highlighting our many customers, and some of the work in the I-Connect007 booth, where we conducted dozens of video and audio interviews. It’s a chance to see who was there, what was happening in real time, and maybe even spot yourself in the crowd.

ASTER and Siemens: Design for Test Gets ‘Real’

For more than 30 years, ASTER Technologies has been a leader in PCB assembly test verification and engineering software. Siemens Digital Industries Software and ASTER Technologies’ recent merger represents the third strategic acquisition by Siemens in the space between design and manufacture. We spoke with ASTER Technical Director Will Webb, Michael Alam, head of corporate development for Siemens’ Electronic Board Systems Group, and Patrick Hope, Valor marketing specialist at Siemens, about the strategy and vision that’s bringing all these post-layout tools into the design workflow.

My Top 7 Takeaways from APEX EXPO 2026

I’m back from APEX EXPO 2026 in Anaheim, California, and it was another great year. Even amid significant global volatility, the industry is growing, innovating, and building partnerships. As I reflect on the experience, I want to share my top 7 takeaways and explain why each matters. First is this year’s Advanced Electronics Packaging Conference (AEPC) , which delivered outstanding, peer-reviewed content and strong participation, reflecting how central advanced electronics packaging has become across the industry.

Women in Electronics Keynote Review: A Life and Career Filled With Humor

In an industry that was dominated by male comedians, Jan McInnis quickly learned an important tip to help her succeed in the business: Don’t ask for permission to be yourself. “Don’t try to be something you’re not,” she said after headlining the Women in Electronics event at APEX EXPO 2026. “They’re paying for you and what you bring to the table, so put your blinders on, and just do your thing.”

Understanding Tolerances in Flexible Circuit Design

The challenge with cumulative tolerances is meeting the dimensional requirements for items dimensioned on a drawing or specification for a flexible or rigid-flex circuit. It is critical to understand the fabrication processes and how features are defined when creating your tolerance requirements.


Educational Highlights From the APEX EXPO 2026 Show Floor

APEX EXPO 2026 featured many legacy treasures, but it was the inaugural year for the Technology Pavilion, which featured 10 speakers over two days. It was just one feature on the show floor that specifically highlighted technical learning and innovation. Topics presented at the Technology Pavilion included copper nanoparticle inkjet printing on rigid PCBs, how AI and collaboration can level up an electronics supply chain, accelerating the design-to-manufacturing flow, and automated spatial micro-sectioning.

The Electronics Foundation: Empowering Students, Strengthening Industry

The Electronics Foundation may be one of the industry’s best-kept secrets, but its impact is anything but small. In this interview, Charlene Gunter and Gentry Manning discuss how the Foundation is building a pipeline of future electronics professionals through student chapters, scholarships, hands-on STEM programs, and global outreach. From high schools to universities, and from soldering kits to career exploration, they share how meaningful industry engagement is opening doors for students while helping manufacturers address workforce needs.

Webinar Review: The Challenges of UL Certification for Flex and Flex-Rigid PCBs

UL certification is one of an engineer’s least favorite topics, yet it is critically important. The process is complicated but relatively straightforward for standard rigid PCBs, but as Jan Pedersen makes clear in NCAB Group’s recent webinar, “UL Approval for Flex and Flex-Rigid PCBs,” it is a very different story.

When Layout Learns: This Is Not Your Mother’s Auto-router

For decades, automated PCB layout has carried a reputation designers would rather forget. Ben Jordan understands the skepticism. With roots in both engineering and EDA product leadership, he’s seen the promise and the pitfalls up close. Now at Quilter, Ben is helping reshape what machine-driven placement and routing can deliver. Powered by reinforcement learning and modern compute, Quilter is tackling the backlog, iteration overload, and talent shortage facing design teams today.

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

It’s been a busy week for many of us traversing the conference halls and exhibition floor at APEX EXPO in Anaheim, California. This is the 26th event since it was renamed APEX EXPO in 2000. For those who love trivia, and in reverence to the founders, a more accurate accounting is that 2026 marks its 33rd year, beginning in 1994 as the IPC Printed Circuits Expo. It’s always a great time to convene with old friends, colleagues, and customers, as well as to meet exciting new companies and individuals with interesting things to share. And afterwards, it’s always nice to get home.

Is AI in Design the Magic Tonic for All That Ails Us?

In electronic systems design, engineering teams are pressured by management to adopt AI wherever possible to reduce design cycle time and cost. Engineers look at AI with a wary eye: Will it consistently return accurate results? Will it take longer to set up, train, run, and verify than doing it manually? Will it replace me? Yes, there is a transition with AI, but it’s no different than any other form of automation. It must be extensively

APEX EXPO Opens Today With Ribbon Cutting and Sold-Out Show Floor

APEX EXPO officially opens today with a ribbon-cutting ceremony welcoming attendees onto the sold-out show floor in Anaheim, California. Standards committee meetings and professional development courses have been underway since the weekend, but Tuesday marks the official opening of the exhibition as more than 400 exhibitors prepare to showcase their latest equipment, materials, and technologies across 140,000 square feet of exhibit space.

From PEDC to APEX: Banyan.eco’s Disruptive AI for EMS and OEM Companies

The electronics industry’s struggle with supply chain resilience and increasing regulatory complexity has created a costly compliance challenge for OEMs and EMS providers alike. At the same time, advances in artificial intelligence are opening new possibilities for automating some of the industry’s most data-intensive tasks. At the Pan-European Design Conference (PEDC), Banyan.eco cofounder Francis D’Souza introduced a new approach that combines AI-driven data acquisition with a deterministic verification layer to eliminate compliance risk from AI hallucination and dramatically improve productivity.

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

Cue up “The Final Countdown, the monster ’80s hit song by Swedish band Europe, because it’s almost APEX EXPO week. Side note: When it comes to rock anthems, I’m more of an “Eye of the Tiger” man, myself. Some folks are already arriving in Anaheim, as standards development committee work starts as early as tomorrow. The show continues through Thursday, March 19.

I-Connect007 to Launch Weekly Show & Tell Newsletter Series Featuring APEX EXPO Highlights

Building on our tradition of delivering comprehensive coverage of APEX EXPO 2026, I-Connect007 will present a five-episode Show & Tell Newsletter series, arriving in subscribers’ inboxes each Friday, March 27 to April 24. The special series will highlight key moments from the Global Electronics Association’s annual trade show, offering readers an inside look at the people, companies, and ideas shaping the electronics manufacturing industry.


T-type Thermocouples in Foil Heater Technology

This article examines the use of T-type thermocouples implemented with flexible printed circuit and etched foil heater technology, focusing on their design, fabrication, and integration into advanced thermal management systems. I’ll give particular attention to how their low-profile construction, accuracy at low temperatures, and mechanical robustness make them well-suited for critical devices operating in demanding environments

Automating the Repeatable Parts of Hardware Design

Despite working on some of the most sophisticated technology in the world, many hardware engineers still rely on spreadsheets, tribal knowledge, and sometimes, quite literally, pen, paper, and a highlighter. Delivering new hardware products on schedule often comes down to finding a needle in a haystack disguised as a 900-page specification or datasheet. AllSpice.io set out to automate the repeatable parts of hardware design: the well-defined, rules-based tasks that make sure nothing gets missed and everything lines up.

UHDI, AI, and RF Materials: Signals From the Next Phase of Advanced Packaging

The upcoming issue of Advanced Electronics Packaging Digest explores several developments shaping the future of advanced electronics, from the convergence of IC substrates and ultra-high-density interconnect (UHDI) PCBs to the growing influence of artificial intelligence on semiconductor packaging and the materials science behind high-frequency system performance.

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

This week, I’m highlighting a book, a podcast, a magazine, winners of the APEX EXPO Technical Conference, and a narrative-style column. Not only do these published pieces vary in style, but they also examine the electronics industry from a variety of perspectives. From test to materials, trade show storytelling, and thought leadership, I-Connect007 has the industry covered.

New Book Explores How UV Technology Is Transforming Electronics Protection, Efficiency, and Sustainability

I-Connect007 announces the release of The Printed Circuit Designer’s Guide to…™ UV Curable Conformal Coatings. Authored by respected industry technologists Brian Chislea and Cody Schoener, PhD, of Dow, Inc., this new book offers a comprehensive exploration of UV-curable conformal coatings and their expanding role in improving the protection, performance, and sustainability of electronic assemblies.

Making AI Practical for PCB Design

Artificial intelligence has entered nearly every corner of engineering software. In PCB design, however, meaningful adoption has been slower and for good reason. Unlike image generation or text analysis, PCB layout is not a data-rich, rules-light problem. It is a precision-driven engineering discipline in which creativity, accuracy, and strict compliance with constraints must coexist. Zuken’s work on AI-assisted PCB design reflects this reality. Rather than positioning AI as a replacement for engineering expertise, our CR-8000 Autonomous Intelligent Place and Route (AIPR) applies machine learning selectively in ways that align with how designers actually think and work.

Professional Development Courses for Every Electronics Manufacturing Sector

Professional Development Courses at APEX EXPO are designed to give electronics professionals focused, instructor-led learning that connects directly to today’s manufacturing realities. The courses are offered Sunday, Monday, and Thursday, and allow attendees to build new skills while still taking part in the broader APEX EXPO experience.

Finding the Funny: Jan McInnis Headlines Women in Electronics Keynote

In an industry driven by precision, deadlines, and innovation, laughter may not be the first tool professionals think to reach for, yet it’s one that can transform workplace culture, elevate collaboration, and boost personal well-being. Jan McInnis, comedian and humor strategist, presents “Finding the Funny” for the Women in Electronics Keynote, from 6 to 7:30 p.m. March 18, at APEX EXPO.

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

It’s time for my five must-reads featured this past week. The global economy is still reeling from last Friday’s U.S. Supreme Court ruling that most tariffs imposed under IEEPA by President Trump are unconstitutional. In other news, with APEX EXPO just two weeks away, we're featuring the first three Real Time with... pre-show sponsor interviews: Remtec, Burkle North America, and KYZEN. These are insightful and forward-thinking interviews about what you can expect to see at the show this year. Please check them out!

DesignCon 2026: From Copper to Quantum to Agentic AI

Greetings from “balmy” Santa Clara, where DesignCon 2026 is officially underway. The conference began in 1995 as Design SuperCon, and now in its 31st year, remains Silicon Valley’s annual summit for signal and power integrity pros. As I walked into the hotel next to the Santa Clara Convention Center, I could sense echoes of the thousands of football fans who packed the area just weeks ago for the Super Bowl. For me, though, DesignCon is the big game, where our industry’s MVPs take the field to show how fast the technology playbook is evolving.


Technology Pavilion Debuts at APEX EXPO 2026

Many of the technologies shaping the future of electronics manufacturing, particularly in areas such as 3D integration, digital manufacturing, advanced design workflows and automated metrology, are moving faster than traditional publication and standards cycles. The APEX EXPO 2026 Technology Pavilion will bring technology innovators such as these to the forefront, through a dedicated space where emerging tools, approaches, and early-stage breakthroughs can be shared with attendees.

NCAB Group White Papers: Practical PCB Design Guidance for Manufacturable Results

The I-Connect007 Industry Resource Center brings together expert white papers that help engineers and manufacturers navigate today’s design and manufacturing challenges across the PCB lifecycle. NCAB Group contributes a valuable collection of white papers focused on practical PCB design and manufacturability. Drawing on their experience with a global network of production partners, NCAB helps engineers align design intent with fabrication realities: reducing risk while improving consistency and long-term reliability.

Real Time with... APEX EXPO 2026: Remtec Expands Microelectronics Assembly

Julio Castillo and Chris Dougherty from Remtec discuss their expanded capabilities in microelectronic assembly, including chip and wire and multi-chip module component attachment. They highlight their expertise in ceramic substrates for high-reliability, high-power, and harsh environment applications, offering integrated solutions.

Big Ideas Take the Stage: APEX EXPO 2026 Keynotes

Some of the most consequential conversations in electronics manufacturing will take center stage at APEX EXPO 2026, with a keynote lineup that spans quantum computing, advanced packaging, artificial intelligence, and the global electronics economy. From IBM and Intel technologists to an AI futurist and a global industry leader, this year’s keynote speakers will offer attendees both technical depth and strategic perspective on the forces reshaping the electronics ecosystem.

I-Connect007 Launches Six-Part Podcast Series Highlighting the Critical Role of PCB Materials

I-Connect007, the leading media source for the electronics manufacturing industry, today announced the release of the first episode in a new six-part podcast series, “PCB Materials: The Backbone and Future of Electronics.”

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

Frankly, there were so many worthy news items this week, it quite a bit of whittling to get it down to my five must-reads. For example, this week we showcased Schweitzer Engineering Labs’ new manufacturing facility in Moscow, Idaho. Marcy LaRont launched an On the Line With… podcast on materials, and the February issue of I-Connect007 Magazine features the annual APEX EXPO preview.

UHDI Fundamentals—Foundations and Drivers of the PCB Flex: Advanced Packaging Nexus, Part 1

The electronics industry is undergoing a fundamental transformation driven by demands for smaller form factors, higher performance, and greater functional integration. Two technologies sit at the center of this transformation: flexible PCBs and advanced semiconductor packaging. In this article, I’ll explore the technical foundations and key forces driving this convergence. Flexible PCBs are electrical interconnects fabricated on bendable substrates such as polyimide or polyester. Unlike rigid PCBs, flex circuits can conform to three-dimensional shapes, enabling designers to route signals through space rather than across flat planes.

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

This week, I’ve taken some extra time to better learn some video and photo editing software programs we use at I-Connect007. You’ll want to check out my LinkedIn video to see how I brought my avatar to life for this week’s must-reads! The items I’m highlighting this week are also about learning something new, from Pete Starkey’s thorough three-day review of the EIPC Winter Conference in Aix-en-Provence, France, to what’s on the horizon for advanced electronics packaging. I also share details about the new Design Village at APEX EXPO 2026, preview a new column from Remtec’s Chandra Gupta, and discuss why marketing isn’t a one-and-done deal.

Proper Plane Design Techniques

Continuing our discussion from the November issue of Design007 Magazine on proper plane design, Kris Moyer, an instructor for the Global Electronics Association, shares techniques he teaches his PCB design students to use. When it comes to plane design, there are several challenges with modern high-speed designs. Planes, or more specifically, mirror/return paths, are critical to proper controlled impedance transmission line design. Additionally, to mitigate high-speed switching “noise,” the use of planar capacitance is now necessary and critical.

PCB Design in 2026 and Beyond

We asked several experts in PCB design and fabrication about the pressures shaping PCB fabrication today, including speed, density, geopolitics, and relentless technological complexity. The results were valuable insights about where we are, where we’re headed, and importantly, what it will take to get there. Here is Filbert (Fil) Arzola's view of what will be most important and influential for PCB designers going into 2026 and beyond.


I-Connect007 Announces Newest Columnist Chandra Gupta of Remtec

I-Connect007 is excited to announce its latest columnist, Chandra Gupta, whose new column, Below the Surface, will explore what truly determines performance in advanced electronic packaging, long before a product ever reaches assembly or test. Gupta is a seasoned practitioner who cuts through industry buzzwords to explain how substrate physics, materials, and manufacturing realities actually govern performance in high-reliability electronics.

February Issue of Advanced Electronics Packaging Digest Examines the Evolving Role of Packaging

I-Connect007 is excited to announce that the upcoming issue of Advanced Electronics Packaging Digest (AEPD) will be delivered to subscriber inboxes on Feb. 16, offering in-depth perspectives on the technologies and system-level thinking shaping the future of electronics packaging. As performance demands rise, advanced packaging is increasingly central to integration across the electronics ecosystem. This issue of AEPD examines how packaging decisions increasingly influence design, materials selection, manufacturing strategy, and overall system performance.

Design Village: Bringing the Design Community Front and Center

When APEX EXPO returns to Anaheim in March, PCB designers and design engineers will find a new hub on the show floor: the Design Village, a dedicated exhibition area launched by the Global Electronics Association to elevate the design experience and foster deeper engagement across the electronics ecosystem.

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

Here’s the thing about time travel. You can’t just manipulate the time dimension; you have to move in three-dimensional space as well. That’s because Earth orbits a star, which orbits a galaxy, which is on its own path through three-dimensional space. Our planet follows a complex corkscrew-like path through the universe, covering great distances in just seconds. Build a time machine like HG Wells envisioned, and even a short jump in time means that Earth has moved, and you’re now floating in the void of space. Unsettling, to be sure.

PEDC: Built for the Design Community by the Design Community

The Pan-European Electronics Design Conference (PEDC) was developed to provide Europe’s electronics design community with a non-commercial, Pan-European, technologically advanced forum. PEDC 2026 delivered exactly that. This second edition of the conference brought together 130 participants from 23 countries across Europe and beyond for two days of technical exchange, discussion, and connection. Hosted by the Global Electronics Association and Fachverband Elektroniksdesign und-fertigung e.V. (F.E.D)., and supported by Altium, Siemens, and Zuken, the event featured three technical tracks, 36 presentations, three keynotes, and a group of exhibitors.

What Makes Modern PCB Design So Difficult

PCB design has undergone a fundamental yet exhilarating transformation over the past two decades.  It truly feels like we're always pushing the boundaries of what's possible, which significantly increases the potential for a whole new set of challenges, and why we must always be forward-looking when it comes to the evolution of PCB design. Once viewed primarily as a physical realization of a schematic, the PCB is now a critical performance-determining element of nearly every advanced electronic system.

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

It’s the last week of January, and it’s been pretty cold outside. That’s the best time to hunker down and catch up on your reading. Here are my top five must-reads for this week. All eyes continue to be on advanced electronics processes and packaging technology, which are highlighted in Pete Starkey’s review of the ICT winter conference in the UK, as well as Nolan Johnson’s article on inflection points, and Kris Moyer’s look forward into what will be important for PCB designers in 2026 and beyond. Candor Industries’ Sunny Patel discusses “Normalizing the Impossible” in his look forward, and Mike Jouppi contributes with his critical look at what IPC-2152 does not cover.

Beyond IPC-2152: Creating Technology-specific Current-carrying Capacity Design Charts Using Thermal Modeling

Designers commonly size traces using online calculators based on IPC-2221 or IPC-2152 charts, selecting width and thickness for a given current and allowable temperature rise (ΔT). Consideration is given to parallel conductors, although this is not a practical evaluation method for most designs. An important aspect of trace heating, especially groups of traces, is the power dissipated by the conductors. Unfortunately, the power dissipation or a method for accounting for power losses in the traces/conductors or planes is not straightforward.

Designing for Reliability: Why Understanding Materials, Cleanliness, and Lifecycle Matters More Than Ever

Before a product enters manufacturing—long before the first panel hits the assembly line—its reliability is determined by a series of fundamental design decisions. At productronica, Tiberiu (Tibi) Baranyi of Flex presented a comprehensive presentation on design for reliability, providing real-world case examples that illustrated the unfortunate outcomes of decisions that caused failures, and which should have been made differently.

MacDermid Alpha White Papers: Practical Materials Guidance for Modern Electronics

The I-Connect007 Industry Resource Center brings together technical white papers from leading suppliers to help electronics professionals navigate today’s manufacturing and reliability challenges. Built as an educational hub, the Resource Center connects engineers and manufacturers with application-focused guidance on materials, processes, and performance considerations shaping modern electronics.


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