Weighing the Pros and Cons of Internet-Based Business Relationships Offshore outsourcing has caused its fair share of pains for the U.S. PCB manufacturing industry. The large-scale production moving offshore has resulted in a drastic decline in the number of North American PCB fabricators in recent years. Since 2001, 30 PCB manufacturers, on average, shut down each year. Now, however, domestic PCB design software and manufacturing companies that predominantly conduct business through online mediums are experiencing a surge in their customer base.
Creating a Streamlined Manufacturing Process for Operational PCBs PCB manufacturing grows more and more complex, seemingly with each day. It involves critical steps and requires detailed parameters about PCBs being manufactured so that they can be efficiently built and will function correctly. This article focuses on key methods and technologies to effectively prepare and hand off the PCB design to manufacturing. Figure 1 illustrates an effective design and handoff process to manufacturing.
Market Outlook: Not a Pretty Picture As I write this column in early October, global economic chaos prevails. Tear up the prior forecasts and start over!
Flexible Thinking: Back to Basics Part 21 – Stiffeners and Reinforcements for Flexible Circuits Stiffeners and reinforcements are common elements in flexible circuit design, and their primary function is supporting components mounted and interconnected on a flexible circuit. These important add-ons can be fabricated from a wide range of different materials depending on design need.
by JosephFjelstad
Happy Thoughts: Lots of New Materials From Asia I recently finished up a new activity, the creation of the HDI Handbook. While putting that book together and doing research on HDI materials for chapter five, I collected a lot of information on new materials from Asia.
by HappyHolden
Fein Lines: The Next RoHS-Like Trend Is Upon Us—Plan Well In my previous column, I wrote about the potential opportunity that photovoltaics offer the PWB fab industry and suggested that the increased use of solar was something we all could support because it was good for a number of reasons. And it does provide a business opportunity for our industry. Based on some feedback I received, I believe I must clarify two areas.
by DanFeinberg
Lead Wire: More With Less Doing more with less. It’s a phrase you hear a great deal in a struggling economy, and it got me thinking about my first trade show experience in the printed circuit board industry—IPC Midwest.
by DarrylSeland
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Comprehensive PWB services and suppliers team directory to find the suppliers and distributors you need fast.
CircuiTree University Webinars are your easy, effective and convenient way to get educated and informed on the latest industry trends and topics.
Up-to-the-minute information on the latest industry news.
