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Web Exclusives
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SPICE Simulation Fundamentals
Circuit simulation is an important part of any design process. By simulating your circuits, you can detect errors early in the process, and avoid costly and time-consuming prototype reworking. You can also easily swap components to evaluate designs with varying bills of materials (BOMs).
by National Instruments
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 | Prototron: America’s Quick Turn Board Shop
“Look
it’s very simple, we focus on what we do best and then we do it
best. That’s what I wanted to do when I started this company over
twenty years ago,” said Dave Ryder, president and founder of
Prototron Circuits in Redmond, Wash., and Tucson Ariz.
by Dan Beaulieu
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Web-Exclusive: Why Invest During a Recession?
During this recession, electronics
companies are faced with difficult decisions. The money being spent
on electronics is far less than a few years ago. This applies to most
industries; consumer, telecom, networking, medical, industrial, the
list goes on. What this means is that the competition for the
dollars that are being spent is tougher, so electronics
companies have choices on how they run their business and product
development activities.
by Henry Potts
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“Groovy!” Is Back—This Time As New Trace Geometry for PWBs
Yes, the word groovy may bring a smile of recognition to those of us old enough to remember this once over-used word, a substitute for okay or cool. So groovy just had to pop into mind when I noted with great interest a paper on grooved circuits authored by three companies and given by Amkor’s Ron Huemoeller at the annual Pan Pacific conference in Hawaii in late January. The title was “Unveiling the Next Generation in Substrate Technology.”
by George Gregoire
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Observations From DesignCon 2007
The DesignCon 2007 Conference and Expo wrapped up Thursday, February 1, following four days of technical sessions and exhibits at the Santa Clara Convention Center, Santa Clara, Calif. The International Engineering Consortium (www.iec.org) organizes this event, and although it is not the group’s only DesignCon event, it is the largest, in part due to its location in the heart of “high-tech country.”
by Karl Dietz
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 | The Korean Shuffle: KPCAshow 2006 in Review
In a region of the world where China and Japan get most of the attention, Korea’s electronics industry has quietly produced some of the world’s largest PCB fabricators. But can they diversify beyond the mobile phone market?
by Roy Sakelson
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 | Environmentally Speaking
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is flexing its muscle in pursuit of stronger criminal enforcement of corporate environmental violations.
by Fern Abrams
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CPCA Show 2006 Staves Off Competitors
Prior to CPCA Show 2006 in Shanghai, many industry observers wondered whether or not the show would succeed. With low-cost competition from a Suzhou exhibition in April, a Messe München-run electronics show running simultaneously in Pudong, exhibitors grumbling about high costs, and several notable exhibitors choosing not to participate, there was cause to speculate.
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KPCAshow 2006: A Preview
The Korean Printed Circuit Association (KPCA) is hosting its fourth annual KPCAshow this year on April 25-27, 2006 at COEX in Seoul, Korea.
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EPA to Propose Cost Saving Rule on PCB Sludge Disposal
Electroplating sludge disposal is, more often than not, the number one environmental cost for PCB manufacturers and other manufacturing industries that conduct electroplating. The U.S. EPA has publicly committed to proposing a rule that could greatly lower the cost of sludge disposal by exempting it from Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) Hazardous Waste Regulations.
by Fern Abrams
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 | The Cost of Compliance: A Case Study
Being first to produce environmentally-friendly electronics products that meet challenging standards for European RoHS compliance is the mission of Portland, Oregon’s Electronic Controls Design, Inc. (ECD), Sunstone Circuits and MEC Northwest. The trio -- a circuit board manufacturer, an instrumentation tools manufacturer and a contract assembly manufacturer -– are working feverishly to beat the competition before the July ’06 European compliance date.
By Linda Barney and Jack Rubinger
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Pioneer Circuits: For the Defense
This southern-California PCB fabricator has made its living by building boards for some of the most sophisticated space and military applications on the planet.
Fred Friedman
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Printed Circuit Board Asset & Wealth Recovery
Presently, most companies that remove and refurbish chips do their work by hand. The DePop is an efficient process of depopulating a printed wire board for chip removal and precious metal recovery.
James R Moltion
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EIPC Technology Trip to China Enables Partnerships
Based on members’ input, EIPC organized a technology excursion. Nineteen participants traveled to Shanghai in March to visit the China Printed Circuit Association (CPCA) show. In addition, the group visited eight PCB fabricators in the area of Shanghai and Suzhou.
Michael Weinhold
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InterNepcon Japan: In Many, One
Exhibitors from six industry segments gathered under one roof this year to display their wares at one of Japan’s premiere electronics shows. Lead-free and flexible circuit technology are still the hot topics—but will the fabricators live up to the hype?
Dominique Numakura
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Is Your WASTE Too Big?
The new Dr. Matkin’s approach to trimming the fat out of your Sales Department
Barry Matties
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‘Is This Industry Really Necessary?’
The National Academies organized one of its investigative programs to separate fact from fiction before a committee of unbiased experts regarding the state of the U.S. printed circuit board industry. An insider’s look at what was discussed, and the action that must be taken to defend America’s electronics industry.
Harvey Miller
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 | Value Selling—Lou DeRose
This improving business environment is providing a real opportunity for fabricators to think positively and act proactively to improve their fortunes.
by Louis De Rose
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 | Value Selling -- Lou DeRose
In my last column I quoted the Austrian philosopher, Ludwig Wittgenstein, who said: “He who controls vocabulary, controls thought”. I believe that implicit in this pearl of wisdom is a further gem. That is: “He who controls thought, controls action.”
by Louis De Rose
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EPC Show 2004: A Matter of Perspective
The EPC Show 2004, which concluded after three days at the Köln Messe, proved to be a time for regrouping for most involved. While a quality conference program was complemented by relatively small exhibition and a renewal of old relationships, how good the show was depended on whom you asked.
Pete Starkey and Steve Gold
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 | Value Selling—Lou DeRose
The philosopher Wittgenstein said, “He who controls vocabulary, controls thought.” Perceptions are thoughts, and you influence your customer’s thoughts through the words and phrases you use. If you believe that low price and value are not the same thing, then you must structure the vocabulary you use to demonstrate the difference.
by Louis De Rose
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Exploring New Markets Through Regional Fairs
Messe München International has learned that by breaking up its trade shows into regions allows for optimum market proximity at the global and regional levels. These regional fairs create a unique networking opportunity for companies all around the world to grow their business in a new market.
Joe McGehee
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 | Sense or Nonsense
All batches of printed circuit boards in progress are processed in the same timescale as fast turnaround. So why are you charging premiums for some orders and not for others?
Harold Marshall
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 | Value Selling -- Lou DeRose
The cyclical nature of the electronics industry is inevitable. But when it comes to bearing the burden of inventory in the supply chain, there are three important steps PCB manufacturers can take to reduce the consequences of this fallout.
by Louis De Rose
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Exiting Gracefully—Dana Barfield
Someone must have the money to purchase your business. Since you probably have no idea far in advance if an outsider, a family member or an employee will be the best option to take over your company, and since having options open to you when you do exit will enhance your negotiating position, you want to keep all options open for as long as you can. If there is even the slightest possibility that you’ll want family to take over or employees to purchase, this is a critical issue, because, generally the lack of capital prevents family and employees from taking over the business without you making a “gift” to them.
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 | Value Selling—Lou DeRose
After the devastating experience of the past few years, where price was the principal buying concern, it will be difficult to adapt to a different mind-set. In our economic system, cycles are a built-in phenomenon. We’re coming out of the down-leg of one cycle, and entering a new one. Recognize that fact and manage your resources to grow in the coming up-leg of the new cycle.
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Exiting Gracefully
With so many decisions to be made when running your business why should you start planning for retirement now? The answers may surprise you.
by Dana Barfield
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 | Value Selling -- Lou DeRose
The simplistic notion that “a rising tide will lift all boats” demonstrates the myopic attitudes too common among PWB fabricators.
by Louis De Rose
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 | Value Selling -- Lou DeRose
The time is now for PWB manufacturers to forge stronger technology and distribution partnerships.
by Louis De Rose
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Exiting Gracefully
Four things you should know to protect your business against lawsuits and creditors.
by Dana Barfield
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Exiting Gracefully -- Dana Barfield
Just like owning a business, making good investments is about careful analysis and the discipline to stick with the program. Let’s talk about how you as a business owner can make wise investments outside your business.
by Dana Barfield
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 | Value Selling -- Lou DeRose
In presumably selling value, do they demonstrate how customer costs are affected by supplier information technology – how timely, complete, and reliable the exchange of information is between buyer and seller?
by Louis De Rose
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Exiting Gracefully -- Dana Barfield
Why outside investments are so important: because the ability for the exiting owner to generate income from other investments relieves much of the pressure and expands the options for the family to keep the business and be successful.
by Dana Barfield
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The‘Three Rs’ of PWB Manufacturing
As PWB designs continue to keep pace with the electronics market demand for smaller, faster, more complex and higher reliability products, our “Three Rs” have become a prerequisite to cost- and quality-effective PWB manufacturing—Resolution, Registration, Reduced Costs.
David Stone
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 | Value Selling -- Lou DeRose
I don’t believe PCB companies adequately understand the evolving industry structure and its impact on their survival, let alone prospects for growth.
by Louis De Rose
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DesignCon 2004
A review of the exhibition and technical conference.
by Karl Dietz
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 | Value Selling -- Lou De Rose
For those of you who may not have noticed, my “Value Selling” column has been missing from the CircuiTree site for several months.
by Louis De Rose
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Trimming Embedded Resistors: Third Party Processing
This paper will further investigate the cost of ownership, focusing on the details involved with the process of trimming embedded resistors in a production environment at a “Third Party Processor.”
Dr. D.O.K. (Kim) Fjeldsted
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Exiting Gracefully -- Dana Barfield
Financial advisers tend to focus a lot of attention on taxes, but two other issues will affect ownership transfer: the timing of the transaction and the tender (money) that changes hands. Taken individually, each has a meaningful impact on how successfully the owner exits. Since each comes into the play at exactly the same time, taken together the results can be any where from devastating to outstanding.
Dana Barfield
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On The ISOapbox
If a simple change like masking tape can hurt board production, what kind of changes can you expect from a comprehensive, top-to-bottom restructuring of your business organization based on standards written in Europe by people you will never meet?
Scott Hetherton
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Design and Performance of Ultra-thin Substrates for use as Embedded Capacitors
In this paper, considerations of copper foil and dielectric resin properties (which make up the capacitor material) are discussed. Also, fabrication of the thin film capacitor material incorporating into PWBs and performance of electrical performance using the materials are described.
John Andresakis, Takuya Yamamoto [Oak-Mitsui Technologies LLC]
Nick Biunno [Sanmina-SCI Corporation]
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Exiting Gracefully -- Dana Barfield
Every business owner exits his or her business. There are no exceptions, seldom any second chances and many hurdles to exit successfully. Conditions such as illness, death, bankruptcy or divorce may dictate a sale. While most owners have some idea of how they prefer to exit, few business owners have a plan that keeps their exit options open and provides the needed arrangements for a successful exit.
by Dana Barfield
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Exiting Gracefully
NEW Column
In today's volatile business environment, every business owner needs to ask, "Is it time to update my exit plan?" If you're a business owner and you're asking "What's an exit plan and why do I need one?" keep reading.
Dana Barfield
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An Alternate Oxide
A new oxide chemistry has been developed which solves many of the annoying properties of the currently available alternate oxides. The process is simple to operate, even simpler to maintain, requires less chemistry, manages to be easier on the innerlayers, is highly conducive to waste treatment, and is significantly lower in cost.
Rudy Sedlak
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The UK's PCB Industry Can Survive and Prosper in 2003
After lengthy discussions with leading professionals from UK based PCB companies, I have come to the conclusion that the UK PCB industry can survive and prosper, but it will only be achieved at a cost. Companies must be prepared to take a long, hard, strategic look at how they conduct their business in particular, and how they manage their cost structures.
Brian Haken
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The Circuit Centennial
It's the printed circuit's 100th birthday! Interestingly, the PCB was not invented by a single person, but by many who contributed to the total concept. Read on to discover the evolution of the modern printed circuit board.
Ken Gilleo, Ph.D.
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 | From the Capitol -- Guest column
We must help California's leaders make that critical connection between policy decisions and the real world, between choices and consequences.
Tim Leslie
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The Fabfile Report
Fabfile census data is derived from periodically surveying individual facilities large and small. Following is summary data compiled from the third quarter of 2002, updating 249 companies.
Fred Friedman
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Taking the Steps to Plate Backpanels
This article explores the inherent challenges PCB manufacturers face when attempting to integrate backpanels into an existing production line.
Neil Baker
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Combination Grid-Prober Test
This article is an attempt to explain CGP in a practical sense. Since CGP can be a "push button" function in test data processing, a deeper understanding will maximize its potential for most users.
Duane Delfosse
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Semicon West 2002: Déjà vu
Despite a slumping semiconductor industry, it helps to remember that economic cycles are a part of business.
Fred Friedman
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Kay Rations -- Richard Kessler
The author's Aunt Rose illustrates what the North American PCB industry needs right now: perseverance and staying power.
by Richard Kessler
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Controlled Surface Etching Process for Fine Line/Space Circuits
Semiconductor chip design is moving towards increasingly finer lines to meet the demands of more functions and higher speed. This trend has placed increasing demand on high density PWBs and substrates for plastic packages to develop many new materials and processes.
Ken-ichi Shimizu, Katsuji Komatsu, Yasuo Tanaka, and Morio Gaku
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News from Northbrook -- Denny McGuirk
If standards play such an important role in the worldwide marketplace, why do some companies see them as nothing more than an extracurricular activity?
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News from Northbrook -- Denny McGuirk
Tariffs, whether it's for steel or PCBs, only mask the challenges to our manufacturing competitiveness---technology adaptation, a level global playing field and responsible environmental legislation, to name a few.
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The Future of the Yen
How will the decline of Japan's currency affect global PCB players? Find out in this Web exclusive!
Clive Jones
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Capitol Hill Day Takes A Break
Why travel to Washington D.C. to influence a member of Congress when a tour of your facility is even more effective?
John Kania
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Designing in Three Dimensions
Duncan Hooper, senior technical officer at Zuken, looks at the move to integrating mechanical and electronic design in 3D and where it can take the industry.
Duncan Hooper
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Solventless Prepreg Manufacturing Process
A discussion of a technology for a production coating system that enables a copper clad laminate manufacturer to take advantage of a new solventless prepreg manufacturing process.
Kelly Graham
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Microvia Formation: Technology and Cost Comparison
Various technologies are available for microvia formation, such as mechanical and laser processes. Depending on the product spectrum, each technology has specific advantages and disadvantages. This article discusses the cost aspect of both technologies.
Michael Kauf, Ph.D.
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No Noise is Good News!
While Densitron is beginning to make some noise in the flat screen PC market, signal noise is no longer an issue for its board design team. Investing in Zuken's design tools to improve signal integrity analysis and facilitate teamworking has proven to be a good choice -- both for design and time-to-market.
Duncan Hooper and Steve Burden
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Demand Chain Management
Is better demand chain management and predictive intelligence the insurance policy that minimizes the risk of missing performance targets?
Richard Tanler
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Finally---A Safe Replacement for DTC
The favorable toxicity of Thio-Red chemistries and the very small sludge generation of the reacted metal ion exchange should be considered as a replacement for DTC as well as inorganic chemistries.
Dean M. Schmelter
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Buyers Guide
Comprehensive PWB services and suppliers team directory to find the suppliers and distributors you need fast.
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Conformal Coating at the Speed of Light: UV Conformal Coating from Start to Finish
