I-Connect007 Editor’s Choice: Five Must-Reads for the Week
April 5, 2024 | Andy Shaughnessy, I-Connect007Estimated reading time: 3 minutes
Spring has definitely sprung; it was 81 degrees last week in Atlanta, and this week it’s been in the 40s. That’s typical spring weather in Atlanta. My newly cut lawn is looking great, thanks to my “yard guy” Clive.
And now our industry’s trade show season is in full swing. I’m all checked in and heading to Anaheim to cover IPC APEX EXPO next week. There’s a lot going on there this year, especially in PCB design. The number of design-related conference classes continues to grow with each show. That’s a good thing: New designers are entering the workforce, slowly but surely, and many companies are losing their subject matter experts to retirement.
IPC APEX EXPO will be held in Anaheim for the next couple of years. The last time I attended in Anaheim was about 20 years ago, and I never did make it to Disneyland. I’m shooting for some Mouse time this year.
I need to finish packing, so without further ado, here’s my must-reads for this week. I hope to see you in California.
Tim’s Takeaways: The Art of Technical Instruction
Published April 4
Speaking of PCB design, do you have what it takes to be a design instructor? You might. As columnist Tim Haas explains, there’s a need for design instructors, and if you’re constantly doing research and reading the latest white papers, you might be a great candidate for a design instructor. He also provides a few horror stories from his design teaching days. Check it out.
Creators of SMT UHDI Test Board Vehicle Discuss this Important Project
Published April 4
Chrys Shea led the development of the SMT test vehicle a few years ago. As features continued to shrink, the industry saw a need for a UHDI test vehicle, so Chrys and Altium’s David Haboud sprang into action. In this audio interview, they discuss what it took to update the test vehicle to UHDI and why technologists working in UHDI should check it out for themselves.
Global Sourcing Spotlight: Don’t Be Afraid of Global Sourcing
Published April 3
No matter how good things are going, some of us have this nagging suspicion in the back of our minds that there’s another snafu waiting around the corner, and another supply chain shutdown probably ranks Numero Uno in that category. But as columnist Bob Duke explains, despite two shooting wars and our stressful relationship with China, global sourcing is not only looking solid—it actually might help bring nations closer together and stave off potential conflicts. As he says, “Business is all about people.”
Checking In With ICAPE Group
Published April 3
ICAPE operates in countries around the globe, from China to South Africa to the U.S., so the company has a pretty broad view of the fab industry. In this interview, ICAPE’s Erik Pedersen explains how they approach sustainability, what sustainability actually entails, and why value engineering is so critical.
IPC APEX EXPO 2024: There’s an App for That
Published April 3
If you’re heading to IPC APEX EXPO, you’ve probably noticed that there are so many classes and “special events” taking place, often at the same time. Make it easy on yourself and scan this handy-dandy APEX QR code, and you’ll be able to see each day’s events at a glance while getting alerts for the events that are most important to you.
Suggested Items
Quantic Electronics Announces Acquisition of M Wave Design
05/20/2024 | Quantic ElectronicsQuantic® Electronics, a portfolio company of Arcline Investment Management, announced the acquisition of M Wave Design, a leading supplier of ferrite-based RF and Microwave components for aerospace, defense, and quantum computing applications.
Textron Systems Collaborates with Kodiak to Develop Uncrewed Military Vehicle
05/20/2024 | PRNewswireTextron Systems Corporation, a Textron Inc. company, a leading developer of crewed and uncrewed military ground vehicles, and Kodiak Robotics, Inc., a leading self-driving technology developer for the trucking and defense markets, announced that they are collaborating to develop an autonomous military ground vehicle specifically designed for driverless operations.
Spring 2024 Santa Clara County Flexfactor Finals Held at Nextflex
05/20/2024 | NextFlexNextFlex hosts this semester’s FlexFactor. Four teams of high school students competed by pitching their inventive products to a panel of esteemed judges composed of Robert de Neve, General Partner & Chief Strategist General Partner & Chief Strategist at NextPhase Ventures; Christine Holly Ngo, VP of Operations and Business Development at Silicon Valley Elite Manufacturing, Inc; and Jackson Rambough, FHE Design and Process Engineer at NextFlex.
Würth Elektronik in United States Embarks on New Milestone with State-of-the-Art Headquarters
05/17/2024 | Wurth ElektronikWürth Elektronik in the United States, a leading manufacturer of electronic and electromechanical components as well as custom magnetics, has announced the commencement of construction on a new 70,000-square-foot headquarters. This new facility underscores the company’s commitment to innovation and grow in the electronics industry.
IPC APEX EXPO: Some Thoughts About Growth
05/16/2024 | Dan Feinberg, I-Connect007After two and a half days of wandering the aisles at IPC APEX EXPO 2024, for the first time, I almost felt like I was exploring CES. There were so many booths and exhibits that I could describe, but I’d like to focus on the growth and huge value of this event, which has expanded well beyond just the growing and impressive exhibit show floor.