As we continue to work our way through this pandemic, it makes us wonder about—and even yearn for—what things will be like one year from now. It does not take too much optimism to hope that we will get through these dark days and onto our post-COVID-19 lives, but what […]
With the current shortage of qualified and certified military PCB suppliers, finding one has become more challenging than ever. We once had over 1,500 PCB companies in the U.S., with perhaps one-third of them being mil spec (military specification) qualified, but with about 500 now, there are just a handful. […]
With so many things changing right now, as well as lots of innovation happening and new products being developed, it’s important that you share your vision of the future with your PCB suppliers. In a true partnership, the partners not only work on current technology, but they also need to […]
We always talk about being a valuable vendor, but what about being a valuable customer? If you think about it, you’ll realize that being a valuable customer matters too—especially if you want to get the most from your vendor-supplier partnership. It is always important to be your supplier’s favorite customer, […]
Unlike other specifications like the aerospace AS9100 standard that focuses on the quality management system, MIL-PRF-31032 is a performance specification; in other words, it was established to test PCBs to certify that they meet the necessary requirements for military use. The title of the specification is “Printed Circuit Board/Printed Wiring […]
There are three methods commonly used for bonding multiple layers of RF & Microwave PCB laminates, such as PTFE (Teflon) materials, duroids and other RF materials from AGC Nelco, Isola and Rogers. These three methods are 1. Thermoplastic films, 2. Thermoset prepregs, and 3. Direct bonding often called “fusion bonding”. […]
Since their introduction, flexible and rigid-flex pcb boards have been steadily moving from the fringe of electronic interconnection towards its center. Today, flexible PCBx boards are found in countless products from the very simple to the highly complex. There are numerous reasons for this shift, as there are a multitude […]
Many times, I have seen people from PCB shops cringe when one of their customers starts talking about having a partnership with them. Normally, when a PCB shop hears this, it often means they are going to have to give something up, and the customer is finding a way to […]
John Bushie, ASC’s Director of Technology, explains what a micro rectifier is and how it functions. Transcript: SW: Steve Williams here I’m at American Standard circuits today I’m with John Bushie, director of technology here hey John how you doing? JB: Very well, Steve. SW: So recently, you and I […]
Do you know the total value of a good PCB? When you work with a good PCB fabricator, you need to have a good understanding of the total value of the product. Many companies look for the bottom-dollar price of PCBs and do not take the time to make sure […]