Smart Factories: More Than Robots

March 21, 2019 | Nolan Johnson, I-Connect007

The acceptance of smart factories is a global movement across multiple industries. Even materials and chemistries are aligning with a move toward further automation, which allows equipment manufacturers to capture and store more data, and software layers to perform more detailed analysis, prediction, and optimization.

TTM on Flex and Rigid-flex PCB Challenges

March 20, 2019 | Barry Matties, I-Connect007

One of the biggest bareboard manufacturers in the world, TTM Technologies has seen a recent surge in flex and rigid-flex demands from their customers. In this interview, Clay Zha, Vice President of Technology Solutions of TTM’s Mobility business unit, and VP of Corporate Marketing Winnie Ng discuss the differences in manufacturing flex versus traditional PCBs, and the increasing need for rigid-flex HDI boards.

Trouble in Your Tank: Moving in Microvias, Part 3

March 20, 2019 | Michael Carano, RBP Chemical Technology

If we have learned anything about moving into HDI manufacturing, it is that it takes a great deal of thought and discipline to be successful. Unfortunately, as the following bullet points delineate, all too often, the fabricator...

Ladle on Manufacturing: VCP—The Future of Plating

March 19, 2019 | Marc Ladle, Viking Test Ltd.

Electroplating copper has been a standard part of the PCB manufacturing process for more than 50 years. The basic technology has not changed very much in that time. Normal arrangements involve a series of chemical and rinse tanks into...

It’s Only Common Sense: So Long, Marty

March 18, 2019 | Dan Beaulieu, DB Management

Let me tell you about my good friend Marty Petersen. He was one of the most intriguing people I have ever met and had the pleasure to work with. Marty was always all in, whatever task he undertook. When I met him, he was handling the...