Printed Circuit Design & Fab Online Magazine - Current

Products

WOBURN, MA -- Innov-X Systems has released the Handheld Laser-Focus Camera System for small-spot testing that captures a digital picture and test results for compliance RoHS screening tests in an XRF Analyzer. It Isolates test areas by placing a test spot down to 3 mm diameter and displaying the image and sample target on the color PDA screen in real-time.

This product is said to be deal for evaluating non-homogeneous parts such as PCBs where the beam can be focused on a small component, solder joint, lead or terminal. It can switch from collimated pinpoint to full-field analysis. Snapshot images of samples analyzed plus laser-targeted small-spot analysis are saved in test records. The system is said to measure up to 25 elements in a single test.

WOBURN, MA -- The X-50 Mobile XRF from Innov-X Systems tests Cd to 1 ppm in many sample types, 10 ppm in alloys. It's said to be ideal for RoHS Packaging Directive, which requires sum of Cd, Hg, Pb, Cr less than 100 ppm.

The Inspector Series XRF tests leadcontent in solder and parts. It alerts users to banned metals using pass/fail criteria and documents total Cr, Br, Pb, Hg and Cd. The analyzer features an angled front display plus rear display for easy viewing of test results; no wipe tests; said to eliminate the liability of isotope control, improper use, theft and disposal.

WOBURN, MA -- Innov-x Systems' Hawk Micro XRF benchtop analyzers deliver identification and elemental analysis from Ch to U. It uses collimated beam of 13 to 0.2 mm diameter, with laser beam focusing. The analyzers are said to be ideal for testing small or nonhomogeneous samples.

Applications include RoHS compliance analysis for electronics, PCB and components. They can reportedly perform standard-less quantitative analysis with statistical accuracy. Movable X-Y stage affords precise measurements across samples. A color CCD camera enables digital snapshots with magnification of up to 68X; combined with the laser spot tool, enables digital pictures to be analyzed and stored. Includes a large testing chamber, X-ray tube source and Si PiN-diode detector interfaced to a PC.

MUNICH, Germany and WESTFORD, MA – Zuken and daughter organization CIM-Team have announced the launch of E³.e-PLM - a Windows based database solution for harmonizing sub-schematics, modules or blocks for product lifecycle management. In addition to providing the architecture required for total design reuse, the integrated project management functionality is also said to simplify procurement, allowing users to generate complete project order data with one mouse click.

According to a news release, the new solution integrates Zuken’s tested and proven engineering product lifecycle management (e-PLM) environment with the longstanding E³.series technology from CIM-Team. It allows users of the E³.series electrical control system design and documentation suite to fully align and integrate with nearly all departments involved in the product lifecycle, from development through to production.

“There is an enormous amount of potential for truly optimizing electrical and electronics product lifecycle management within all of our tool environments. This is the most significant integration of software between the two organizations – Zuken and CIM-Team – and is a very significant step forward for us in terms of delivering the synergies that we promised the market following the acquisition of CIM-Team in April 2006,” said Wolfgang Heinrichs, Zuken’s e-PLM business general manager.

SANTA CLARA, CA – Coherent Inc.’s new series of low-power, continuous-wave (CW) carbon-dioxide (CO₂) lasers offer high reliability operation for OEM applications. The Diamond C Series consists of sealed lasers with output powers of 30, 40, 55 and 70 watts at 10.6 µm. These lasers are said to offer good amplitude stability (±5% for air-cooled models and ±3% for liquid-cooled units) and excellent output beam characteristics (M² <1.2 for 30 W and 55 W systems, and M² <1.3 for 40 W and 70 W models). For all models with improved cooling, the warranty is 24 months, and there are no gas refill requirements.

Other features include the use of new components and new resonator materials that optimize both laser efficiency and lifetime. In addition, laser cooling and temperature control have been improved to further benefit both laser stability and lifetime.

Diamond C Series lasers are reportedly ideal for materials processing applications such as marking and engraving, which generally require output powers less than 100 W. And because the RF power supply is inside the compact laser head, the lasers are easier for OEM system builders to integrate.

GLEN ELLEN, CA – Speeding Edge released the second volume of its handbook, “Right the First Time, A Practical Handbook on High Speed PCB and System Design.” While the first volume of the handbook addressed the fundamentals of high-speed design, Volume Two provides a detailed explanation of the steps necessary to design and manufacture a high-speed PCB that works right the first time.

Lee Ritchey, founder and president of Speeding Edge, said, “Our goal with this book is to provide a hands-on guide that enables engineering professionals and business decision makers to arrive at critical decisions about the design and fabrication of printed circuit boards that not only work right the first time but are also built with the most cost-effective and time efficient methodologies possible. To that end, we have included an extremely detailed description of the PCB fabrication process; how to select the right PCB materials; the process of understanding and controlling EMI and the various types of glass styles and their impact on board impedance.”

Specific topic highlights of the handbook include:

Simulation methodologies and toolsets
A complete description of various PCB structures and their influence on signal integrity
The build-up fabrication process
Bare and assembled board testing
Split planes and return currents
The virtual prototyping process and the tools used in that process
A detailed PCB fabrication specification
Power system tests
Comprehensive laminate data for high-speed applications

“Right the First Time, A Practical Handbook on High Speed PCB and System Design, Volume 2,” is available for immediate purchase and will be shipped to customers by the end of April.