Designer highlights from IPC Apex Expo 2019.

This month’s column brings you highlights from IPC Apex Expo in San Diego, and a brief report from the IPC Designers Council Executive Board meeting that occurred on the opening day of the show.

This year’s IPC Apex Expo was another good show, with a reported 5,000+ attendees from 56 countries and 440 exhibitors. Overall, there were 9,796 visitors, attendees, and exhibitor personnel. Similar to past shows, the IPC subcommittees were filled with collaboration, passionate discussions, debates, and positive synergies among talented engineers and subject matter engineers (SMEs), helping to improve our industry standards and make a difference. These are the people who volunteer their time and mold our industry.

A good example of one of these engineers and SMEs is Leo Lambert. Leo has been involved with IPC for many years in numerous subcommittees. He is vice president and technical director at Eptac and became the 2019 IPC Hall of Fame inductee for his efforts and contributions to the industry (FIGURE 1). I know Leo personally and feel very blessed to call him a colleague and true friend. If you have not had the opportunity to engage with Leo or meet him at one of our many industry events, he is one sharp individual with tons of industry experience and knowledge he wants to share with others. Congratulations, Leo!

IPC DC Executive Board

The IPC DC Executive Board meeting took place on Jan. 29. Members in attendance included Gary Ferrari, Mike Creeden, Cherie Litson, Kelly Dack, Thomas Romont and me. Michael Schleicher, a guest representative from Germany, was also in attendance. Further, John Mitchell, Dave Hernandez, Colette Buscemi, Teresa Rowe, Aaron Birney, and Charlene Gunter du Plessis represented IPC. After several exhausted attempts, we were unsuccessful in getting a video conference call pulled up for executive members calling into the meeting due to their unavailability to attend in person, such as Rick Hartley, Susy Webb, Reiner Thueringer, and Soo Lan Cheah.

The meeting started with a lengthy discussion of the newly introduced IPC course, Introduction to Printed Circuit Board (PCB) Design, made up of the following two sections:

1. IPC PCB Fundamentals, Schematic Capture – PCB Design 1

2. IPC PCB Fundamentals, PCB Layout – PCB Design 2

For more information on this course, visit IPC’s website. Another topic of discussion was the newly announced IPC Education Foundation unveiled at this year’s show.

Finally, it was agreed that an initial kickoff meeting between the IPC DC Executive Board and the new IPC Education Foundation staff will be held in early March, as we explore opportunities for collaboration around the IPC Student Chapter model and the broader STEM and education programs and initiatives currently being developed. Stay tuned for more information to follow.

IPC CID Certification Class

Cherie Litson, MIT, was the instructor who led the diverse IPC CID certification class made up of approximately 15 students at IPC Apex Expo. The class had male and female students from different backgrounds with varying experience, who traveled domestically and internationally to achieve their IPC CID certification. Cherie commented, “There was a lot of energy and engagement within this group. After three days of lecture and an exam held on the fourth day, all students successfully achieved their IPC CID certification.” Congrats to all these students!

The Future

Next month, we will resume an individual chapter spotlight and review feedback from the IPC DC Executive Board.

2019 Training and Certification Schedule: Updated

IPC Certified Interconnect Designer (CID)

• February 26–March 1: Manchester, NH
• March 5–8: Santa Clara, CA
• March 19–22: Kirkland, WA
• April 22–25: Schaumburg, IL
• May 21–24: Pittsburgh, PA
• June 18–21: Kirkland, WA
• August 6–9: Baltimore, MD
• August 26–29: Markham, ON
• September 6–9: Santa Clara, CA
• September 19–22: Schaumburg, IL
• October 21–24: Anaheim, CA
• November 2–5: Raleigh, NC
• November 5–8: Dallas, TX

IPC Advanced Certified Interconnect Designer CID+

• April 16–19: Markham, ON
• September 6–9: Santa Clara, CA
• September 10–13: Kirkland, WA
• September 19–22: Schaumburg, IL
• October 21–24: Anaheim, CA
• November 2–5: Raleigh, NC
• December 3–6: Manchester, NH

• Note: Dates and locations are subject to change. Contact EPTAC to check current dates and availability. A minimum enrollment of seven students is required for a class to be held.

  PCB Design Events

PCB2Day

• Controlling noise, EMI, and signal integrity in high-speed circuits and PCBs
• April 17–18: Seattle, WA
• June 13–14: Boston (Chelmsford), MA
• pcb2day.com

PCB West 2019

• September 9–11: Santa Clara, CA
• pcbwest.com

STEPHEN CHAVEZ is a member of the IPC Designers Council Executive Board and chairman of the communications subcommittee. To read past columns or contact Chavez, click here.

Figure 1. Leo Lambert receiving the 2019 IPC Hall of Fame Inductee Award with John Mitchell, IPC president and CEO.