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FEATURES

MATERIAL PERFORMANCE
Free-Space Technique for Measurement of PCB Laminate Materials
PCB performance strongly depends on laminate dielectric constant and dissipation factor related to complex dielectric constant. Among the methods for measuring complex permittivity are waveguide, cavity resonator, open resonant cavities, split-post dielectric resonator and free-space techniques. The latter offers a simple, yet data rich, nondestructive characterization method.
by Mike Miller

DESIGN QUALIFICATION
Qualification vs. First Article Inspection
Military and commercial product suppliers often overlook what is being asked by their customer when they are asked to qualify a part. What’s more, there’s a disconnect between what FAI is and whether it is a sufficient technique for design qualification.
by Charles Hill and Karen Ebner

MURRIETTA CIRCUITS
The One-Stop SoCal Shop
For over 30 years, the family-run Southern California company has been adding services to its printed circuit roots.
by Chelsey Drysdale

FIRST PERSON

• CAVEAT LECTOR
  Man vs. machine.
  Mike Buetow

MONEY MATTERS

• ROI
  No flex in circuits industry.
  Peter Bigelow
  
  

• FOCUS ON BUSINESS
  Getting the deal on paper.
  Susan Mucha

TECH TALK

• DESIGNER’S NOTEBOOK
  Changing copper weight.
  Noah Fenley
  

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FEATURES

PCB DESIGN
Using Systems Design Methodology to Manage Complex PCB Designs
Managing the hundreds of interconnections between boards and external connectors and controls, manually, and without error, is virtually impossible. Is there a better way to ensure new configurations communication and design synchronization?
by Rainer Asfalg And Andy Watts

RETROSPECTIVE
In Memoriam
A look back at friends and colleagues who left us in 2014.

FIRST PERSON

• CAVEAT LECTOR
  Giving it away.
  Mike Buetow

MONEY MATTERS

• ROI
  The fab sandwich.
  Peter Bigelow
  

• FOCUS ON BUSINESS
  Cushioning the blows.
  Susan Mucha

TECH TALK

• ON THE FOREFRONT
  IoT: It’s all in the package.
  E. Jan Vardaman
• DESIGNER’S NOTEBOOK
  Pad-to-via clearance effects.
  Scott Fillebrown
• THE FLEXPERTS
  Just what are “local equivalent materials?”
  Mark Finstad

• TECH TIPS
  Minimizing BTC voiding.
  Karl Seelig and Tim O’Neill

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FEATURES

FABRICATION
Cost Comparison of Complex PCB Fabrication using Traditional Sequential Lamination Methods versus Interconnect with Conductive Paste
As feature sizes become smaller, the cost of PCB fabrication goes up. Sequential lamination of complex circuit boards, in particular, is a time-consuming and expensive process. This study analyzes costs associated with traditional methods compared with an alternative that uses conductive paste as interconnect between cores.
by Chet A. Palesko, Amy J. Palesko, James Haley And Catherine Shearer

DESIGN TRADEOFFS
Are Tight Tolerances Costing You Money?
Does a tighter tolerance guarantee superior quality and better function, or just a higher unit cost? A look at the tradeoffs.
by Robert Simon

CHEMICAL LABELING
GHS Timeline Update
The latest OSHA hazard communication requirements go into effect next year, impacting manufacturers and all facilities which use chemicals. Are you ready?
by Scott Mazur

FIRST PERSON

• CAVEAT LECTOR
  Who will we have left to rely on when the chips are down?
  Mike Buetow

MONEY MATTERS

• ROI
  Too big not to fail?
  Peter Bigelow
  

• FOCUS ON BUSINESS
  False promises.
  Joseph Fama

TECH TALK

• DESIGNER’S NOTEBOOK
  Optimizing the parts library.
  Danit Atar

• TEST AND INSPECTION
  Revenue rehabilitation.
  Robert Boguski

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FEATURES

COVER STORY
Fresh Faces in the Design Community
The annual PCD&F Salary Survey reveals some sharp contrasts between Western designers and their counterparts in Asia. Plus, is the workforce getting (gasp!) younger?
by Chelsey Drysdale

FIRST PERSON

• CAVEAT LECTOR
  There may never be another like Viasystems.
  Mike Buetow

MONEY MATTERS

• ROI
  Out of fashion but not out of factory.
  Peter Bigelow
  

• FOCUS ON BUSINESS
  Maximizing the program manager.
  Susan Mucha

TECH TALK

• DESIGNER’S NOTEBOOK
  Where QFNs and QFPs vary.
  Duane Benson

• FINAL FINISHES
  The upside of rough topography.
  Lenora Toscano

• DEFECTS DATABASE
  Why you should check the plating adhesion.
  Dr. Chris Hunt