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Current IssueThe Growing Industry
In this issue of PCB007 Magazine, we talk with leading economic experts, advocacy specialists in Washington, D.C., and PCB company leadership to get a well-rounded picture of what’s happening in the industry today. Don’t miss it.
The Sustainability Issue
Sustainability is one of the most widely used terms in business today, especially for electronics and manufacturing but what does it mean to you? We explore the environmental, business, and economic impacts.
The Fabricator’s Guide to IPC APEX EXPO
This issue previews many of the important events taking place at this year's show and highlights some changes and opportunities. So, buckle up. We are counting down to IPC APEX EXPO 2024.
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LPKF Extends Product Portfolio for PCB Prototype and Low-volume Assembly
May 10, 2021 | LPKFEstimated reading time: 1 minute
With circuit board plotters and laser systems for research and development, LPKF offers a comprehensive range of equipment for manufacturing printed circuit board prototypes. If a prefabricated circuit board is then to be turned into an electronic assembly, SMT manufacturing is added to that. LPKF has now renewed and expanded its portfolio for the processes of solder paste printing, assembly with SMD components, and reflow soldering.
The LPKF ProtoPrint S4 is a manual stencil printer for achieving precise printing results. The device is suitable for single-sided and double-sided printing of PCB prototypes and low volumes. Thanks to the integrated size-adjustable clamping frame, the ProtoPrint S4 can use polyimide film or stainless steel stencils.
Mounting of tiny SMDs on prototype boards is supported by the LPKF ProtoPlace E4. The components are safely removed from the component trays or tape feeders with the manual pick & place system, guided to the appropriate places above the circuit board with an ergonomically formed placement head, and placed – all very easily with just one hand.
If large numbers of components or low volumes need to be mounted repeatedly and comfortably on boards, the LPKF ProtoPlace S4 pick & place machine is the go-to system. It can be used flexibly for various chip designs and features camera support for a very high precision. The system has an automated nozzle changer with 6 nozzles and an intuitive graphical user interface and is equipped with a CAD editor for nearly all CAD systems.
The compact LPKF ProtoFlow S4 hot-air oven is the ideal device for the subsequent RoHS-compliant lead-free reflow soldering. Thanks to the PC-based user software, it is very easy to use. The oven features a LAN interface for remote operation, a large viewing window for monitoring the melting process, and active process chamber cooling. An additional temperature sensor is optionally available.
With this equipment, all processes and methods of automated SMT mass production are also available for in-house PCB prototyping – adapted to the requirements in the electronics laboratory. In just a few steps, the low-cost, proven methods lead to an electrically functional product created with high precision.
LPKF provides further information about PCB prototyping and SMT manufacturing in its virtual showroom. On this portal, users can find out more about the individual process steps, watch videos of the prototyping process, and access information about the respective products.
Suggested Items
The Pulse: Drilling Down on Documentation
04/18/2024 | Martyn Gaudion -- Column: The PulseHow did a product aimed at signal integrity end up being more about documentation? For a little backstory, the Polar team has an unspoken “no business speak” rule at certain times. So, why is this column titled “Drilling Down?” I find it fascinating when a company sets off in one direction, but customers steer it in another. That’s what has happened here as customers took a product down a fork in the road we couldn’t predict. Your destination isn’t always where you initially set off to go, and that’s how we got to our subject of drills and drill documentation.
Real Time with... IPC APEX EXPO 2024: IPC Government Relations Holds Lawmakers Accountable
04/16/2024 | Real Time with...IPC APEX EXPOThe IPC Government Relations team is constantly educating Congress and the executive branch about the importance of a robust domestic electronics manufacturing industry. As Richard Cappetto explains, the GR team is focused on proactive strategies, workforce policies, and sustainability, as well as the significance of apprenticeship programs, President Biden's executive order, and employer incentives. Also discussed is the PCB Act, its investment program, tax incentive, and DoD's understanding of supply chain risk.
Catching Up With Chasom Electronics
04/16/2024 | Dan Beaulieu, D.B. Management GroupI recently met with Chasom Electronics’ founding director Anil Kumar. Chasom offers a unique menu of services for companies looking to extend their technology capabilities on a short- or long-term basis. Read on to learn about this very unique service company.
Marcy's Musings: The Growing Industry
04/16/2024 | Marcy LaRont -- Column: Marcy's MusingsAfter decades of steady decline in the U.S. and Europe, the PCB industry is finally growing, especially in China Plus One countries. The U.S. for example, which seemed to have abdicated its title as the world leader in innovating high-technology cutting-edge manufacturing processes, is now in a race to regain what it lost and then some. The PCB fabrication industry is growing in the West, thanks to DoD funding, the CHIPS and Science Act, and hopefully, the passing of HR 3249, the Printed Circuit Board and Substrates Act.
PCB007 Magazine April 2024 — The Growing Industry Issue
04/15/2024 | I-Connect007 Editorial TeamAfter more than two decades of steady decline in the U.S., the PCB industry is finally growing in the West thanks to the CHIPS and Science Act, DoD funding, and hopefully, the passing of HR 3249, the Printed Circuit Board and Substrates Act. The U.S. is now in a race to regain what was lost and then some. But what does “growing” look like for the organizations that have received DoD funding, and for the rest of us? How can we sustain this growth?