PCB Chat
300 episodes - English - Latest episode: 2 days ago - ★★★★★ - 2 ratingsRecorded conversations and interviews on electronics design and manufacturing with the editors of PCD&F/Circuits Assembly, brought to you by the Printed Circuit Engineering Association (PCEA)
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Episodes
PCB Chat Episode 53: Wally Rhines on the Q4 EDA Market
March 25, 2020 16:44 - 9 minutes - 11.3 MBIt was a banner quarter -- and year -- for printed circuit board design software. ESD Alliance spokesman Wally Rhines joins Mike Buetow for his quarterly update on fourth quarter EDA market statistics, and gives his thoughts on whether Covid-19 will move the needle toward cloud-based PCB applications.
Reliability Matters Episode 37: A Conversation with IPC President and CEO John Mitchell
March 24, 2020 19:27 - 57 minutes - 79.4 MBJohn Mitchell talks about the state of the industry, COVID-19 (coronavirus), and the future of the electronic assembly industry with Mike Konrad.
Reliability Matters Episode 36: A Conversation with Phil Zarrow and Jim Hall
March 10, 2020 20:58 - 27 minutes - 37.8 MBWe bring back two previous guests, SMT consultants Phil Zarrow and Jim Hall of ITM Consulting. Phil and Jim host Board Talk, a popular broadcast where they field assembly-related questions and provide answers in a style only they can deliver. We’ll discuss how they go about “fixing” their customer’s problems and their new upcoming book, “Trouble Shooting Electronic Assemblies, Conversations from the Board-Talk Crypt.”
PCB Chat Episode 51: Sreeram Srinivasan of Syrma Technology
March 06, 2020 19:43 - 28 minutes - 32.1 MBSyrma Technology is one of India’s largest domestically based EMS companies. Its chief executive, Sreeram Srinivasan, was educated in both India and the United States, returning to India after research stints in Los Alamos and Oak Ridge National Labs. There, he has held a variety of management jobs in the automotive and industrial sectors. He became CEO of Syrma in 2015. He speaks with PCB Chat host Mike Buetow about his company's place in the EMS sector, its growth plans, and his experience...
PCB Chat Episode 52: Susan Mucha on Crisis Communication Strategies
March 06, 2020 18:14 - 20 minutes - 46.7 MBThis week’s guest on PCB Chat is Sue Mucha, president of Powell-Mucha Consulting, an EMS business consulting firm. In the wake of the Covid-19 (coronavirus), she outlines strategies for communicating possible or actual supply chain and factory disruptions to suppliers, employees and customers. Also see Sue's recent column on this topic at circuitsassembly.com.
Reliability Matters Episode 35: A Conversation with Dr. Darren Williams
February 27, 2020 01:05 - 41 minutes - 57.4 MBDr. Darren Williams, professor at Sam Houston University, discusses cleaning processes and materials and the upcoming Product Quality Cleaning workshop with host Mike Konrad.
Reliability Matters Episode 34: A Conversation with "The Cleaning Lady and the Rocket Scientist"
February 20, 2020 20:43 - 58 minutes - 80.4 MBBarbara and Ed Kanegsberg about all things cleaning. Barbara and Ed are the authors of Handbook for Critical Cleaning (available here). They discuss their upcoming Product Quality Cleaning Workshop, in cooperation with Sam Houston State University in Huntsville, TX, and Dr. Darren Williams on May 13-14. For more information, click here.
PCB Chat: The Screwups Episode 5
February 02, 2020 22:31 - 12 minutes - 14.1 MBChris Nash is product manager for Indium’s PCB assembly solder paste, where works with the R&D team and provides technical advice in the selection, use, and application of solder paste and flux to electronics assembly customers throughout the world. He is also a certified Six Sigma Green Belt from Dartmouth College’s Thayer School of Engineering and a Certified SMT Process Engineer. He talks about solder paste insufficients caused by printing with PCB Chat host Mike Buetow.
PCB Chat Episode 50: George Milad of Uyemura
January 20, 2020 17:45 - 32 minutes - 37.3 MBIn this episode, George Milad, national accounts manager of technology at Uyemura and co-chair of the IPC Plating Processes Subcommittee, explains nickel corrosion, how it occurs and new methods of mitigation, and how the IPC-4552 ENIG specification is being revised to reflect new corrosion analysis requirements. Hosted by Mike Buetow.
Reliability Matters: Episode Episode 32: A Conversation with Greg Smith and Tony Lentz about Stencil Design and Void Reduction
January 15, 2020 19:24 - 55 minutes - 76.6 MBGreg Smith and Tony Lentz talk with Mike Konrad about stencil design and how to reduce voiding. Voiding is a key concern in specific electronic applications including automotive and LED electronic manufacturing. Greg and Tony published a paper titled "Root Cause Stencil Design for SMT Component Thermal Lands," which is available here: https://tinyurl.com/szx3xt8.
PCB Chat Episode 49: Wally Rhines/Q3 2019 EDA Market Results
January 07, 2020 14:31 - 7 minutes - 8.85 MBWally Rhines, CEO emeritus of Mentor and former chairman of the ESD Alliance, reports on the third quarter 2019 EDA market results with PCB Chat host Mike Buetow.
Reliability Matters: Episode 30: A Conversation about Reflow Technology with David Heller
November 27, 2019 15:33 - 59 minutes - 81.1 MBHeller Industries CEO David Heller joined the family business in 1987, 27 years after its founding. David shares what reflow ovens were like at the beginning stages of surface mount technology and the numerous technological changes required along the way with Reliability Matters host Mike Konrad.
Reliability Matters Episode 28: A Conversation with IPC's Brook Sandy about IPC Apex Expo (Part 2)
November 05, 2019 20:19 - 58 minutes - 80 MBIn the second of this two-part interview, Mike Konrad talks with IPC's Brooke Sandy about the IPC Apex Expo technical program.
Reliability Matters Episode 27: A Conversation with IPC's Brook Sandy about IPC Apex Expo (Part 1)
October 29, 2019 14:25 - 55 minutes - 76 MBIn the first of two episodes, Mike Konrad interviews IPC technical program manager Brook Sandy about the upcoming IPC Apex Expo. Episode 27 is all about Apex in general, including the technical sessions and keynote speakers.
Reliability Matters: Episode 26 - Alun Morgan of Ventec
October 22, 2019 17:30 - 1 hour - 86.3 MBAlun Morgan and Mike Konrad talk cars, and the increased reliability expectations associated with their electrical systems. The electronics in modern vehicles provide an unpresented level of safety, not just for the driver, but for those people and objects around the vehicle. Because our cars go in and out of harsh environments, the circuit assemblies within the car are subjected to heat, humidity (and other sources of moisture), which contribute to reliability and therefore safety. They dis...
Reliability Matters: Episode 25 - Alun Morgan of Ventec
October 22, 2019 17:30 - 1 hour - 86.3 MBAlun Morgan and Mike Konrad talk cars, and the increased reliability expectations associated with their electrical systems. The electronics in modern vehicles provide an unpresented level of safety, not just for the driver, but for those people and objects around the vehicle. Because our cars go in and out of harsh environments, the circuit assemblies within the car are subjected to heat, humidity (and other sources of moisture), which contribute to reliability and therefore safety. They dis...
PCB Chat Episode 48: Dr. Puneet Gupta of UCLA
October 14, 2019 15:49 - 17 minutes - 20.3 MBAccording to Puneet Gupta, Ph.D. and his colleagues at UCLA including Subramanian Iyer, Ph.D., the printed circuit board is a constraint on electronics size and speed. And the solution is to get rid of it. The professors have developed a method to replace PCBs with an all-silicon technology, called silicon-interconnect fabric, which allows bare chips to be connected directly to wiring on a separate piece of silicon. The wiring between chips on fabric is at the nanometer scale, much like the ...
Reliability Matters: Episode 25: An Interview with Indium's Kay Parker
October 08, 2019 18:59 - 42 minutes - 57.8 MBIndium's Kay Parker discusses SMT solder paste printing and her experience as a new engineer in the electronics assembly industry with Mike Konrad. Kay is a technical support engineer based at Indium headquarters in Clinton, NY. In this role, she provides guidance and recommendations to customers related to process steps, equipment, techniques, and materials. She is also responsible for servicing the company’s existing accounts and retaining new business. She joined Indium as a college inte...
PCB Chat Episode 47: Hemant Shah of Cadence
October 02, 2019 16:59 - 12 minutes - 28.3 MBHemant Shah of Cadence joins PCB Chat host Mike Buetow to discuss the latest upgrades to the Allegro ECAD tool, including new features for signal integrity and power integrity (SI/PI).
Reliability Matters Episode 24: Teradyne's Mark Levin and Jon Bodin
September 24, 2019 13:41 - 1 hour - 87 MBA conversation with Teradyne manager of reliability Mark Levin and senior software engineering manager Jon Bodin about reliability, DfM, and their new book Improving Product Reliability and Software Quality: Strategies, Tools, Process and Implementation, 2nd Edition.
Reliability Matters Episode 23 - A Conversation about Testing Circuit Assemblies with Datest's Robert Boguski
September 13, 2019 18:26 - 58 minutes - 80.9 MBMike Konrad talks testing printed circuit assemblies with Datest president Robert Boguski.
The Screw-Ups, Episode 4: Solder Wetting
September 10, 2019 18:59 - 21 minutes - 25.1 MBSolder wetting, dewetting and ultra fine pitch powders are the focus of the latest episode of The Screwups, with Tim O'Neill of AIM Solder sharing insights on from the factory floor with host Mike Buetow. Arnold Schwarzenegger* makes a guest appearance. *Not the real Arnold Schwarzenegger.
PCB Chat Episode 46: Jeroen Leinders and Chris Hambleton of Zuken
September 09, 2019 21:40 - 13 minutes - 30.4 MBJeroen Leinders is global eCADSTAR Solutions Leader and Chris Hambleton is engineering general manager at Zuken. In the past few weeks, Zuken announced a new platform called eCADStar. They provide an overview of the embedded browser, new touchscreen interface, and collaboration features of the new mainstream ECAD platform.
Reliability Matters Episode 22 - A Conversation about Adhesion Testing with BTG Lab's Elizabeth Kidd
August 26, 2019 14:28 - 58 minutes - 80.8 MBOn this episode, we’ll be discussing surface adhesion. What makes a surface more adherable, what makes it less adherable, and most importantly, how can one determine a surface’s adhere-ability (is that a word?) before applying a coating.
PCB Chat Episode 45: Greg Papandrew of Better Board Buying
August 16, 2019 16:35 - 25 minutes - 28.8 MBGreg Papandrew has more than 25 years’ experience selling PCBs directly for various fabricators and as founder of a leading distributor. He is cofounder of Better Board Buying, a new company that helps printed circuit board buyers understand how to improve their procurement practices. He talks about ways buyers can develop closer, more cost-effective relationships with fabricators and gives a preview of his new e-book and his upcoming workshop at PCB West in September with PCB Chat host Mike...
PCB Chat Episode 44: Jack Herring of Jiva Materials
August 13, 2019 14:59 - 22 minutes - 25.8 MBJack Herring is the inventor of Soluboard, a new circuit board substrate that is said to be completely recyclable through hot water dissolution. He is commercializing the concept through his UK-based company, Jiva. He speaks about the concept, how he came up with it, and the market opportunities with PCB Chat host Mike Buetow.
Reliability Matters Episode 21- A Conversation with Manuel Schöllig - There's More to Clean than Just Assemblies
August 12, 2019 18:06 - 1 hour - 82.5 MBA conversation with Manuel Schöllig of Emil Otto, a German manufacturer of soldering and cleaning materials about cleaning stencils, pallets, fixtures, ovens, and assemblies. There's more to clean than just circuit assemblies. Schöllig reviews many non-assembly cleaning requirements. He also describes a new flux type that reportedly does not rely on heat activation to remove harmful flux activators.
PCB Chat Episode 43: Mike Creeden of Insulectro
August 08, 2019 18:34 - 26 minutes - 30.4 MBMike Creeden is a veteran design engineer and training specialist, with more than 40 years’ experience across a wide range of companies – from CAD providers to major OEMs to EMS firms and service bureaus. He just joined Insulectro, the materials distributor, as technical director of design education. He talks about lessons learned as an IPC master instructor and his goals of the new Insulectro Design and Education program with PCB Chat host Mike Buetow.
Reliability Matters: Episode 20- A Conversation with Conformal Coating Expert Phil Kinner
July 29, 2019 13:03 - 38 minutes - 52.3 MBA conversation with Phil Kinner, Electrolube's conformal coating expert. Mike Konrad discuss the reasons for conformal coating and the variety of conformal coating materials available.
Reliability Matters: Episode 19 - A Conversation about Display Technologies and Reliability-Improving Production Methods
July 10, 2019 15:35 - 56 minutes - 77.7 MBAnders is a UK-based manufacturer of display and embedded controller products for a variety of industries including medical, marine, industrial, home, and much more. Anders' general manager Paul Mullen and display and input technology manager Mike Logan speak with Mike Konrad from their London headquarters.
PCB Chat Episode 42: Wally Rhines of Mentor on the Q1 EDA Data
July 08, 2019 13:58 - 9 minutes - 4.72 MBWally Rhines, chairman emeritus of Mentor and spokesman for the Electronic System Design (ESD) Alliance Governing Council discusses the latest PCB and semiconductor design software market results with PCB Chat host Mike Buetow.
PCB Chat Episode 41: Steve Pudles of Zentech
June 25, 2019 21:32 - 12 minutes - 6.02 MBSteve Pudles has held executive positions in management and engineering at electronics manufacturing services companies for more than 30 years. Last month, he led a team that acquired Zentech, a mid-Atlantic US-based EMS company that focuses on the military and aerospace markets. He speaks about the company's strategy and the background to the deal with PCB Chat host Mike Buetow.
Reliability Matters: Episode 18 - A Conversation with Saturn Electronics' Yash Sutariya about PCB Fabrication
June 25, 2019 18:34 - 1 hour - 85.2 MBYash Sutariya is the President of Saturn Electronics Corporation, Saturn Flex Systems, and Saturn PCB Services, all PCB-centric operating entities. Today, we’ll discuss what every buyer of printed circuit boards should be concerned about and Yash will offer a few auditing tips that would be helpful when auditing or selecting a PCB supplier. Yash is the author of "PCB Reliability: Auditing Your Supply Chain to Insure It," a paper he presented at SMTAI 2018.
Episode 17 - A Conversation with Brian D'Amico about AOI and SPI Best Practices
June 10, 2019 19:13 - 54 minutes - 75 MBAutomated optical inspection (AOI) and solder paste inspection (SPI) system supplier Brian D'Amico covers AOI and SPI best practices with Mike Konrad. Modern circuit assemblies are difficult, if not impossible, to inspect without the aid of advanced inspection systems. Brian has been in the electronics assembly equipment industry for 36 years. His knowledge (and passion) for inspection technology is truly impressive.
PCB Chat Episode 40: Zach Dismukes of Bowman Analytics
June 03, 2019 21:54 - 20 minutes - 10.7 MBZach Dismukes is manager of sales and service for Bowman Analytics on the West Coast and a specialist in XRF products. He has spent the past decade in XRF and x-ray technology. He also has a masters in chemistry from the University of Illinois. He discusses use of XRF as a quality control tool, measuring coating thickness, compares benchtop versus handheld units, and explains how to ensure consistency throughout the workday with PCB Chat host Mike Buetow.
SMT Wars: Lessons Learned from a Contract Manufacturer and Their Customer Who Sued Them
May 28, 2019 19:12 - 48 minutes - 67.1 MBWhat happens when an electronic contract manufacturer follows their customer’s instructions to the detriment of the product? Product failures, blame, drama, and a really big lawsuit. Mike Konrad reviews the trials and tribulations of a contract manufacturer and their customer. Assembly residue-related failures (ECM) contributed to product failures, product recalls, and, ultimately, a multi-million-dollar lawsuit. Misguided “best practice” techniques only made matters worse. This podcast ...
The Screw-Ups Episode 3 - Solder Paste Handling
May 20, 2019 13:42 - 26 minutes - 13.6 MBWhat's the optimal way to handle and store solder paste for electronics assembly? Tim O'Neill of AIM Solder shares advice and tales from the front in the latest edition of The Screw-ups.
PCB Chat Episode 39: Jim Barry of PCB Technologies
May 16, 2019 22:08 - 19 minutes - 11 MBJim Barry is sales & marketing manager and technical liaison at PCB Technologies, a fabricator of rigid, rigid-flex and flex PCBs for high-rel applications. Jim has been in the PCB industry since the 1970s, and has prior experience with flex fabricators like Parlex and Eltek and EMS companies including Bull Technologies. He is one of the presenters at the upcoming SMTA Capital Chapter Technical Day in June. This all-day workshop features three talks on DFM/design for reliability/thermal and ...
PCB Chat Episode 38: Kent McLeroth of Zuken
May 07, 2019 18:52 - 11 minutes - 12.7 MBKent McLeroth has been chief executive of Zuken Americas since 2015. He joined the PCB design software developer in 1995 after more than a decade designing hardware for a major defense contractor, where he was a Zuken customer. He discusses Zuken's growth, strategic acquisitions and outlook with PCB Chat's Mike Buetow.
PCB Chat Episode 37: Kyle Miller of Zuken
April 30, 2019 14:19 - 13 minutes - 12.9 MBKyle Miller is Zuken's manager of Lightning, Design Force and related routing technology. He has a doctorate in artificial intelligence, and is heading Zuken's efforts into applying AI and machine learning to develop next-generation PCB placement and routing. He speaks with PCB Chat's Mike Buetow from Zuken Innovation World, where he gave a presentation on the progress of AI in ECAD, and why designers shouldn't fear for their jobs.
Reliability Matters: Episode 14 - An Interview with Reliability Expert Fred Schenkelberg
April 30, 2019 01:58 - 1 hour - 85.6 MBFred Schenkelberg is an international authority on reliability engineering. He is the reliability expert at FMS Reliability, a reliability engineering and management consulting firm he founded in 2004. Fred left Hewlett Packard’s Reliability Team where he helped create a culture of reliability across HP to assist other organizations. His passion is working with teams to improve product reliability, customer satisfaction, and efficiencies in product development; and to reduce product risk and...
Reliability Matters: Episode 13 - A Conversation with KIC's MB Allen About Thermal Management and Reliability
April 23, 2019 18:52 - 48 minutes - 66 MBMost of our episodes feature guests representing specific segments of the electronic assembly industry. Today’s episode is no exception. My guest on this episode is MB Allen from KIC. KIC provides thermal profiling hardware and profiler software tools that help define, measure, monitor, and improve thermal processes for electronics manufacturing services. Today, more than ever, thermal management is vital to ensuring a proper reflow or soldering process. There is a direct link between prope...
PCB Chat Episode 36: Simon Fried of Nano Dimension
April 23, 2019 18:39 - 17 minutes - 17.5 MBSimon Fried is president, chief business office and cofounder of Nano Dimension, a leader in additive manufacturing systems. He speaks about creating buried capacitance and Nano Dimension's new process for mounting components to the sides of printed circuit boards with PCB Chat's Mike Buetow.
Reliability Matters: Episode 12 - Female Leaders in Tech Everywhere
April 19, 2019 16:41 - 48 minutes - 67 MBAn interview with US Ambassadors of FLITE (Female Leaders in Tech Everywhere), Michelle Ogihara and Sherry Stepp on the subject of women in electronics and FLITE's mission to build a platform based on real-life experiences to help raise the visibility of females in technology.
Reliability Matters: Episode 11 -- Tips & Tricks for Successfully Cleaning Circuit Assemblies
April 12, 2019 21:10 - 1 hour - 98.1 MBIn the last half of the 20th century, cleaning of circuit assemblies was a standard assembly practice. The abolishment of popular CFC-based cleaning solvents ushered the introduction of "no-clean" assembly processes. For much of the electronic assembly industry, cleaning became nonexistent. Due to assembly and component miniaturization and the explosion of both IOT and automotive electronics, which places many circuit assemblies into harsh environments, the practice of removing harmful ioni...
PCB Chat Episode 35: Brad Griffin on a New PCB 3-D Solver
April 08, 2019 16:51 - 23 minutes - 12.8 MBBrad Griffin speaks from CDNLive to PCB Chat host Mike Buetow on the new electromagnetic (EM) simulation tool from Cadence. Brad describes how the Clarity software reads design data from all standard chip, IC package and PCB platforms, integrates with Cadence's platforms, and has won plaudits from key customers for its speed and accuracy.
Reliability Matters Episode 10 - An Interview with Dr. David Bernard - All About X-Ray Inspection
April 03, 2019 01:18 - 1 hour - 88 MBX-ray has come a long way since its discovery in 1895. Originally used in the medial field, X-ray technology has been integrated into many industrial sectors including the electronic assembly industry. Dr. David Bernard is an expert in x-ray technology within the electronics industry. Dr. Bernard discusses the modern use of x-ray technology, applications within the electronic assembly industry and the skills required to interpret the images produced with Reliability Matters host Mike Konrad.
PCB Chat Episode 34: Leah Slaughter
April 01, 2019 12:46 - 30 minutes - 16.9 MBLeah Slaughter is vice president, supply chain and artificial intelligence programs, at Varitron, a multinational EMS company. She has been in the industry for more than 20 years with Future Electronics, SMTC, BreconRidge, Sanmina, Celestica, Jabil, and most recently SigmaPoint. She explains how artificial intelligence is being used today to improve electronics supply chain management, how to adopt and implement AI, and the software provider she prefers best with PCB Chat host Mike Buetow.
Reliability Matters: Episode 9 - An Interview with Dr. Mike Bixenman about Cleaning Challenges, Chemicals, Components, and Cleanliness Testing
March 25, 2019 20:04 - 1 hour - 90.4 MBMike Bixenman is one of the founders of Kyzen and serves as its chief technology officer. He is well-known within the electronics assembly industry and is a featured speaker at industry conferences and symposiums around the world. He is chair of the IPC Cleaning and Coating Conference held every other year in Chicago and is the technical chair for SMTA Europe’s Electronics in Harsh Environments Conference held annually in Amsterdam. He also received the IPC President’s Award and has chaired ...
The Week Today - Mar. 18 - 22, 2019
March 22, 2019 17:20 - 6 minutes - 6.76 MBPCB Chat host Mike Buetow catches up on the weekly news in electronics manufacturing. This week: New electronic material discoveries, expansions in Southeast Asia, company earnings reports.