I-Connect007 Editor’s Choice: Five Must-Reads for the Week
May 17, 2024 | Andy Shaughnessy, Design007 MagazineEstimated reading time: 2 minutes
Trade show season is wrapping up as we move into summer. But we’re not finished yet.
This week, trade shows are at the top of our feed, with our coverage of the Del Mar Electronics and Manufacturing Show and IPC APEX EXPO. These two longtime events are almost polar opposites in size and scope, but Del Mar seems to be expanding from its roots as a “neighborhood gathering” with its move into the Del Mar Fairgrounds. The Del Mar show always has a good “buzz factor,” which is something you can’t buy.
This week, we also have several articles on supply chain security and materials. And if you’ve ever wondered why dielectric constant is so important to so many stakeholders in this industry, you’re in luck.
I hope you all get a chance to take a few days off and get away from work for a while. Have a good weekend!
A Review of the 2024 Del Mar Electronics and Manufacturing Show
Published May 15
The Del Mar Electronics and Manufacturing Show is one of the smaller trade shows, but it has a huge following. Some attendees say that the Del Mar show feels like a local farmers market, which is a turn of phrase that you’ll never hear regarding IPC APEX EXPO, DesignCon, or productronica. But this year, the show moved into the Del Mar Fairgrounds near San Diego, with 350 exhibitors. Is Del Mar on its way to becoming a big show? Read on.
Relive the Experience: Real Time with… IPC APEX EXPO 2024 Show & Tell Magazine
Published May 16
If you missed IPC APEX EXPO this year, we’ve got you covered. The 2024 edition of Show & Tell Magazine has complete coverage of the show in Anaheim. I’m mentioning this because we all put a lot of work into this in the weeks after IPC APEX EXPO, and it looks really good. Download your free copy now.
Fresh PCB Concepts: Navigating Supply Chain Security and Traceability Through Standards
Published May 16
Supply chain security is a huge challenge in electronics manufacturing, one that gets more complex every year. Other than due diligence, what can an OEM do to keep substandard and counterfeit parts out of the supply chain? As Jan Pedersen says, a couple of IPC standards lay out guidelines that explain how to do exactly that, and these standards are underutilized right now. Check it out.
American Made Advocacy: What About the Rest of the Technology Stack?
Published May 14
Two years ago, the CHIPS Act provided a much-needed shot of investment to the U.S. semiconductor industry. But what about the rest of the technology stack? As Travis Kelley points out, American companies provide less than 1% of the world’s IC substrates and 4% of the PCBs. If we don’t make some changes soon, these newly minted American chips will be manufactured on Asian IC substrates and PCBs.
Material Insight: The Dielectric Constant of PCB Materials
Published May 17
If you’ve been in this industry for a while, you’ve probably heard about dielectric constant (Dk) at one time or another. But what does it mean, and why should you care? Our columnist Preeya Kuray has a Ph.D. in material science, and she explains—in layman’s terms—what Dk is and why PCB designers and manufacturers spend so much time studying a material’s Dk.
Suggested Items
IPC APEX EXPO Retrospective: The Founders Look Back
05/30/2024 | Marcy LaRont, PCB007 MagazineIPC APEX EXPO 2024 will soon feel like a distant memory, and by all accounts, it was a good show with an impressive display of technical knowledge. During the show, I visited with industry icons and IPC Hall of Fame recipients Dan Feinberg and Gene Weiner, who were among the original visionaries and founders of what became APEX EXPO. These individuals took me on a funny and engaging historic journey and a glimpse into how we arrived today.
Delving Into Special Sessions at IPC APEX EXPO 2024
05/28/2024 | Happy Holden, I-Connect007Once again, we were back at IPC APEX EXPO for another show and conference, and back to gathering in the Anaheim Convention Center. With Disneyland just across the street, there were tourists everywhere. This APEX EXPO was bigger than ever, with more activities, Professional Development Courses, standards committee meetings, and the 16th Electronic Circuits World Convention. I really enjoyed walking around and seeing everything the show had to offer.
EWPTE 2024 Draws Nearly 3,000 Attendees
05/23/2024 | WHMAThis year, the cable and wire harness manufacturing industry came to “harness the future” at the Electrical Wire Processing Technology Expo (EWPTE), held May 14-16 at Baird Center in Milwaukee, Wis., and left inspired with access to new technologies, and solutions to challenging issues through training and education and a network of leading-edge companies, industry leaders and subject matter experts.
IPC APEX EXPO: Some Thoughts About Growth
05/16/2024 | Dan Feinberg, I-Connect007After two and a half days of wandering the aisles at IPC APEX EXPO 2024, for the first time, I almost felt like I was exploring CES. There were so many booths and exhibits that I could describe, but I’d like to focus on the growth and huge value of this event, which has expanded well beyond just the growing and impressive exhibit show floor.
A Review of the 2024 Del Mar Electronics and Manufacturing Show
05/16/2024 | Barry Matties, I-Connect007The Del Mar Electronics and Manufacturing Show (DMEMS) in Del Mar, California, recently took place at an unlikely venue: the Del Mar Fairgrounds. Doug Bodenstab, founder and show organizer, says the show covers everything in electronics manufacturing: design tools, components, base materials, training, testing, board fabrication, AI, data analytics, and more. While you can find about anything online these days, Bodenstab adds that there is no substitute for meeting people in person.