In episode 19, we focused on the different types of depanelization methods that can be used during assembly. In this episode, we take a deeper dive into panelization, how we decide what panelization methods and sizes to use, and how this informs depanelization. pickplacepodcast.com
In this episode, which might just be our nerdiest one yet, we are joined by Sam Feller, aka The Awkward Engineer. First and foremost he would like everyone to know that he is the awkward one, the engineering is top notch. Sam is a long time Worthington/CircuitHub customer, product manager at Tulip , former engineer at Amazon, and founder of the Awkward Engineer where he works on quirky hardware project and now does consulting! It was a pleasure to have Sam on the show. Some of the topics we touc...
We're back! In this episode we talk about what we were busy doing on our "break", the different types and formats that solder comes in, and some unfortunate consequences that sometimes occur while eating chips. pickplacepodcast.com
Last week Chris was a guest on the Coriolis Effect , a podcast hosted by Bil Herd and Ben Jordan. Since we are still on hiatus (and because the episode was so great) we decided to repost the conversation. Don't worry, we expect to be back next episode with some new, fun and content and plenty of pet peeves! pickplacepodcast.com
Sometimes things are difficult to build....enter the help of custom tooling! In this episode, we highlight some of the applications for which we might order custom tooling, how they can help us assemble boards more efficiently and accurately, and some things you might want to do if you'd like to avoid custom tooling becoming necesesary. Show Links: Stentech products pickplacepodcast.com
Intrusive soldering, also known as pin-in-paste, is a method that uses solder paste to solder the thru-hole leads instead of hand soldering, wave soldering, or selective soldering. If designed properly, it's a great way to save time and money during pcb assembly. In this episode, we discuss how intrusive soldering is done, challenges associated with this process, and design recommendations. Episode links: Wurth USB-C Guide Our favorite USB-C port pickplacepodcast.com...
Flux is friend. Not foe. To create a solder joint, you have a lot working against you. Boards, parts, the air...it’s all very cold compared to the melting point of solder. Those are easily overcome with a good heat source in the way of a soldering iron, wave solder, or selective solder. However, none of this will do you a lick of good without flux because metal oxide is the biggest challenge you have to combat. In this episode, we go over flux's role in fighting the oxide layer that forms during...
It's a fact of life that defects and failed boards will sometimes occur, which is why it's so important to have a debugging procedure prepared to help your CM know how to move forward. In this episode, we talk about best practices on how to work with your CM when these problems arise. pickplacepodcast.com
We've finally managed to convince CircuitHub CAM Engineer, Dave Wilcox, to come back on the show to continue our series about the intricacies of PCB fabrication. If you're just tuning in, we recommend you listen to our episodes about Inner Layer Production and PCB Drilling Basics before this one. In this episode, we cover some of the finer details of PCB drilling including what the drilling setup physically looks like and tips you can implement to save your PCB fab time. We also learn that Melis...
Similar to our discussion on ESD a few episodes back, moisture is also a "silent killer" for many electronic components. In this episode, we talk about what kind of damage moisture can cause in components, what precautions we take in the factory when working with moisture-sensitive devices, the different levels of moisture sensitivity, and measures you should take at home to protect your MSDs. Chris also has an excellent pet peeve related to public bathroom doors. Show links: Complimentary digit...
IPC is a global trade organization whose goal is to help OEMs, EMS, PCB manufacturers, and suppliers build electronics better. They provide numerous standards covering the electronics manufacturing supply chain as well as engineering education and training. We're very grateful to have IPC employees Teresa Rowe, Sr. Director, Assembly & Standards Technology and Patrick Crawford, Manager of Design Standards and Related Industry Programs join us in this episode. We discuss how the standards cre...
In today's episode, we are joined by Darren Beckwith, CTO of Barnacle Systems . Barnacle Systems is a startup based in Victoria, Canada which provides security and monitoring products for boats and yachts. We chat with Darren about his many years working at Carmanah Technologies where he worked as a firmware engineer along with a larger engineering team and some of the struggles he encountered after transitioning to a much small startup. Show Links: SNL: NPR's Delicious Dish pickplacepodcast.com...
ESD (Electro Static Discharge) is an invisible, silent killer for PCBs. Protecting your boards from ESD damage while they're in the factory and being shipped to you is something we take very seriously. In today's episode we talk about what ESD is,how it damages your boards, and measures that should be taken to prevent this damage from occurring including what you can do at home. Episode Links: ESD Association ESD Overview The dangers of ESD What is a Faraday cage? Anti-static vs static shielding...
Consigned material is material purchased and sent to the CM by you, the customer. From your CMs point of view, managing consigned material can sometimes be tricky, especially if the material does not arrive how they were expecting it to. Here are our recommendations on how you can send your consigned material that will make the process go as smoothly as possible. http://docs.circuithub.com/en/articles/62935-how-do-i-consign-parts-to-the-factory pickplacepodcast.com...
In this episode, we are joined by Duncan Lowder and Joe Selvik, co-founders of FixturFab , to learn about how to develop a PCBA functional test system. FixturFab is a software design platform that uses generative Computer-Aided Design (CAD) technologies to automate the design process of PCBA Functional Test Fixtures. They can assist with Mechanical Fixture, the Test Instrumentation, and Test Software for both small prototype runs and mass production. Show links: FixturFab Blog Flying Probe Teste...
In today's episode, Chris teaches us about different categories of components that don't use a traditional surface mount or through-hole mounting methods. Think epoxy mounting, press-fit, mechanical assembly, swaging hardware, snap sockets, dome switches, hot bar soldering wires and cables, adhesive tape, and RTV. Exciting news, Chris is a guest host on Hackaday Chat! Join him on Wednesday, February 9, 2022, 12:00 pm PST (3 PM eastern): https://hackaday.io/event/183578-pick-and-place-hack-chat E...
We talk a lot about equipment and techniques used to assembly PCBs, but wanted to dedicate an episode to focus on the people who are actually getting the work done. In this episode, we talk to Worthington employee, David Mulherin, about how to keep work output high in a high-stress manufacturing environment while also making sure factory workers feel like they are valued. pickplacepodcast.com
Chinese New Year (aka Lunar New Year or Spring Festival) is a welcome and well-deserved break for Chinese workers. However, it is also a notoriously stressful time for the global manufacturing industry. In today's episode, we give you a manufacturer's perspective of why it is usually such a disruptive period. Links: Some fun (non-manufacturing related) facts about Chinese New Year Information on 2022 Chinese New Year closures China post-Lunar New Year job exodus pickplacepodcast.com...
We love it when PCB orders run through the assembly line smooth as butter. Inevitably, however, sometimes things do get delayed. On today's episode, we sat down with CircuitHub Production Manager, Rob OConnell, on the biggest showstoppers that cause orders to run late and some things customers can do to prevent this from happening. Chris' KiCon 2019 Talk - Your Manufacturer is Stupid The Perfect 0402 Footprint pickplacepodcast.com...
First articles, also known as batch run or first-run amongst other terms, is when a customer requests the first several finished PCBAs from a production run be delivered for inspection before the entire quantity is built. In this episode we go over when it's appropriate to request first articles (and when it's not), the difference between first articles and prototypes, examples of how using first articles has benefitted our customers. Chris also introduces us to his fascinating new theory regard...
Worthington is in the process of upgrading its pick and place machinery. In order to do that requires a long process of evaluating potential new suppliers. Chris walks us through what that journey is like, why a contract manufacturer may need to upgrade its equipment, his recent in-person visit to one of the suppliers they've narrowed down to, and more! pickplacepodcast.com...
This episode is dedicated to fiducials which, for those who are unfamiliar with the term, are the small copper dots you may have seen on your bare PCB. We get into the details of what they are, where and why are they are used, and how you can use them in your design. https://www.worthingtonassembly.com/blog/2014/12/29/what-are-fiducials-and-why-are-they-useful If you are already using fiducials in your designs tweet us a photo or screenshot of them with the hashtag #fiducialsFTW :) pickplacepodc...
To celebrate reaching 10,000 downloads of the podcast, Chris and Melissa mix things up and interview each other so that you can get to know your hosts better! We talk about what we were doing before joining CircuitHub and Worthington, our journeys towards getting there, imposter syndrome, our love affair with Grape Nuts, and more! pickplacepodcast.com
We're very excited to be joined on this episode by Ben Jordan. Ben, who was previously at Altium for many years, now works at Autodesk as a Senior Product Manager for the Fusion 360 Electronics product. We chat about: Why we call them DuPont headers Machine pin headers are awesome A brief history of Altium's founding in Australia as Protel Systems Chris' love for Australia Lots of Ben's dad jokes The Coriolis Effect , Ben's new show with Bil Herd Fusion 360 - the benefits of using a unified ECAD...
As a continuation of last week's episode with CircuitHub CAM Engineer, Dave Wilcox, we discuss the basics of what happens during the PCB drilling process. We also drill into some fun topics including the confusing inconsistencies regarding the recommended tolerance on JST connectors and why NC drill data is so difficult to interpret. Listen to these other great episodes with Dave! The PCB CAM Process Bare PCB Materials An Overview of Bare PCB Fabrication Inner Layer Production pickplacepodcast.c...
We're joined again by CircuitHub CAM Engineer Dave Wilcox to talk more about bare circuit board manufacturing. In this episode we Dave teaches us what happens during the inner layer production process. Check out more episodes with Dave! The PCB CAM Process Bare PCB Materials An Overview of Bare PCB Fabrication pickplacepodcast.com...
In today's episode Chris, a self proclaimed novice engineer, touches on the layout process and how small decisions can have a significant impact on assembly. We provide some on advice on the best proximity of vias with adjacent pads and plated thru-holes, edge clearance, fiducials, and more. Useful articles: https://www.worthingtonassembly.com/blog/2014/12/29/what-are-fiducials-and-why-are-they-useful https://www.worthingtonassembly.com/blog/2018/6/20/recessing-your-pcb-edge-for-perforated-tabs ...
Although we like to keep our episodes targeted towards anyone who is interested in PCB assembly as a whole, we know that many of our listeners are CircuitHub customers. In this episode we sat down with John Jacquinet, who is an Account Manager at CircuitHub. We talk to John about how his work experience as en electrical engineer influenced his views when moving over to the assembly side, how to take advantage of the Account Manager team's help at CircuitHub, and customer best and worst practices...
When are through hole components recommended over surface mount components, and vice versa? The answer is not always straightforward. In this episode we break down the cost, reliability and application implications of using SMT vs through hole parts in your design. Bare board destacker: https://youtu.be/b94-3rr_BHg Test Point Part Numbers Harwin - S2761-46R - https://www.digikey.com/en/products/detail/harwin-inc/S2761-46R/5250500 Keystone - 5019 - https://www.digikey.com/en/products/detail/keyst...
In this episode we continue our conversation with Mike Rankins and Gary Shanahan, supply chain specialists at Digi-Key . (If you haven't listened to the first half about the global electronics parts shortage, we definitely recommend it). In the second half we take a broader look at what electronics distributors like Digikey are, what role they play, and what value adds the provide in addition to selling components. pickplacepodcast.com
