Circuits Assembly articles from August 2007

Circuits Assembly archives from August 2007

The real lesson of the Xbox failures.(Caveat Lector)
August 1, 2007... The news last month that Microsoft Corp. will take more than $1 billion in charges to fix Xbox 360 consoles suffering from "widespread hardware failures" did nothing to abate the scorn of the anti lead-free crowd. In fact, as Seattle's most...

Kimball Electronics Group.(In Brief)
August 1, 2007... Kimball Electronics Group (kimball.com) has begun production at its 132,400 sq. ft. facility in Nanjing, China.

Arena Solutions.(In Brief)
August 1, 2007... Arena Solutions (arenaplm.com) issued a free white paper on manufacturing outsourcing. Manufacturing Outsourcing: Seven Common Pitfalls to Avoid is available for download at arenaplm.com/forms/media_outsourcingpitfalls_07q3.

Zestron America.(In Brief)
August 1, 2007... Zestron America (zestron.com) named DiversiTech (dtech-reps.com) its sales representative for Southern California and Nevada.

Endicott Interconnect Technologies.(In Brief)
August 1, 2007... Endicott Interconnect Technologies (eitny.com) has conditionally qualified its assembly operation for high-volume commercial applications in Shenzhen. The company leases 40,000 sq. ft. of production space from Lorom Industrial Co.

YESTech Inc.(In Brief)
August 1, 2007... YESTech Inc. (yestechinc.com) shipped multiple F1 Series AOIs to Comtech EF Data (comtechefdata.com).

Pure Technologies.(In Brief)
August 1, 2007... Pure Technologies (puretechnologies.com) named Qualitek Group (qualitek.com) exclusive distributor of its low alpha leaded and Pb-free solders and solder materials in China, Singapore, India, Taiwan, Vietnam and the Philippines, and...

Sunburst EMS.(In Brief)
August 1, 2007... Sunburst EMS (sunburstems.com) installed a KISS 102 selective soldering system from ACE Production Technologies (ace-protech.com).

ACE Production Technologies.(In Brief)
August 1, 2007... ACE Production Technologies (ace-protech.com) named E & M Engineering (emet.co.il) exclusive representative in Israel.

Patrick Trippel.(People)
August 1, 2007... Patrick Trippel was named president of Henkel Corp.'s aerospace group. Trippel will maintain his current duties as president of the electronics group of Henkel.

KIC.(People)
August 1, 2007... KIC named Brian O'Leary North American sales manager, responsible for all sales representatives and North American-based partners. He has 10 years' experience in industrial sales, marketing and management in North America, Mexico and Asia, most...

Celestica Inc.(People)
August 1, 2007... Celestica Inc. named Paul Nicoletti executive vice president and chief financial officer.

Precision PCB Products.(People)
August 1, 2007... Precision PCB Products named William Sanson operations manager.

Kester.(People)
August 1, 2007... Kester promoted Kurt Rajewski to global product manager, responsible for product line management, including marketing, pricing, new product development coordination and promotions, and also metals and preforms. Kester also promoted Brian Smith...

TXP Corp.(People)
August 1, 2007... TXP Corp. named Stuart P. Foladare and Phillip H. McCall vice presidents of sales.

Promation Inc.(People)
August 1, 2007... Promation Inc. promoted Steve Dunnavant to southern regional sales manager.

Millennia Technology Inc.(People)
August 1, 2007... EMS firm Millennia Technology Inc. (MTI), a subsidiary of The Millennia Group, named Jim McLaughlin SMT process engineer and Jason Behanna test engineer.

Everett Charles Technologies.(People)
August 1, 2007... Everett Charles Technologies promoted Bud Fabian to president of Contact Products Group. He joined the company in 1982 and has been corporate VP of sales and marketing since 1988. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Asustek makes it official: will split into 3.(Industry NEWS)
August 1, 2007... TAIWAN -- Asustek Computer (asustek.com) will split into three companies Jan. 1 to separate its branded product business from its contract manufacturing operations, the company said. The three-way split requires the approval of government...

Free calculator eases surface finish dilemma.(Industry NEWS)
August 1, 2007... ATLANTA -- A new Excel spreadsheet tool aids users in determining the best surface finish for a particular design. The tool was created by Bob Lazarra, a former designer and now vice president of business development for PWB fabricator...

Flush with cash, is Acer ready to spend?(Industry NEWS)
August 1, 2007... TAIPEI -- Is Acer (acer.com) about to embark on a spending spree? The company has raised about $640 million in capital through sales of real estate and holdings of bonds and shares in other companies during the past six months, and speculation...

Vitronics Soltec relocates some manufacturing.(Industry NEWS)
August 1, 2007... OOSTERHOUT, THE NETHERLANDS -- Vitronics Soltec (vitronics.com) will relocate volume manufacturing of several product lines from The Netherlands to its facilities in China and the U.S. over the next six to nine months. The move is a...

De Villemejane leaves Speedline.(Industry NEWS)
August 1, 2007... FRANKLIN, MA -- Speedline Technologies (speedlinetech.com) president Pierre de Villemejane stepped down from the equipment maker July 18. Joe Hahn, electronics group vice president for parent company ITW (itw.com), was named interim executive...

Creation Technologies to acquire Taytronics.(Industry NEWS)
August 1, 2007... VANCOUVER -- Creation Technologies (creationtech.com), a top 50 EMS provider, plans to acquire Taytronics Inc. of St. Peter, MN. The acquisition will provide Creation with a second facility in the central U.S. and was expected to be completed...

McCormick, Williams named to edit board.(Industry NEWS)
August 1, 2007... ATLANTA -- CIRCUITS ASSEMBLY has named Heather McCormick and Curtis Williams to its Editorial Advisory Board, a body of experts that helps guide the magazine's editorial content, providing advice on topics and potential authors. Two current EAB...

Storage soars.(Market WATCH)
August 1, 2007... Trends in the U.S. electronics equipment market (shipments only). % Change March April (r) May* YTD Computers and electronics products ...

Manufacturing rebounds.(Market WATCH)
August 1, 2007... TEMPE, AZ -- "Following a weak first quarter, the manufacturing sector rebounded in a strong fashion during the second quarter." That's according to Norbert J. Ore, chair of ISM's Manufacturing Business Survey Committee. The trade group said...

Industry market snapshot.(Market WATCH)
August 1, 2007... Book-to-bills of various components/equipment. Jan. Feb. Mar. Apr. May Semiconductor equipment (1) 1.04 0.98 0.99 0.98 (r) 1.00 (p) Semiconductors (2) 9.6% 4.4%...

Metals index.(Market WATCH)
August 1, 2007... Price Per Lb. Date 4/9/07 5/14/07 6/11/07 7/9/07 LME Cash Seller and $6.43 $6.55 $6.44 $6.44 Settlement for Tin LME Cash Seller and $0.92 $0.94...

H2 PC unit growth to ramp.(Market WATCH)
August 1, 2007... SAN FRANCISCO -- PC unit growth will accelerate through year-end, Deutsche Bank (db.com) says, predicting sales will trend up toward the company's previous estimate of 15% year-over-year growth, the result of continued strength in emerging...

iSuppli trims 2007 semi forecast to 6%.(Market WATCH)
August 1, 2007... EL SEGUNDO, CA -- iSuppli Corp. (isuppli.com) in June lowered its semiconductor growth outlook to 6%, from its earlier 8.1% forecast. The firm predicts global semiconductor revenue will rise to $276.6 billion, from $260.9 billion in 2006. ...

EMS firms head to Southeast Asia.(Market WATCH)
August 1, 2007... EL SEGUNDO, CA -- The Southeast Asian EMS and ODM market will reach $24.9 billion by 2011, up nearly $9 billion from 2006, according to iSuppli. By 2011, Southeast Asia will account for 7% of global EMS revenue, up from 6.3% in 2006, says...

The cultural weapon: what separates companies is not the equipment; it's the approach.(Screen Printing)
August 1, 2007... A question often asked after I have evaluated a customer's plant is, In your opinion, are we a world-class manufacturing operation? However, manufacturing has no fixed rules governing how to operate, score performance and compare operations. I...

Talking globalization: an old friend takes our columnist on a trip through time.(Better Manufacturing)
August 1, 2007... "What a long, strange trip it's been."--Jerry Garcia A few years ago, I reconnected with one of my best friends from high school, Ross Miller. When we finally got together, after 30 years, we picked up right where we left off. Topics...

Electronics recycling in Korea: a national law governing electronics waste goes into effect Jan. 1.(Korea RoHS/ELV Analysis)
August 1, 2007... Ed.: The complete article may be viewed at circuitsassembly.com/cms/content/view/5153. Since 2001, five EU directives regarding the restriction of hazardous substances and the promotion of their recycling in the electrical and electronics...

Fastening hardware using SMT: why manually install hardware when existing placement lines can be used?(Component Placement)
August 1, 2007... Ed.: The complete article may be viewed at circuitsassembly.com/cms/content/view/5152. Traditional hardware options for assembling PCBs have always carried potential baggage. The tedious and exacting process of handling and installing...

Pb-free PTH rework on a thick, heavy assembly: a forced convection platform with a solder fountain showed a dramatic impact on copper dissolution.(Cover story)
August 1, 2007... Benchmark Electronics conducted a Pb-free implementation for a customer in January 2006 that included documentation of the process and findings by the Toxic Use Reduction Institute. (1,2) This customer designs and manufactures computer systems...

The 5Ss to keeping Lean on course: without a robust 5S discipline, a Lean system is rendered ineffective.(Getting Lean)
August 1, 2007... As Celestica's Lean global architect, it's my job to make sure Lean principles are in place and at work everywhere in the organization. One of the keys to making Lean work is a process, or approach to work, known as 5S. At its essence,...

Integrating passives: to save real estate and enhance reliability, even the DoD is embedding parts.(Tech Tips)
August 1, 2007... While commercial electronics manufacturers typically drive technology trends, the Department of Defense is actively pursuing methods to reduce the size, weight and cost of its high-reliability electronics, particularly in mobile RF...

Easing the pressure: calculating the solder wave pressure and penetration in gaps relationship.(Wave Soldering)
August 1, 2007... For soldering SMDs mounted on the solder side of a PCB, the wave pressure to the board generally must be higher than for soldering components with protruding leads on the solder side. With higher wave pressures, the risk of solder flooding via...

Hot over preheat: for Pb-free, preheat can make or break the process.(Pb-Free Lessons Learned)
August 1, 2007... Of the three major components of wave soldering--flux, preheat and solder--the most frequently overlooked and underestimated item is preheat. On the fluxer, we invest our energies measuring flux loading, distribution, and PTH penetration; on...

The wonderful world of small slices: it is possible to make a nondestructive cut.(Test and Inspection)
August 1, 2007... To take a cross-sectional view and see what's inside, the object must be cut. Can you cut without destroying? Not a problem with computed tomography (CT). For many applications, this 3-D image investigation method opens new glimpses into the...

[TEXT NOT REPRODUCIBLE IN ASCII].(Eastern Advances)
August 1, 2007... [TEXT NOT REPRODUCIBLE IN ASCII] Yang Tongxing is president of BRIO Technology Co. Ltd. (brio-tech.com). For the English version, visit circuits assembly.com. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Stencil and pallet liquid cleaner.(Product PREVIEW)
August 1, 2007... Lonox L5314 water-soluble concentrated cleaning liquid is designed for cleaning stencils and wave soldering pallets. Is said to be effective in general maintenance cleaning applications; includes raw solder paste and fluxes on wave solder...

High-speed selective soldering.(Product PREVIEW)
August 1, 2007... MW500 selective soldering cell automates point-to-point or linear soldering. Said to enable rapid soldering with optimal quality and repeatability with adjustable parameters, ensuring complete wetting and reflow. For automotive, electronics,...

[N.sub.2]-based selective soldering.(Product PREVIEW)
August 1, 2007... GoSelective light nitrogen miniwave selective soldering is for small and medium-size production volumes. Handles assemblies up to 19.68" x 19.68". Is designed for standalone operation. Automatically controls wave height and solder level. Manual...

Open architecture suite for pick-and-place.(Product PREVIEW)
August 1, 2007... Manufacturing Suite (AMS) 2.0 reportedly optimizes production-line performance of pick-and-place machines. The open-architecture suite incorporates MES product features, and increases placement rates of AX and MV machines. Said to support SMT...

SMT process Productivity Tools.(Product PREVIEW)
August 1, 2007... Productivity Tools include system enhancements such as HawkEye post-print verification, Cyclone understencil cleaning, HD GridLok tooling and Instinctiv user interface. Are said to improve throughput, yield and productivity and lower...

Quick setup board transport.(Product PREVIEW)
August 1, 2007... Photon RTC is a mass imaging and board transport system said to reduce machine cycle times to 4 sec. Torsional and thermal stability ensure accuracy, repeatability and throughput. Process capability of 2 cpk at +/- 25 [micro]m and a setup time...

2-heat zone gantry rework.(Product PREVIEW)
August 1, 2007... PMT400 rework system is for [mu]BGA, BGA, CSP, SMT, MCM and PTH assemblies. GIU features intuitive programming and Teach Mode profiling. Is Pb-free capable. Standard features include a six-nozzle kit, real-time thermal control (external TC),...

XRF with laser camera.(Product PREVIEW)
August 1, 2007... Handheld XRF analyzer features a laser camera system. Captures a picture and RoHS screening test results. Isolates areas by placing a test spot (to 3 mm diameter), displaying image and sample target on a color PDA screen. For evaluating...

Fast auto-debug ICT.(Product PREVIEW)
August 1, 2007... Medalist i1000 in-circuit tester has a user-friendly GUI and auto-debug said to cut debugging to hours. Comes with an automatic node-guarding feature said to eliminate the need for manual checks of schematics against guard points. Has two...

Low height thermal profilers.(Product PREVIEW)
August 1, 2007... Q18 thermal profilers are available with six or 10 channels. Offer fast USB connection, 18,000 readings per channel, accuracy ([+ or -]0.5[degrees]C) and rapid charging. Have low height, narrow configuration and new thermal barriers. Reportedly...

Turnkey screen printer.(Product PREVIEW)
August 1, 2007... SMP300 screen printer has a three-stage conveyor to eliminate additional buffer units. Features a patented damping process to ensure the board is in the proper plane. Uses two CCD cameras to view and teach fiducials for aligning the board to...

High-reliability underfill.(Product PREVIEW)
August 1, 2007... Loctite 3536 is designed to quickly fill space beneath CSPs and BGAs; cures rapidly at low temperature and permits inline curing (to increase throughput). Said to deliver excellent protection for solder joints against mechanical stress such as...

User-configurable MES.(Product PREVIEW)
August 1, 2007... Data Miner version 7 is a process planning and manufacturing execution software; the MES user portal is redesigned, and the Real-Time Dashboard is user-configurable. Said to deliver real-time and historical analytics and business intelligence...

In case you missed it.(Technical Abstracts)
August 1, 2007... Component Reliability "Solder Joint Reliability in High Reliability Applications for QFN Type Packages" Authors: Alex Chan, Aman Khan and Robert Kinyanjui; alex.l.chan@alcatellucent.com. Abstract: Leadless packages represent...