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 Melissa really needs to work on her email management setup. 

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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 digital download of the ANSI-S20.20-2014 spec
A Minute with Miranda
IPC Handling Moisture-Sensitive Devices
Non-reversible humidity indicator cards
IPC/JEDEC J-STD-020E Preview
IPC/JEDEC J-STD-033D Preview
Uline heat sealer
Moisture barrier bag selection chart 
Silica gel packs on Amazon

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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 created by IPC provide value,  the process that goes into creating and updating different standards, how members can take advantage of IPC's extensive offerings, and more. 

This episode also features our best pet peeve yet! 

If you'd like to submit a comment on one of the standards feel free to email [email protected]. 
For interest in the PCB design competition email [email protected]. 
* Edit: At  1:06 Patrick wanted to note that he was referring to perpendicular routing, not parallel. 

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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

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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 bags
Uline Anti-static bags
Visual of microcircuit ESD damage
The worm
ESD table mat
Mat grounder
Wrist strap grounders
Heel strap grounders
Smocks
ESD continuous monitor
Affordable ESD mat kit
ESD gas station fire

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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

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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 Testers
In-Circuit Tester
Wire Bonding Machine
Ingun Test Fixture

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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

Episode links:
Epoxy capacitor mounting explained
TE whitepaper discussing the details of press-fit parts
Press-fit design and assembly considerations
How to determine a torque specification
Snap socket example
Dome switch example
Hot bar soldering machine
3M VHB Tape
MG Chemicals RTV

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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.

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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

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