Issue link: https://iconnect007.uberflip.com/i/1183414
NOVEMBER 2019 I DESIGN007 MAGAZINE 53 ufacturing assembly is done. I like looking at sections of boards and saying, "Maybe if we change this, it would be a little bit easier to build." Working with Isola's materials always makes it easier for DFM, so we've been able to switch some things with that. This is the time of year where we do a lot of training events. We just did one with 25 design engineers, so we're hoping to hit 100 before the end of the year. Shaughnessy: Are you doing any of the talking or teaching? Teta: Not right now, but we've talked about it. I will be doing the "lunch and learn" training on materials. I spend a lot of time training on different items, such as copper foils, laminate materials within board tops, and resists. Shaughnessy: What would you like to change about the overall industry if you could? Teta: Probably keeping more manufacturing in the U.S. I think these tariffs are going to move more things back to the United States and change people's perspectives on Chinese manufacturing. There are still so many boards built in the U.S., especially for DOD medical, so there is a market for it. A lot of board shops are investing and making sure people under- stand that you don't have to go overseas for that. This year, many of our fabricators have been investing a lot of CapEx into new equip- ment, such as LDI or additive, or to make smaller lines and spaces. We still haven't hit our limitations to manufacturing. Shaughnessy: Are you doing additive stuff now? Teta: From the printed electronics side of it, we do a lot of additive and inks being printed on and used. This is a lot of lower-temperature stuff for the most part. DuPont has some high- temperature, co-fired stuff that's also print- ed. I'm not involved in it personally, so I can't speak to it, but different parts of the industry are moving that way. Shaughnessy: Have you gone to many IPC stan- dards meetings? Teta: I have not been involved in the standards meetings recently. I've been on some commit- tees in the past that ensure all the information on standard is correct. I need to be more in- volved in them; it's one of the other things on my ever-grow- ing list that I could be doing. Everyone's a volunteer. Shaughnessy: And you still have to do your day job. Teta: Exactly. More people need to be involved. IPC, sup- pliers, and fabricators have a lot riding on it. So, it's making sure the right people are mak- ing those decisions where it gets a little bit trickier. Having everyone on board is also a little difficult. IPC does the best they can, but they need to get more people involved. Shaughnessy: I've covered the meetings, and some of it is tedious, arguing over one word because it won't translate into Spanish or Man- darin. But it has to be done, and the volunteers do a great job. Teta: I know. It's tricky because it has to be translatable, as you stated. And I'm not saying I could do a better job. It's never going to be perfect, so make sure you're on board with the assembly house and the manufacturing hous- es. Specifications are important, especially as we get into tighter geometries. Shaughnessy: It's nice seeing you again, Me- gan. Thanks for your time. Teta: Thank you, Andy. It was good to see you too. DESIGN007