JANUARY 2019 I DESIGN007 MAGAZINE 87
5
Martyn Gaudion on Signal Integrity
Modelling and Stackup Tools
E
The accuracy of signal
integrity modelling continues
to improve, and stackup
tools are becoming widely
used, which now include
material suppliers' datasheet
information. During the recent
electronica show in Munich, Germany,
Martyn Gaudion, managing director at Polar
Instruments, explained how Polar often serves
as a bridge between PCB design and fabrication,
and why educating his customers is so critical.
6
Connect the Dots: Six Tips to Ensure
Parts Fit on Your Board
E
Alternative through-hole parts occur when
the land pattern matches, but the pin size is
off. Pins may not fit through the holes, or if
they do go into the holes, they may not solder
well. Solder will need to flow through the gap
between the pin and the hole barrel. If there is
not enough space to allow enough solder mass
to flow through the hole, the circuit board will
absorb heat from the molten solder and cause
the solder to solidify partway up the hole. This
is called a cold solder joint and can result in a
premature failure of your circuit.
7
Rick Almeida Discusses
DownStream's Latest News
E
At the 2018 electronica
exhibition in Munich,
Rick Almeida, founder
of DownStream Tech-
nologies, brings Editor
Pete Starkey up to
speed with the com-
pany's latest news.
8
Lightning Speed Laminates:
Skin Depth and Its Interaction With
Final Plated Finishes
E
Skin depth is the depth
within a conductor where the
majority of the radio-frequency
(RF) current resides. Imagine
looking at a cross-sectional
view of a circular wire and
being able to see how much current is within
that cross-section. If the current is supplied
by a battery and is direct current (DC), the
amount of current is distributed evenly across
the cross-sectional area of the wire. The current
density is the same everywhere in the area of
that wire.
9
Martin Cotton's
Parting Shot
E
Martin Cotton is a unique
personality in the PCB
industry. As Cotton says,
"I'm a designer—look at my
haircut!" Cotton gave the
keynote at the Institute of
Circuit Technology's 2018
Harrogate Seminar, challenging his audience
to consider laminate dielectric properties in
the context of power and cost in a presentation
entitled 'The Effect of the Dk of a PCB Laminate
on the Cost-effectiveness of Office Rental
Space. Intrigued?' Read on!
J
Altium Releases
Designer 19
E
Altium Designer 19 introduces new features
that make designing complex, high-quality
projects easier, faster, and more accurate from
concept to production.
PCBDesign007.com
for the latest circuit design news and information—anywhere, anytime.
Martyn Gaudion John Coonrod
Martin Cotton
Pete Starkey and Rick Almeida
