Issue link: https://iconnect007.uberflip.com/i/1503357
JULY 2023 I DESIGN007 MAGAZINE 51 situations, my intent was to highlight how starting out with all of these unusual design scenarios helped me be better prepared for the bulk of the work I encountered later on. Cer- tainly, I learned how to coax the most out of a CAD system while being educated by some of the most talented designers I've ever known. Learning about many different board shapes, sizes, and technologies was invaluable later on, as was the exposure to multiple manufac- turing processes, dimensioning etiquette, and design standards. I know things have changed over the years, and maybe my experience isn't as easy to replicate anymore. It's been a while since I've poked my nose into a service bureau, and it would be interesting to see what's differ- ent and what hasn't changed. At any rate, if you ever get a chance to be part of a fast-moving, take-your-breath-away business like a service bureau, I recommend embracing the opportunity. You will be amazed at the education that you will come away with. Until next time, my friends, keep on designing. DESIGN007 Tim Haag writes technical, thought-leadership content for First Page Sage on his longtime career as a PCB designer and EDA technologist. To read past columns, click here. and copious amounts of coffee, only then to emerge from their isolation to ask a question, request a correction, or grab another pot of coffee. It was pretty creepy in a "Scooby-Doo vs. the CIA" way. New Technologies to Explore One of the most fascinating things about working at the service bureau was learning about the new technologies in the projects we were designing for our customers. I've already mentioned some of them, like the power board that could take a lightning strike. Of course, there were plenty of computer cards and other standard electronics applications, but there were also some really interesting ones too. I worked on some projects where I wasn't allowed to know their purpose. One engineer even hinted at a military application, which seemed unlikely since none of us had any security clearances at the time. But hey, it was the '90s, so I guess anything is possible. I also worked on one of the first touchscreen systems designed for a CRT (I never knew if it ever worked) and a biosensor wristwatch before anyone had even considered the catch- phrases "human interfaces" and "wearable technology." While this month's contributors will have plenty to say on how to approach unique design