74 DESIGN007 MAGAZINE I AUGUST 2023
What are the top problems I see with
PCB design? From where I sit now on the
assembly side, one of my biggest con-
cerns related to PCB design is the lack of
uniform part markings on the Gerber or
ODB++ data, specifically the way custom-
ers reference diodes. We would prefer
either an "A" depicting the anode side or
a "C" or "K" for the cathode side.
At SMTA Atlanta Tech Expo and Forum, I met with PCB designer Albert
Gaines, owner of HiGain Design Services. Albert has been working on
some really interesting, fragmented aperture antenna designs, and some
of this stuff is really pushing the limits. Albert and I discussed his work with
RF, the differences between COTS and custom antennas, and his efforts to
educate engineers about what they can and can't do.
IPC announces
its virtual class for
PCB Design for
Military & Aero-
space Applications,
Aug. 7–Sept. 13,
2023. This course
addresses specific challenges encoun-
tered in military and aerospace applica-
tions, including the effects of vibration,
shock, radiation, and altitude, extended
operating temperature range, and other
design considerations for high-reliability
applications.
This book introduces a
new process workflow for
optimizing your design
called Manufacturing
Driven Design (MDD)
and is a distinct evolu-
tion from DFM. When
defining Manufactur-
ing Driven Design, it is
important to recognize
that this is, foremost, an
element of the design
stage.
TOP TEN
RF Antenna Design on the Bleeding Edge
IPC to Hold PCB Design
for Military & Aerospace
Applications Training Course
Mark Thompson's Biggest Problems With PCB Designs
EDITOR'S
PICKS
New Book Strengthens
Relationship Between Designer
and Manufacturer
