OCTOBER 2025 I PCB007 MAGAZINE 99
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Driving Innovation: Mastering
Panel Warpage
During the complex and multi-step process of
PCB fabrication, a panel's flatness is constantly
at risk. A host of factors can introduce warpage,
bending, and unevenness, presenting a funda-
mental challenge to achieving high-precision
results. This deformation (sometimes referred
to as "bow and twist"), even on a microscopic
scale, can lead to
critical defects during
subsequent stages,
such as component
surface mounting
(e.g., tombstoning,
solder opens) and
the PCB's long-term
functional reliability.
The primary reasons for warpage are well known.
Happy's Tech Talk #43:
Engineering Statistics
Training With Free Software
In over 50 years as a
PCB process engineer,
the one skill I acquired
in college that has been
most beneficial is engi-
neering statistics. Basic
statistics was part of my
engineering fundamen-
tals classes, but I peti-
tioned the dean to let
me take the engineering statistics graduate course
because I was creating a senior thesis for my hon-
ors focus and needed more training on Design of
Experiments (DOE).
PCB West 2025 Showcases Success
For more than 30 years, PCB West has served the PCB and
design industries in Silicon Valley, bringing together engi-
neers, fabricators, and designers for technical sessions and
networking. Marcy LaRont spoke with show organizer, Mike
Buetow of PCBEA at PCB West to learn firsthand about its
origins and mission.
Connect the Dots: Evolution
of PCB Manufacturing—
Lamination
When I wrote The Printed Circuit Designer's
Guide to...™ Designing for Reality,
it was not a
one-and-done effort. Technology is advancing
rapidly. Designing for the reality of PCB manu-
facturing will continue to evolve. That's why I
encourage designers to stay on top of the tools
and processes used during production, to ensure
their designs capitalize on the capabilities of
their manufacturing partner.
The Right Approach: Get Ready
for ISO 9001 Version 6
We are well past
the normal five
to seven years
that a new revi-
sion of the ISO
9001 international
quality standard
gets released. It
may be finished
toward the end of 2025, with implementation start-
ing in 2026, and there will be as many significant
changes as we saw in the current 2015 version.
F o r t h e l a t e s t n e w s a n d i n f o r m a t i o n , v i s i t I - C o n n e c t 0 0 7. c o m
