IPC International Community magazine an association member publication
Issue link: https://iconnect007.uberflip.com/i/1544398
8 I-CONNECT007 MAGAZINE I APRIL 2026 W hat happens when the rulebook is no longer useful, or worse, has not yet been written? With electronics innova- tion happening at warp speed, we're increasingly asked to design and build what has no precedent, proven path, or tidy checklist to follow. "Design for invention" begins at the edge of known capability, where traditional DFM gives way to something far less certain, and far more exciting. It's not about breaking rules for the sake of it, it's about recog- nizing when the rules no longer apply, and having the insight, collaboration, and courage to move forward anyway. In this month's I-Connect007 Magazine, we asked PCB designers, fabricators, and suppliers to discuss what it means to operate without a rule- book. Not surprisingly, there's a contrast in per- spective, particularly between seasoned design- ers and experienced fabricators, but the common thread is that, to progress, you must push boundar- ies along an unclear path. This mindset has always been an undercurrent in our work. BY M A RCY L A RO N T, I - C O N N ECT 0 07 Operating Without a Rulebook M A RCY 'S M U S I N G S