Issue link: https://iconnect007.uberflip.com/i/565949
50 The PCB Magazine • September 2015 at the same rate as larger, newer anodes, which leaves spots that will have lower plating thick- ness. Conclusion At the end of the day, being an automotive PCB supplier can really help to fatten your top line. But it's important not to open yourself up to not only losing everything in your bottom line, or potentially your entire company, if the issue is large enough. Ensuring PCB reliablility is not an easy task, especially when your sup- plier is halfway around the world. This brings a huge importance to really making sure your suppliers are producing the quality that you need (not want) for you to be an automotive supplier. PCB yash Sutariya holds management positions at saturn electronics corporation and saturn flex systems inc. to contact the author, click here. the best way to learn about 3D printer tech- nology is to build a printer. that's the idea be- hind 3D Printer summer Workshops conducted in Pittsburgh, harrisburg and allentown for stu- dents in the Pennsylvania cyber charter school stem program. this is the third summer for the week-long 3D printer build workshops. Joel cilli runs the online school's stem pro- gram and leads the workshops. he has created and posted a series of how-to videos to guide not only workshop participants, but anyone who undertakes to build Printrbot Play 3D printers from a kit. "i made all the assembly videos at home over the summer and shared them via youtube," cilli said. "my instructions are now linked on the manufacturer's website so that anyone in the world can follow along with the same build instructions we use in the workshop. i video recorded how to do the steps because still pic- tures just aren't clear enough," he said. During the workshops, "the videos play at the front of the room and the students follow the steps. We walk around to each person's desk to check their work and offer assistance." cilli said the Printrbot Play is an all-metal- body 3D printer that was released this summer. Workshop students pay a discounted equip- ment fee of $200 for the kit and take it home with them – it's theirs. "the 3D printer workshop is exclusive to students pursuing the stem graduation certifi- cate, so you have to join the larger STEM pro- gram to be invited," cilli said. "the program exposes students to hands-on stem opportu- nities where they meet peers from around the state with an interest in science and engineer- ing." Workshops were held at Pa cyber regional workshops in allentown, harrisburg and Wex- ford, near Pittsburgh. staffer Karen cummings assisted with the harrisburg and allentown workshops. PA STEM Students Learn about 3D Printer Technology by Building One BECOMING AN AuTOMOTIVE SuPPLIER—PROCEED WITH CAuTION continues FEAturE