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24 The PCB Design Magazine • September 2016 FEATURE INTERVIEW by Andy Shaughnessy Tom Woznicki has made a career out of his love for designing flex circuits. Woznicki, also known as "Flexdude," has focused primarily on flex circuit design since he founded Flex Circuit Design Company in the 1990s, and he designed flex circuits for the Mars rover. But recently, Tom found himself designing rigid PCBs, this time for the TESS satellite. I tracked Tom down via email recently and asked him to discuss his work with TESS, and what it's like switching be- tween flexible and rigid PCBs. Andy Shaughnessy: Tom, give us a quick thumbnail sketch of your background and your company. Tom Woznicki: I almost exclusively design flex circuits and rigid-flex circuits. I have been in the flex industry since 1988 and started my company, Flex Circuit Design Company, in 1992, coming up on 25 years ago! I am a me- chanical engineer by education, which I believe really helps me understand the intricacies of flex circuits; they are as much mechanical as electrical. In fact, most flex circuits are electri- cally simple, but mechanically complex. Shaughnessy: Now, you're more identified with flex design, but I understand you designed rigid boards for the upcoming TESS satellite. Tell us about that project. Woznicki: Yes, for the past two years I have been part of the team working on the TESS satel- lite. The principal goal of the TESS mission is to detect small planets with bright host stars in the solar neighborhood. I actually designed the early prototype and development PCBs and worked in a support role in the designing the flight boards that are now assembled and in testing. How did it happen? Once in a blue moon, my flex circuit customers need me for rigid board design help; they need something fast and their PCB designers are busy, or they don't know any PCB designers and would prefer to work with someone they know. Most times it's small test Flexdude Abides: PCB Design for Satellites