Technical Library | 2016-11-30 15:53:15.0
The use of microvias in Printed Circuit Boards (PCBs) for military hardware is increasing as technology drives us toward smaller pitches and denser circuitry. Along with the changes in technology, the industry has changed and captive manufacturing lines are few and far between. As PCBs get more complicated, the testing we perform to verify the material was manufactured to our requirements before they are used in an assembly needs to be reviewed to ensure that it is sufficient for the technology and meets industry needs to better screen for long-term reliability. The Interconnect Stress Testing (IST) protocol currently used to identify manufacturing issues in plated through holes, blind, or buried vias are not necessarily sufficient to identify problems with microvias. There is a need to review the current IST protocol to determine if it is adequate for finding bad microvias or if there is a more reliable test that will screen out manufacturing inconsistencies. The objective of this research is to analyze a large population of PCB IST coupons to determine if there is a more effective IST test to find less reliable microvias in electrically passing PCB product and to screen for manufacturing deficiencies. The proposed IST test procedure will be supported with visual inspection of corresponding microvia cross sections and Printed Wiring Assembly (PWA) acceptance test results. The proposed screening will be shown to only slightly affect PCB yield while showing a large benefit to screening before PCBs are used in an assembly.
Industry News | 2012-05-02 15:13:45.0
The Northeast Shingo Prize Conference will be held at the DCU Center in Worcester MA on September 25-26, 2012. The conference focuses on how organizations striving for operational excellence need to share information in order to achieve continuous growth. Those with the greatest depth and breadth of Lean deployment experience and success have discovered passion and purpose for sharing on many levels.
Electronics Forum | Tue Nov 06 22:37:35 EST 2012 | davef
Ryan ... "As for bismuth-based lead-free alloys, a lower melting temperature than that of tin-lead is offered together with a cost similar to that of tin [in the area of $3/lb]. Unfortunately, bismuth in soldering alloys tends to create embrittlemen
