Electronics Manufacturing Technical Articles

Quality Laser Cut Parts

May 31, 2024 | Abby Young

We strive to produce quality parts for customers around the world looking for laser cutting precision. We are able to produce quality machined parts to the specifications provided by customers because of the strong quality system. Precision parts with tight laser cut hole tolerances cannot be done without our quality department. Supplying quality machined parts defines who we are and laser micromachining wouldn't be possible without it....

Publisher: A-Laser, Inc.

What Is A CNC Machine?

May 30, 2024 | A-Laser

Overview of what a CNC Machine is....

Publisher: A-Laser, Inc.

What is a CO2 Laser?

May 29, 2024 | A-Laser

An overview of what CO2 laser technology is....

Publisher: A-Laser, Inc.

Smart Determination of Gold Content in PCBs of Waste Mobile Phones by Coupling of XRF and AAS Techniques

May 28, 2024 | Nicolò Maria Ippolito , Gianmaria Belardi , Valentina Innocenzi , Franco Medici , Loris Pietrelli and Luigi Piga

: Quantitative determination of most economic valuable metals in waste is the first fundamental operation of evaluating the feasibility of recycling processes. Field-portable X-ray fluorescence
spectrometers (FPXRFs) represent a more practical, efficient, and economic tool in determining the
elemental composition of samples with respect to conventional analytical techniques, such as atomic
absorption spectrometry (AAS) and inductively coupled plasma emission spectrometry (ICP). In
this paper, quick and smart determination of gold content in printed circuit boards (PCBs) of waste
mobile phones was studied. The aim of the research was to combine the practicality of FPXRFs
with the reliability of quantitative spectrometry analysis and evaluate the error between the two
techniques. Several samples (33) of PCBs were ground to a size below 0.5 mm, and then, the powders
were analyzed by FPXRFs at different acquisition times with five replications for each sample. The
same analyzed samples then underwent chemical attack to determine the quantitative gold content
by AAS. The obtained results were associated with FPXRFs response with the purpose of realizing
a calibration curve (100–1000 mg/kg Au). The curve was validated for accuracy and precision by
other PCBs waste samples; the control samples were added as standards to obtain a more reliable calibration curve. The curve was evaluated with RPD classification, regression linear, and Bolt–Altman
analysis. 

Publisher: University of L'Aquila

Theory of XRF

May 28, 2024 | Peter Brouwer

This booklet gives a general introduction to X-Ray fluorescence (XRF) spectrometry and XRF analysis. It explains simply how a spectrometer works and how XRF analysis is done. It is intended for people new to the field of XRF analysis. Difficult mathematical equations are avoided and the booklet requires only a basic knowledge of mathematics and physics.

The booklet is not dedicated to one specific type of spectrometer or one application area, but aims to give a broad overview of the main spectrometer types and applications.

Chapter 2 briefly explains XRF and its benefits. Chapter 3 explains the physics of XRF, and Chapter 4 describes how this physics is applied to spectrometers and their components. Chapter 5 explains how an XRF analysis is done. It describes the process of sample taking, measuring the sample and calculating the composition from the measurement results.

Finally, Chapter 6 gives a list of recommended literature for further information on XRF analysis.

Publisher: Malvern Panalytical Ltd

Non-Destructive Characterization of Mechanically Processed Waste Printed Circuit Boards: X-ray Fluorescence Spectroscopy and Prompt Gamma Activation Analysis

May 28, 2024 | Akira Otsuki , Pedro Pereira Gonçalves , Christian Stieghorst and Zsolt Révay

This work aimed to characterize the deportment/concentration and liberation/association
of the metals and light elements within mechanically processed waste printed circuit boards (PCBs)
that hold the complex and heterogeneous structure and distribution of different material components.
Waste PCBs passed through a series of mechanical processing (i.e., comminution and sieving) for
metal recovery and were then characterized without further destroying the particles in order to
capture their heterogeneity. The characterizations were performed in a laboratory and large-scale
neutron facility. The results obtained with a portable X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy and prompt
gamma activation analysis were compared and confirmed the good agreement and complementarities
in general. The advantages and disadvantages of the two different methods were identified and
discussed in this paper, in relation to their application to the analysis of mechanically processed
PCB particles. 

Publisher: Université de Lorraine

Ultraviolet Laser Technology Overview

May 28, 2024 | A-Laser

Review of UV Laser Technology...

Publisher: A-Laser, Inc.

INTEGRATED MICRO X-RAY FLUORESCENCE AND CHEMOMETRIC ANALYSIS FOR PRINTED CIRCUIT BOARDS RECYCLING

May 28, 2024 | Silvia Serranti , Giuseppe Capobianco and Giuseppe Bonifazi

A novel approach, based on micro X-ray fluorescence (µXRF), was developed to define an efficient and fast automatic recognition procedure finalized to detect and
topologically assess the presence of the different elements in waste electrical and
electronic equipment (WEEE). More specifically, selected end-of-life (EOL) iPhone
printed circuit boards (PCB) were investigated, whose technological improvement
during time, can dramatically influence the recycling strategies (i.e. presence of
different electronic components, in terms of size, shape, disposition and related
elemental content). The implemented µXRF-based techniques allow to preliminary
set up simple and fast quality control strategies based on the full recognition and
characterization of precious and rare earth elements as detected inside the electronic boards. Furthermore, the proposed approach allows to identify the presence
and the physical-chemical attributes of the other materials (i.e. mainly polymers),
influencing the further physical-mechanical processing steps addressed to realize
a pre-concentration of the valuable elements inside the PCB milled fractions, before
the final chemical recovery

Publisher: Sapienza - University of Rome

Engineering Services

May 23, 2024 | A-Laser

Information on how A-Laser can help support your next laser manufacturing project....

Publisher: A-Laser, Inc.

Ultraviolet Laser Technology Overview

May 22, 2024 | A-Laser

This article reviews UV or ultraviolet laser technology. Is on method that can be used for laser depaneling or singulation for precision control....

Publisher: A-Laser, Inc.