Epec's Blog | Electronics Manufacturing Solutions

Although it may not feel like it, the PCB manufacturing industry is approaching its 100th anniversary – a remarkable milestone. It’s hard for me to believe, especially having spent 40 years in the business myself. The idea of reaching a century of innovation in this field once seemed impossible. It almost feels like we should begin the story with, “A long time ago, in the 1930s,” when PCBs first came to light during WWII. Yet here we are, on the brink of celebrating this incredible achievement.

At the conclusion of our webinar, PCB Design: Top Factors Related to Data Routing and Layout, several questions were submitted to our presenter, Angie Brown, Product Manager of Printed Circuit Boards at Epec. We have compiled these questions into a readable format on our blog.

In a flex or rigid-flex PCB construction, many elements have to be considered that can be seen as important to the overall design such as copper weight, layer count, and many other things. However, among all the portions of a design, the one that usually gets forgotten is what bonds and holds it all together, the adhesives and pre-pregs that serve to bond the stack-up.

If you've noticed unexpected fees on your recent invoices, especially on custom electronic products imported from China, you're not alone. These charges are not arbitrary; they stem from a series of U.S.-government-imposed tariffs that directly affect the global electronics supply chain.

Battery packs are designed to have fixed capacities and voltages to power specific applications for a required length of time before recharging. To transfer this power to the device, connectors, and interfaces are required to form the connection between the battery cells and the devices, as well as with the chargers.

Flexible Heaters are great examples of how far we’ve come in terms of discrete and efficient ways of heating. Silicone, polyimide, and polyester heaters alike share a common method of heat transfer: conduction. That is the key term for these heaters as they transfer heat by touching the surface of what you want to heat up.

In the evolving world of electronics manufacturing, the materials used to build custom cable assemblies have a direct impact on the performance, durability, and overall reliability of the end product. There are numerous types of materials used, from metals to plastics and from finishes to coatings, with each playing a vital role in how the cable functions and enabling it to meet a wide range of requirements.

RF cables are used in applications that require ultra-high-speed data and information to be transferred, specifically covering electromagnetic radio frequencies from 3kHz to 300GHz. These frequencies may consist of satellite communication, Wi-Fi, and cellular signals as well as AM/FM radio and analog/digital television.

Membrane switches are a widely used interface technology, offering a cost-effective, highly reliable, and customizable solution for user input applications. These switches are found in industries ranging from medical devices to industrial controls, where durability and functionality are paramount.

In today’s digital and electronic world, with higher frequency electronics and the miniaturization of devices, it is becoming increasingly important to effectively control the electrical signals in the high-speed printed circuit boards used.