--- title: Epec's Blog | Al Wright (2) description: ~ In Memoriam ~ Al was in the industry for more than 35 years, and 18 of those years were at Epec up until he passed away in December 2019. As field application engineer, he handled a wide range of responsibilities, including reviewing PCB designs for manufacturability during the quoting and design stage, interacting with off-site manufacturing facilities to solve technical issues during production, and programming CNC machines for in-house projects, reworks, and modifications. Al’s technical expertise was essential to Epec’s engineering department and provided valuable insight when working with customers. Prior to working at Epec, Al spent 20 years with CPC Incorporated, a medium-sized PCB manufacturer, learning hands-on about PCB processing before moving into front end engineering. Al brought a wealth of impressive expertise to Epec and worked with more than 50,000 different PCB designs from his start in 1981 through 2019. He worked with Epec’s team to get all designs right ahead of time so that products were correct the first time. Most recently, Al was instrumental in helping Epec establish its heavy copper PCB business along with being the company’s resident PCB expert. In 2020, the Richard “Al” Wright Memorial Scholarship was established. The money will be awarded annually to two local high school STEM students. 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[Register](https://secure.epecpcb.com/epec/index2.jsp) [![](https://www.epectec.com/images/InstantPCBQuote-logo.png)](https://www.epectec.com/instantpcbquote/) [Login](https://secure.epecpcb.com/epec/) [Register](https://secure.epecpcb.com/epec/index2.jsp) Register to Quote and Order Your PCBs Fast, Easy & Online, 24/7 - [Home](https://www.epectec.com/) - [Blog](https://blog.epectec.com/) - Al Wright Share This Page: [LinkedIn](https://blog.epectec.com/#linkedin) [X](https://blog.epectec.com/#x) [Facebook](https://blog.epectec.com/#facebook) [Email](https://blog.epectec.com/#email) # Epec's Blog | Electronics Manufacturing Solutions ![Al Wright](https://blog.epectec.com/hubfs/Blog-Authors/al-wright.jpg "Al Wright") ## Al Wright ~ In Memoriam ~ Al was in the industry for more than 35 years, and 18 of those years were at Epec up until he passed away in December 2019. As field application engineer, he handled a wide range of responsibilities, including reviewing PCB designs for manufacturability during the quoting and design stage, interacting with off-site manufacturing facilities to solve technical issues during production, and programming CNC machines for in-house projects, reworks, and modifications. Al’s technical expertise was essential to Epec’s engineering department and provided valuable insight when working with customers. Prior to working at Epec, Al spent 20 years with CPC Incorporated, a medium-sized PCB manufacturer, learning hands-on about PCB processing before moving into front end engineering. Al brought a wealth of impressive expertise to Epec and worked with more than 50,000 different PCB designs from his start in 1981 through 2019. He worked with Epec’s team to get all designs right ahead of time so that products were correct the first time. Most recently, Al was instrumental in helping Epec establish its heavy copper PCB business along with being the company’s resident PCB expert. In 2020, the Richard “Al” Wright Memorial Scholarship was established. The money will be awarded annually to two local high school STEM students. ### Recent Posts --- ## [PCB Layout Quote: A Guide to Required Items](https://blog.epectec.com/pcb-layout-quote-a-guide-to-required-items) [![Pcb viewed in native cad program](https://blog.epectec.com/hubfs/Blog/pcb-viewed-in-native-cad-program.jpg "Pcb viewed in native cad program")](https://blog.epectec.com/pcb-layout-quote-a-guide-to-required-items) Written by [Al Wright](https://blog.epectec.com/author/al-wright) Posted on June 4, 2019 at 9:24 AM - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) It is sometimes necessary to have some, or all, of your PCB layout projects done by an outside source. If you’ve never done a layout before, or if you don’t have the tools or experience to take on more complex projects, it is often better to have a professional complete the work. [Read More](https://blog.epectec.com/pcb-layout-quote-a-guide-to-required-items) --- ## [What is a PCB Netlist and Why do You Need It?](https://blog.epectec.com/what-is-a-pcb-netlist-and-why-do-you-need-it) [![Example of a PCB Netlist File](https://blog.epectec.com/hubfs/Blog/example-of-a-pcb-netlist-file.jpg "Example of a PCB Netlist File")](https://blog.epectec.com/what-is-a-pcb-netlist-and-why-do-you-need-it) Written by [Al Wright](https://blog.epectec.com/author/al-wright) Posted on January 16, 2019 at 8:40 AM - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) Nobody wants to experience the feeling of populating your new [printed circuit board (PCB)](https://www.epectec.com/pcb/) design and finding out that it is not electrically functional. Most often, the lack of functionality is attributable to a specific production problem or a combination of several different problems. Sometimes, however, the problem is that the Gerber files exported from your PCB CAD program contained an error that went unnoticed because there was no way to verify that the files matched your design intent. You can avoid a good deal of trouble by supplying an IPC-356 format netlist file with your fabrication data package. [Read More](https://blog.epectec.com/what-is-a-pcb-netlist-and-why-do-you-need-it) --- ## [How to Manage PCB Design Cost Adders](https://blog.epectec.com/how-to-manage-pcb-design-cost-adders) [![Example of PCBs with Small Router Channel](https://blog.epectec.com/hubfs/Blog/exmaple-of-pcbs-with-small-router-channel.jpg "Example of PCBs with Small Router Channel")](https://blog.epectec.com/how-to-manage-pcb-design-cost-adders) Written by [Al Wright](https://blog.epectec.com/author/al-wright) Posted on October 30, 2018 at 9:21 AM - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) Printed circuit board (PCB) designers often find themselves at odds with their purchasing and marketing departments after a design goes out for bids and comes back with a larger than expected price tag. Once the source of the high cost is identified, the questions fly, the fingers point, and the nerves fray. [Read More](https://blog.epectec.com/how-to-manage-pcb-design-cost-adders) --- ## [PCB Vias - Everything You Need To Know](https://blog.epectec.com/pcb-vias-everything-you-need-to-know) [![PCB Via Treatments](https://blog.epectec.com/hubfs/Blog/3-Via-Treatments.jpg "PCB Via Treatments")](https://blog.epectec.com/pcb-vias-everything-you-need-to-know) Written by [Al Wright](https://blog.epectec.com/author/al-wright) Posted on June 11, 2018 at 10:00 AM - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) As today’s printed circuit boards (PCBs) become smaller, they use fewer and fewer through hole components. It is increasingly difficult to justify allocating precious space for relatively large plated through component holes and their accompanying lands. Instead, it is necessary to use surface mounted components wherever possible. As surface mount technology becomes increasingly prevalent, the majority of the plated through holes on most modern [PCB designs](https://www.epectec.com/pcb/layout-and-design.html) end up being vias. [Read More](https://blog.epectec.com/pcb-vias-everything-you-need-to-know) --- ## [What is the Standard PCB Manufacturing Process?](https://blog.epectec.com/what-is-the-standard-pcb-manufacturing-process) [![General Purpose CNC Drill Machine Used in PCB Manufacturing](https://blog.epectec.com/hubfs/Blog/general-purpose-cnc-drill-machine-used-in-pcb-manufacturing.jpg "General Purpose CNC Drill Machine Used in PCB Manufacturing")](https://blog.epectec.com/what-is-the-standard-pcb-manufacturing-process) Written by [Al Wright](https://blog.epectec.com/author/al-wright) Posted on June 5, 2018 at 10:17 AM - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) Among the most common questions [printed circuit board suppliers](https://www.epectec.com/pcb/) receive are those dealing with production capabilities. Customers often suspect that they are about to design-in a feature which may be either at or outside their fabricator’s limits. Fearing that their non-standard feature may add cost to their product, they inquire to find out just how much pain they are about to cause. [Read More](https://blog.epectec.com/what-is-the-standard-pcb-manufacturing-process) --- ## [Metal Core PCB vs Standard Circuit Boards](https://blog.epectec.com/metal-core-pcb-vs-standard-circuit-boards) [![Typical LED-Type MCPCB Cross Section](https://blog.epectec.com/hubfs/Blog/typical-led-type-mcpcb-cross-section.jpg "Typical LED-Type MCPCB Cross Section")](https://blog.epectec.com/metal-core-pcb-vs-standard-circuit-boards) Written by [Al Wright](https://blog.epectec.com/author/al-wright) Posted on May 22, 2018 at 8:55 AM - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) Over the past several years LED based products have become increasingly popular, and as a result, so too have [metal core printed circuit boards](https://www.epectec.com/pcb/metal-clad-and-heat-sink.html). The automobile and lighting sectors have both embraced the technology, as have consumers, given an LED based light can be about 5x cheaper to run than a comparable incandescent unit. Even compact fluorescents have slightly higher operating costs, and they cannot compete with the smallest LEDs when it comes to efficient use of space. [Read More](https://blog.epectec.com/metal-core-pcb-vs-standard-circuit-boards) --- ## [Improving the Accuracy of Your PCB Quote](https://blog.epectec.com/improving-the-accuracy-of-your-pcb-quote) [![PCB Fabrication Drawing to Scale](https://blog.epectec.com/hubfs/Blog/pcb-fabrication-drawing-to-scale.jpg "PCB Fabrication Drawing to Scale")](https://blog.epectec.com/improving-the-accuracy-of-your-pcb-quote) Written by [Al Wright](https://blog.epectec.com/author/al-wright) Posted on May 16, 2018 at 12:05 PM - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) Printed circuit board (PCB) fabricators receive dozens of requests for quotations (RFQs) every day. While many requests have moved to more convenient online quoting formats such as our [in-house application InstantPCBQuote](https://secure.epecpcb.com/epec/), many customers still send requests the old way via either files or alternate forms of describing their manufacturing requirements. [Read More](https://blog.epectec.com/improving-the-accuracy-of-your-pcb-quote) --- ## [How To Select PCB Core Materials](https://blog.epectec.com/how-to-select-pcb-core-materials) [![Complex RF Hybrid PCB design with internal pockets](https://blog.epectec.com/hubfs/Blog/hybrid-microwave-printed-circuit-board.jpg "Complex RF Hybrid PCB design with internal pockets")](https://blog.epectec.com/how-to-select-pcb-core-materials) Written by [Al Wright](https://blog.epectec.com/author/al-wright) Posted on May 10, 2018 at 10:18 AM - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) Selecting PCB core thickness becomes a problem when a printed circuit board (PCB) fabricator receives a request for quotation of a multilayer design and the material requirements are stated either incompletely or not at all. This sometimes occurs because the combination of PCB core materials used is not critical to performance; if the overall thickness requirement is met, the end user may not care about the thickness or type of each layer. [Read More](https://blog.epectec.com/how-to-select-pcb-core-materials) --- ## [PCB Laminate Material FAQs](https://blog.epectec.com/pcb-laminate-material-faqs) [![Printed Circuit Board Manufactured with High-temp Material](https://blog.epectec.com/hubfs/Blog/printed-circuit-board-manufactured-with-high-temp-material.jpg "Printed Circuit Board Manufactured with High-temp Material")](https://blog.epectec.com/pcb-laminate-material-faqs) Written by [Al Wright](https://blog.epectec.com/author/al-wright) Posted on May 3, 2018 at 11:34 AM - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) All customers have questions when it comes to [PCB laminate materials](https://www.epectec.com/pcb/laminate-material.html), so we took some of the most common questions and put together a helpful FAQ to bring you answers and solutions faster. [Read More](https://blog.epectec.com/pcb-laminate-material-faqs) --- ## [Manufacturing Issues with RF Circuit Boards](https://blog.epectec.com/manufacturing-issues-with-rf-circuit-boards) [![PCB Manufactured with RF Laminate Material](https://blog.epectec.com/hubfs/Blog/pcb-manufactured-with-rf-laminate-material.jpg "PCB Manufactured with RF Laminate Material")](https://blog.epectec.com/manufacturing-issues-with-rf-circuit-boards) Written by [Al Wright](https://blog.epectec.com/author/al-wright) Posted on January 5, 2018 at 2:02 PM - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) If you’re a designer of [RF or microwave printed circuit boards](http://www.epectec.com/pcb/microwave-rf-circuit-boards.html) you’ve probably already selected a laminate material that is appropriate to your project, having based your choice primarily on the electrical requirements of the circuit, such as signal speed, loss rate etc. Be careful, however, not to overlook the fact that the specialty materials used in such designs also possess unusual mechanical characteristics; processing is different from that of normal FR4 boards. [Read More](https://blog.epectec.com/manufacturing-issues-with-rf-circuit-boards) [Previous](https://blog.epectec.com/author/al-wright/page/1) | [All posts](https://blog.epectec.com/all) | [Next](https://blog.epectec.com/author/al-wright/page/3) --- ### Recent Posts --- ### Posts by Topic - [Printed Circuit Boards (161)](https://blog.epectec.com/topic/printed-circuit-boards) - [Product Design (138)](https://blog.epectec.com/topic/product-design) - [Battery Packs (121)](https://blog.epectec.com/topic/battery-packs) - [Cable Assemblies (102)](https://blog.epectec.com/topic/cable-assemblies) - [Flex & Rigid-Flex PCB's (95)](https://blog.epectec.com/topic/flex-rigid-flex-pcbs) - [Electronics Industry (61)](https://blog.epectec.com/topic/electronics-industry) - [User Interfaces (55)](https://blog.epectec.com/topic/user-interfaces) - [Quality Solutions (33)](https://blog.epectec.com/topic/quality-solutions) - [Flexible Heaters (30)](https://blog.epectec.com/topic/flexible-heaters) - [Events, Training, and Support (9)](https://blog.epectec.com/topic/events-training-and-support) - [RF Products (7)](https://blog.epectec.com/topic/rf-products) - [CNC Machining (3)](https://blog.epectec.com/topic/cnc-machining) - [Fans & Motors (1)](https://blog.epectec.com/topic/fans-motors) See All --- --- ### Need Help with A Project? 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