Epec's Blog | Electronics Manufacturing Solutions

We're very proud to report that our product webinar, Lithium Battery Regulations and How They Affect OEMs, had the most viewer responses ever for a webinar hosted here at Epec! Over 300 registered for the event, confirming that these latest changes to shipping lithium battery are of real concern amongst some of the industry’s leading Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs).

As printed circuit board (PCB) designs get more demanding with advances in technology involving complex footprints and added costs to components, incoming inspection of printed circuit boards must take higher priority.

Epec’s printed circuit board (PCB) engineering team is here for you 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. We have 6 full-time PCB CAM Engineers in the United States, along with 2 more full-time at our Shenzhen, China office. Our U.S. CAM Engineers work on 2 separate shifts, so we really do have assistance available 24/7 for all your PCB design and manufacturing needs.

Substituting cable assembly connectors can be a double-edged sword. Substitution may be able to provide a less expensive cable assembly. However, it may also create problems with the interface if the substitution is not done correctly or is done with a connector of inferior quality.

Flex and rigid-flex PCB constructions have many variations that allow for a wide range of applications and solutions. A significant difference to rigid PCB constructions is that uneven layer counts are allowed and frequently used. The primary reasons being reduced flex thickness, improved flexibility and reduced part cost.

There is good reason that programmable logic controllers (PLC) are used as a user interface in a large number of applications. These robust devices are commonplace on factory floors controlling equipment, in processing plants monitoring operating conditions, and even used in portable devices exposed to harsh environments.

Back when laser drilling equipment was north of $1M, or when plasma etch equipment was so dangerous that it needed to be housed in a special room, only the largest companies could afford to purchase the equipment required to manufacture the highest technology printed circuit boards (PCBs). The only way to maintain good yields was to staff a squad of highly experienced engineers who understood the nuances of that specific facility equipment. Today, times and technology have changed dramatically to the point where this is no longer the case, allowing for more efficient mid-sized high tech PCB manufacturers to exist.

Your PCB design for manufacturing is critical to the success of your final application. Design features which make your board difficult to build add cost to your product, either by slowing down the production process, or by increasing the scrap rate.

At Epec our goal is to provide customers with an exceptional experience. All of our account managers respond promptly, accurately, and are knowledgeable about products, processes, and services. Each account manager goes through an introductory training course with each department’s manager, so they are equipped to respond to incoming requests.

After our Cable Assembly Outer Sheath/Jacket Performance Functions webinar, attendees submitted several great questions and we’d like to answer two in particular here that focus on performing a flammability test for cables.