“Military sensor solutions require performance and reliability levels far above those of commercial components,” said Thomas Müller, CEO, Hensoldt. “To have high-density components quickly available with reduced effort by means of 3-D printing gives us a competitive edge in the development process of such high-end electronic systems.”

“Nano Dimension’s relationship with Hensoldt is the type of partnership with customers we are striving for,” said Yoav Stern, president and CEO, Nano Dimension. “Working together and learning from Hensoldt led us to reach a first-of-its-kind in-depth knowledge of polymer materials applications. Additionally, it guided us in the development of Hi-PEDs (high-performance electronic devices) that create competitive edges by enabling unique implementations with shortest time to market.”

Hensoldt has used Nano Dimension’s DragonFly 3-D printing system since 2016. Last year, Hensoldt implemented DragonFly Lights-Out Digital Manufacturing printing technology. (CD)

The latest update to Altium 365 now allows collaboration among PCB designers, mechanical designers, part suppliers and manufacturers. And Altium 365 provides a built-in co-designer capability that provides native integration with a trio of MCAD platforms: PTC Creo, Dassault SolidWorks and Autodesk Inventor.

According to Leigh Gawne, chief software architect, 365 provides a “full-on collaboration in that actual PCBs and components can be changed. The MCAD user can place and move an electrical part, define the PCB, and push the (update) to the PCB engineer.”

“ECAD has really been confined to a desktop. With Altium 365, we are taking it off the desktop. Anyone with a web browser is now able to view and interact and collaborate on these designs. For those who want to open a schematic and cross-probe to a net on a PCB or a component in a 3-D rendering of the board, it doesn’t require this heavyweight software to be installed. For people who want to consume and inspect and interact, this is possible anywhere, on any device, just through a browser.”

ODB++Process data exchange format, previously known as OPM, helps enable the open exchange of process engineering information between disparate machines, software vendors, and standalone processes.

This free data exchange format helps users transfer machine programs from one machine type to another, such as a target machine from a different vendor or a machine on a different platform. ODB++Process provides the open exchange of process engineering information, which then converts the data for immediate use on any production machine or workstation.

“By using a single assembly format file output like ODB++Process, which standardizes machine package libraries with vShapes across the entire production line, Koh Young is able to minimize program variations between machines like inspection and mounters,” said JD Shin, chief sales officer for Koh Young. “The enhanced approach to programming reduces human error and variation and significantly reduces the NPI programming cycle time. What’s more, the single file assembly format output like ODB++Process is machine agnostic and easily enables moving production assembly data and process requirements between lines – and more importantly factories across the world.”

MacDermid Alpha Electronics Solutions, Henkel and Heraeus developed the Pb-free solder alloy known as Innolot and Loctite 90ISC for harsh environment electronics applications. The alloy is designed to tolerate the demands of high-temperature applications, while being solderable at standard Pb-free process temperatures.

“The issuing of this patent is of strategic and commercial importance,” said Tom Hunsinger, vice president of marketing, MacDermid Alpha Electronics Solutions. “Coupled with patent protection in Europe and Japan, this will help drive new business opportunities not only in automotive but in other markets with harsh environment challenges.” (CD)

UL Supplier Cyber Trust Level analyzes suppliers’ security practices across multiple trust categories, resulting in a documented supplier trust level rating. This rating demonstrates the trustworthiness of a supplier’s security practices across the software and hardware development lifecycle, hosted systems, information management systems and their third-party management.

UL Supplier Cyber Trust Level assessment enables a holistic view of supplier’s security posture, while providing a consistent evaluation for organizations of the cybersecurity posture from supplier to supplier.

“Cybersecurity for connected technologies is a major risk that impacts manufacturers, service providers, suppliers and end product ecosystems,” said Isabelle Noblanc, global vice president and general manager, Identity Management and Security division, UL. “A supplier’s security-oriented culture, security processes and practices and secure R&D environments are all critical when validating supplier security. UL understands this significance and continues to help organizations with IoT cybersecurity offerings that address end products, ecosystems and now – with the launch of our Supplier Cyber Trust Level – supply chains.”

The deal is expected to close by the end of August, subject to a material definitive agreement and SigmaTron’s raising of $7.5 million in additional capital that it projects will be needed for the expanded operations.

Upon completion, Wagz will be a standalone operation of SigmaTron.

For the past two years Wagz has outsourced part of its product portfolio to SigmaTron.

“Over the last two years, we have become immersed in the pet tech market with Wagz as our customer,” said Gary R. Fairhead, president and CEO, SigmaTron. “We have been impressed with the growth of the pet sector, and data show it is practically recession-proof. Recent reports indicate pet ownership during Covid-19 has increased, accelerating what was already a very strong market. Wagz would benefit from our ability to provide world-class manufacturing services through our global footprint and supply chain, and SigmaTron would benefit from new high-margin recurring revenue.” (CD)

Each industry and company has issues to work through, whether it is bringing back furloughed or terminated staff, or just figuring out whether and how to integrate work-from-home into a long-term employment scenario. In all cases, employee reentry must be dealt with quickly to rebuild the sense of corporate community and possibly build an even greater sense of team.

People by nature want to be with other people. Collaboration requires a good smattering of face-to-face time. While Zoom, GoToMeeting and WebEx will continue to assume a bigger place in the business interaction mix, long-term success requires people being together at least some of the time. While we will reluctantly continue social distancing and wearing face masks at times, corporate management’s number one challenge is how to bring the team together and get back to a more normal work environment.

Those responsible for corporate procurement need to understand supplier diversification is the key to remaining competitive in this challenging economy. Yet, many OEMs and EMS companies have invested too much of their annual PCB spend with only one vendor. That could prove to be a costly mistake.

I understand and appreciate vendor loyalty, but are you leveraging your vendor, or are you being leveraged by your vendor?

The truth is companies that stick with this one-vendor approach will have a harder time remaining competitive in the post-pandemic world. “We have used this vendor for years” is not a viable strategy.

The basic framework is built around two disciplines: mechanical and electrical engineering. The two main features are the components and, of course, the board. An intelligent set of library parts is essential to getting the placement off to a good start. Over the years, schematic capture has shifted from the PCB designer’s hands to those of the EE.

The schematic and component libraries are often outsourced or created by an in-house specialist. The goal in the larger outfits is to allow the PCB designer to focus on placement and routing. Startups will put more hats on your head. Either way, our time is a precious commodity not to be wasted.

Fortunately, instances of such extreme technophobia have been few. It seems every new technology wins vocal detractors, however beneficial its effect on peoples’ lives. In recent years, our industry has had to deal with claims about grisly health risks associated with mobile phones, the effects of “wind turbine syndrome,” and the evil propagated by 5G.

Advanced technologies will hold the key to our defense against Covid-19. We will need the knowhow of pharmaceutical labs to create an effective and practicable vaccine, and engineering skills to develop new respirator designs better adapted to the needs of coronavirus patients than are conventional ventilators or CPAP devices. Moreover, effective virucides will be needed to enhance cleaning in places such as hospitals, waiting rooms, factories, warehouses, public transport vehicles, and aircraft. Irradiating at-risk areas using germicidal UV-C lamps could be an option and could easily be automated using mobile robots.

This month, I share updates on the PCEA website and reports on some inspiring collaboration taking place between the PCEA and a well-known industry organization that appears to have a high potential for synergy for all engaged.

I’m always happy to mention that PCEA Chairman Steph Chavez has prepared a message as well, where he provides an overview of his take on adapting to the new normal by doing more with less.

Last, we are not able to provide any reports on local chapter activities due to continued social distancing requirements. However, we will share our most updated list of professional development opportunities and events, which we hope you might find useful. As always, stay tuned for more updates.

Words ending in “ation” can affect our mission. Stay positive!

Throughout the week, I lap up a lot of evening news. Like you, I’m tired of so many negative news reports about “frustration in the nation regarding the presentation of some information regarding an observation that it is a violation to meet together in an organization without six feet of separation until after there is an indication of a successful vaccination declaration.” In effect, I’ve become oversensitized to words ending in “ation.” They cause me to itch. But a brief conversation I had with PCEA Chairman Steph Chavez quickly desensitized me to these “ation” words.

To realize the benefits and potential of the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) or move toward Industry 4.0, the industry must overcome several challenges ranging from securing the factory equipment used to produce secure IoT-ready products to defining the cobotic dialogue so collaboration between humans and machines can be used to drive innovation, while providing efficiencies with minimal workforce displacement in this industry and those of its customers.

Aside from technical issues, ethical, geopolitical, economic and regulatory issues may affect the current and future state of the industry.

Hackers have already wreaked havoc by infiltrating connected IoT devices. Paradoxically, they usually aren’t targeting device owners, who often remain unaware of security breaches. Instead, the hackers may simply use IoT devices as starting points for attacks directed against another target. For instance, the 2016 Mirai attack, which used IoT devices to launch a distributed denial of services against gaming servers, ended up attacking the Internet infrastructure, causing shutdowns across Europe and North America that resulted in significant economic damage. As the IoT base continues to show double-digit growth rates, security is simultaneously a major industry challenge and a significant opportunity.

“Stretchy battery” for wearables. Researchers at Stanford University have developed a stretchy battery useful for wearable electronics. The battery can be stretched to twice its original length without any power loss. The polymers in lithium-ion batteries that conduct negative ions toward the battery’s positive pole are in the form of gels housed in a rigid casing. By providing a power source that could stretch and bend, wearable electronics can be more comfortable. (IEEC file #11547, Electronics Weekly, 1/29/20)

Authors: Kwon-Hyung Lee, Seong-Sun Lee, et al.

Abstract: Microsupercapacitors (MSCs) have garnered considerable attention as a promising power source for microelectronics and miniaturized portable/wearable devices. However, their practical application has been hindered by the manufacturing complexity and dimensional limits. The authors developed a new class of ultra-high areal number density solid-state MSCs (UHD SS–MSCs) on a chip via electrohydrodynamic (EHD) jet printing. This is, to the best of their knowledge, the first study to exploit EHD jet printing in MSCs. The activated carbon-based electrode inks are EHD jet-printed, creating interdigitated electrodes with fine feature sizes. Subsequently, a drying-free, ultraviolet-cured solid-state gel electrolyte is introduced to ensure electrochemical isolation between the SS–MSCs, enabling dense SS–MSC integration with on-demand (in-series/in-parallel) cell connection on a chip. The resulting on-chip UHD SS–MSCs exhibit exceptional areal number density [36 unit cells integrated on a chip (area = 8.0mm x 8.2mm), 54.9 cells cm⁻²] and areal operating voltage (65.9V cm⁻²). (Science Advances, Mar. 6, 2020, advances.sciencemag.org/content/6/10/eaaz1692)