circuitnet
Sponsor
Schunk

Gripping Systems from micro assembly to heavy lifting
The first industrial-suited grippers from SCHUNK were a milestone. Since then we have brought countless newly and further developments to market.
SCHUNK
Ask the Experts
Soldering Station Calibration
To calibrate or not, that is the question. When our company purchased new soldering stations two years ago we were told that they do not require calibration ...
Responses by:
Richard D. Stadem
Advanced Engineer/Scientist, General Dynamics
Jerry Karp
President, JSK Associates
Renee Michalkiewicz
General Manager, Trace Laboratories
Paul Austen
Senior Project Engineer, Electronic Controls Design Inc
Kris Roberson
Manager of Assembly Technology, IPC
Fritz Byle
Process Engineer, Astronautics
Leo Lambert
Vice President, Technical Director, EPTAC Corporation
Edward Zamborsky
Regional Sales Manager, OK International Inc.
Exposed Copper Risk
Baking Old PCBs Prior To Reflow
D-PAK With Exposed Copper
Cleanliness Testing
Hand Sanitizer Contamination
Epoxy Wicking up Wire Insulation
Out-gassing and Cleaning
MORE ASK THE EXPERTS
Plasma-Etch
Sponsor
Ormet-TLPS

AIT ORMET® TLPS for Component Attach
AIT ORMET®TLPS is proven for outstanding reliability for component attaches and MLCC build-up for high temperature applications beyond 175ºC
Ormet® TLPS
Industry Calendar
Aug 12, 2027
High Reliability Cleaning and Conformal Coating Conference
SMTA
Apr 13, 2027
Symposium on Counterfeit Parts and Materials - UK
SMTA
Oct 25, 2026
SMTA International Conference & Exposition
SMTA
Oct 7, 2026
Guadalajara Expo & Tech Forum
SMTA
Oct 1, 2026
Long Island Expo & Tech Forum
SMTA
FULL INDUSTRY CALENDAR
Air-Vac-Engineering
Sponsor
Nordson-ASYMTEK

Discover consistency for your operations
Explore the reliable solutions for jet dispensing, conformal coating, plasma treatment, and selective soldering from Nordson.
Nordson Electronics Solutions
What Year Was It?
Easter Rebellion Begins
What Year
The Irish Republican Brotherhood, a secret organization of Irish nationalists led by Patrick Pearse, launches the so-called Easter Rebellion, an armed uprising against British rule.
See the answer below.
Sponsor
Aim-Solder

The Drawbacks of Internal Recycling Systems for Solder Dross
This paper examines the risks and hidden costs of in-house solder dross recycling, highlighting contamination, compliance, quality, safety, and economic challenges that often outweigh perceived savings.
AIM Solder
kyzen
What Year Was It Answer
Easter Rebellion Begins
Answer: April 24, 1916
April 24, 2026
image
The Promise of Self-driving Cars Hits a Traffic Snag
UT Arlington researchers warn autonomous vehicles may boost travel demand and worsen congestion, with studies pointing to a roughly 6% rise in vehicle miles traveled. They urge early policy action to shape regulations, guide commuting patterns & protect urban mobility systems.
TechXplore
Sponsor
ECD

Vapor Phase Profiling
Thermal profiling the vapor phase soldering process – especially those with vacuum – is challenging. ECD's M-VP™ sealed barrier can take it. Learn more.
ECD
Intel's stock soars 20% as results top estimates, with chipmaker showing signs of growth
Intel beat first-quarter expectations, sending shares soaring as revenue rose 7.2% and data center growth accelerated. Strong AI-driven CPU demand and bullish forecasts signal a potential turnaround, though losses widened and competition with leading chip rivals remains intense.
CNBC
A Universal AI-Powered Segmentation Model for PCBA & Semiconductor
A universal AI & Deep Learning powered model that enhances defect detection in AOI systems for PCBAs and semiconductors, further improving accuracy, speed and consistency - streamlining inspection processes.
Technical Paper
Meta will cut 10% of workforce as company pushes deeper into AI
Meta will cut about 10% of its workforce, or 8,000 jobs, starting May 20, halt hiring for 6,000 roles, and intensify AI investments, as it restructures operations and follows broader tech industry layoffs driven by the AI boom.
CNBC
Sponsor
Indium-Corporation

High-Reliability for Low-Temp Processes
Durafuse® LT low-temp, high-rel solder paste is bismuth-free, reduces warpage in large BGAs, enhances thermal cycling, drop shock reliability and reduces energy use up to 15%.
Indium Corporation
OpenAI announces GPT-5.5, its latest artificial intelligence model
OpenAI unveiled GPT-5.5, a more capable AI model that improves coding, research, and software use while requiring less guidance. Released weeks after GPT-5.4, it highlights rapid AI progress, intensifying competition & raises monitored cybersecurity risks despite extensive safety testing.
CNBC
PCB Manufacturability and Reliability for Fine Pitch PCB Server Boards
This paper assesss PCB vendor drill registration capability and will also evaluate PCB reliability using electrochemical migration and via reliability testing.
Technical Paper
Technical Papers
Scaling SMT Traceability
The Drawbacks of Internal Recycling Systems for Solder Dross
Engineering ESD-Safe PCB Assembly for High-Reliability IoT and Industrial Electronics
The Analysis of Variance: Drawing Conclusions from Data That Are Correct, Unambiguous, and Defensible
PCB Rework Evolves, With X-ray a Constant Support
How pH Cleaning Agents Affect Production Performance
A Universal AI-Powered Segmentation Model for PCBA & Semiconductor
RAIG Minimizes Corrosion, Allows Higher Gold on ENEPIG
High Reliability Lead-Free Solder Paste with Rosin and Anti-Crack Resin
Understanding Solder Dross: Causes and Control Strategies
MORE TECHNICAL PAPERS
Sponsor
Plasmatreat-GmbH

Openair-Plasma for Semiconductor Manufacturing
Openair-Plasma for semicon-ductor production is an alternative to vacuum plasma. Typical apps are wire bonding, die bonding & pre-molding. Download here.
Plasmatreat GmbH
Steve Jobs Gave Tim Cook One Rule for Leading Apple. Now Cook Is Passing It On to Apple's Next CEO.
Steve Jobs advised Tim Cook to "do the right thing" rather than imitate predecessors, a principle Cook followed as Apple CEO. As Cook steps down, he passes this philosophy to successor John Ternus, emphasizing values, authenticity, and forward-looking leadership.
Entrepreneur
White House warns of 'industrial-scale' efforts in China to rip off U.S. AI tech
The Trump administration accused China-linked actors of running large-scale campaigns to copy U.S. AI systems using proxy accounts and jailbreaking, and vowed countermeasures, warning such tactics undermine innovation, security safeguards, and the reliability of resulting models.
CNBC
What is the Suggested Humidity Level for Electronics Assembly?
I am aware of the suggested humidity level for an electronics assembly facility. Do the same limits apply within a 100,000 class clean room?
Board Talk
Sponsor
BEST-Inc.

Enhance Your Hands-On Soldering Skills
Learn how IPC certified training workshops for operator and trainer levels can advance skills and knowledge of your personnel for TH and SMT assembly.
BEST Inc.
Record quarter for industrial output
Industrial production jumped 24.63% last quarter, driven by AI-fueled demand for servers and semiconductors. Manufacturing climbed 26.52% on strong electronics growth, with officials expecting continued expansion despite geopolitical risks and potential slowing ahead.
Taipei Times
TSMC's next-generation chip coming in 2029
TSMC announced its A13 chip will enter volume production in 2029, targeting AI, HPC, and mobile markets, while unveiling A12 with backside power delivery. The company also expands advanced packaging and photonic technologies to boost AI compute performance.
Taipei Times
High Thermo-Mechanical Fatigue and Drop Shock Resistant Alloys
High-Ag, low-Ag: Which alloy fits best certain application? Here we present a report on the thermal and mechanical reliability of alloys.
Technical Paper
Sponsor
Circuit-Technology-Center

Remove Underfilled BGAs Without the Risk
Heat-based removal methods can lead to cratering, substrate delamination, and more. Cold precision milling offers a safer solution for BGA removal.
Circuit Technology Center
5 Retro Gadgets That Are Making A Comeback
Gen Z drives a retro tech revival, reviving cassette tapes and wired headphones for nostalgia, physical ownership, and digital detox. Artists release cassettes while users prefer reliable, hack-resistant wired audio as a stylish rejection of constant connectivity.
BGR
What Anthropic's Mythos Means for the Future of Cybersecurity
Anthropic's Claude Mythos Preview autonomously discovers and exploits software flaws, spurring a limited release and fresh debate. The advance raises security stakes, pushing teams toward continuous patching, least privilege, and automated VulnOps testing.
IEEE Spectrum
Sponsor
Master-Bond

Toughened, Non-Drip Epoxy
Master Bond Supreme 121AOND is a toughened, heat curing adhesive for bonding and sealing applications that offers chemical resistance and a high glass transition temperature.
Master Bond
Telecom Industry Bets on Automation to Tackle AI Squeeze
Telecom equipment makers and carriers face tightening margins as AI-driven semiconductor costs surge and operators rein in capital spending. Rising memory prices and softer demand push a shift to software automation, while Ericsson posts steep profit declines.
EE Times
DRAM damage due to X-Ray Inspections Post PCB Assembly
This paper outlines several mitigation strategies for minimizing radiation dosage during X-ray inspections, particularly in the context of printed circuit boards (PCBs). One key observation is that the PCB itself acts as an effective shield, significantly reducing radiation exposure.
Technical Paper
Anthropic looks to hire six-figure role for negotiating data center deals to fuel Europe AI expansion
Anthropic expands its AI infrastructure push by recruiting a London-based principal to secure European data center deals, negotiate capacity, and manage developers, as it scales compute globally following major AWS and Broadcom commitments and rising industry investment.
CNBC
5 Challenges Apple's New CEO John Ternus Will Face
Apple will replace Tim Cook with John Ternus as CEO on September 1, 2026, ending Cook's 15-year tenure marked by growth and expansion. Ternus, a hardware-focused leader, faces challenges advancing Siri, AI strategy, and sustaining innovation across Apple's core products.
BGR
Sponsor
Viscom-SE

iX7059 Series by Viscom: Inline X-ray Inspection Power
High-performance Inline X-ray Inspection Systems for complex electronics, semiconductors, and power modules up to 200 kg. Seamless integration, AI-powered accuracy, and maximum reliability for every application.
Viscom SE
Taiwan's Zhen Ding begins construction of PCB factories in China
Zhen Ding begins building 23 factories in Jiangsu to create the world's largest PCB base, targeting AI-driven demand. The company pivots to high-value AI server components, expands globally, and invests in smart manufacturing to boost growth and profitability.
Taiwan News
Today's Sponsor
Essegi-Automation
Sponsor
Essegi-Automation

The New Smart Rack Mobile
Optimize your workflow with Smart Rack Mobile: intelligent storage, mobility, and real-time component management. Discover more!
Essegi Automation
Test Your Knowledge
Which one of these elements does not appear before Oxygen in The Periodic Table: Nitrogen, Carbon, Beryllium, or Silicon
See answer below.
Industry Press
EMI Takes Its Traceability to the Next Level with the Inovaxe MODI WES 5
Express Manufacturing, Inc. (EMI) has installed a new Inovaxe MODI WES 5 incoming goods inspection system to improve traceability, streamline receiving processes, ...
Express Manufacturing, Inc.
ubersmt Implements PARMI Xceed 3D AOI to Strengthen Inspection and Process
ubersmt has expanded its inspection capabilities with the purchase of a PARMI Xceed 3D automated optical inspection (AOI) system, further advancing its ability ...
ubersmt
Count On Tools Focuses on Process Control with Pillarhouse Nozzles
Count On Tools, Inc. (COT) offers Pillarhouse selective solder nozzles, designed to support consistent solder flow and repeatable results across a range of assembly ...
Count On Tools
LPMS USA to Exhibit at EWPTE 2026 with Live Molding Demonstrations
LPMS USA will exhibit at the Electrical Wire Processing Technology Expo (EWPTE), taking place May 6–7, 2026. Attendees can visit LPMS at Booth #609 to experience live ...
LPMS USA
STI Electronics Announces New Recipients of the Jim D. Raby/STI Scholarship
STI Electronics, Inc. is proud to announce the latest recipients of the Jim D. Raby/STI Scholarship: Ashley Brito, Process Control Technology; June-Ann C. Richards-Owens, ...
STI Electronics, Inc.
Flying Probe Testing: A Practical Solution for PCB Designs
Flying probe testing (FPT) has long been a reliable method for validating PCB designs, particularly for prototypes and low volume production. Unlike traditional in circuit ...
San Francisco Circuits, Inc.
MORE INDUSTRY PRESS
SEIKA-America
Sponsor
AI-Technology-Inc

AEC Grade-0 and MSL Level-1 Conductive Paste & Film Adhesives
240° Tg and ultra-high thermal stability for AEC Grade-0 applications. Proven rapid and snap curing die-attach paste for ultimate productivity.
AI Technology, Inc.
Quote of the Day
"You never really hear the truth from your subordinates until after 10 in the evening."
Jurgen Schrempp
Sponsor
Viscom

Pioneering 3D X-ray Inspection for Flat Assemblies
Viscom is setting a new standard for high-precision inline X-ray inspection of printed circuit boards with its iX7059 product line. Learn more.
Viscom
Advanced-Interconnections
Cartoon of the Day
Cartoon
"When life give you lemons, make lemonade. When life gives you red ink, make ketchup!"
Copyright © Randy Glasbergen
Sponsor
DL-Technology

Micro Dispensing Technology White Paper
The trend toward micro-dispensing technology increases as electronic assembly's shrink & component packages decrease in size.
DL Technology
Summit-Interconnect
Test Your Knowledge Answer
Which one of these elements does not appear before Oxygen in The Periodic Table: Nitrogen, Carbon, Beryllium, or Silicon
Answer: Silicon (Si). Nitrogen (N), Carbon (C), Beryllium (Be)