FEATURES

• Nickel Stencils
  Improvements in Pb-free Stencils
  When screen printing with Pb-free solder pastes, stencils made from pure nickel or a nickel alloy help to achieve paste transfer efficiency comparable to the levels achieved using SnPb pastes with stainless steel laser-cut stencils. Combined with the efficiencies of a framemounted interchangeable foil stencil system, nickel is the optimal medium for process repeatability and productivity.
  Clive Ashmore and Michael Zahn

• Placement Software
  New Tools for High-Mix Manufacturers
  Though the speed and accuracy of modern component placement systems still factor greatly in equipment evaluation, software is emerging as a differentiator. Here, a major EMS company discusses how use of new software helped it cut NPI setup by 1.5 to 2 times.
  David Garfield and Steve Bowen

• Cover Story
  Key Issues in Supporting Customers Not Transitioning To Pb-Free
  Many OEMs need to sustain leaded products for reasons of cost or reliability. This article looks at challenges associated with products that are not transitioning to Pb-free and suggests considerations for both the EMS company and the OEM.
  Curt Williams

• Case Study
  Finding Hidden Placement Problems
  High-mix, low volume EMS companies spend large amounts of time in machine setup and changeover. Using a special technology that measures machine accuracy, one EMS provider was able to improve its placement machine accuracy.
  Kary Voegele

• DfM Trends
  Practical Steps to Reduce Total Cost of Ownership
  From R&D to boxbuild, the telecom equipment supply chain is highly complex. Yet many OEMs fail to bring their EMS providers into the process until a new product is ready for volume production. Here’s how to fix that.
  Petra Ebner

FIRST PERSON

• Caveat Lector
  A Speedline solution.
  Mike Buetow

• Letters

• Talking Heads
  Kyzen's Tom Forsythe.
  Mike Buetow

MONEY MATTERS

• Global Sourcing
  Labeling China.
  Chelsey Drysdale

TECH TALK

• Screen Printing
  Process verification and tracking.
  Joe Belmonte

• Better Manufacturing
  Reliable Pb-free joints: An oxymoron?
  Phil Zarrow

• Tech Tips
  Attachments to "die" for.
  American Competitiveness Institute

• Wave Soldering
  Pb-free coatings and alloy combinations.
  Gert Schouten

• Test and Inspection
  Custom test plans.
  Shebetey Alkhasov

• Process Doctor
  Rescuing failed hardware.
  Terry Munson

• Technical Abstracts

DEPARTMENTS

Assembly Insider
Industry News
Market Watch
Ad Index
Product Spotlight

On the cover: How to accomodate OEMs that are sticking with lead solder. (Photo by Gino Santa Maria, 2006)