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FEATURES

Screen Printing
Nano-Coatings for Stencils
After reviewing several potential candidates for
stencil fabrication and several potential crossover technologies, nanotechnology rose above all others. Lab tests reveal decreased print variation and question whether smoother surfaces show better paste release. Nano-coated stencils may offer a wider process window and aid process maintenance, but the longevity of such coatings must be reviewed.
by Ricky Bennett, Ph.D.

Placement Roundtable
Vision Quest
Are today’s component placement machine platforms sufficient for tomorrow’s technology? Under the auspices of SMTA and moderated by Circuits Assembly, the first-of-its-kind roundtable of pick-and-place OEMs set aside the gloves for a few hours and talked technology and markets. What we heard was unprecedented candor and consideration about the challenges for electronics manufacturers today and tomorrow, including flip chips, on-board inspection and (really, really small!) packages of the future.
by Mike Buetow

FIRST PERSON

• Caveat Lector
  Taken for ‘grant’ed.
  Mike Buetow
  

MONEY MATTERS

• ROI
  New year, same challenges.
  Peter Bigelow
  
  
  

TECH TALK

• On the Forefront
  IBM: ‘main’ man.
  E. Jan Vardaman
  

• Tech Tips
  Fuel cell plating.
  ACI Technologies Inc.
  

• Defects Database
  Post-coating contamination.
  Dr. Davide Di Maio

• SMT Troubleshooting
  Poor solder penetration.
  Paul Lotosky
  

• Materials World
  Halogens vs. halides.
  Jie Bai
  

• Solar Technologies
  Selective emitters.
  Tom Falcon
  
  
• Technical Abstracts
  In Case You Missed It.