Circuits Assembly Online Magazine - Features

OEMs considering outsourcing their electronics manufacturing have much to consider. Although the decision may start with raw manufacturing cost, other costs such as transportation, travel, cash flow and opportunity cost due to timing must also be considered. Next comes effective evaluation of an EMS company's capabilities and making the right fit--- from company size andgeographic location to cultural issues and technology.

To help OEMs with their strategic outsourcing decisions, IPC offers a guide, "How to Begin the Process of Selecting an EMS Provider."

It covers definitions of strategic outsourcing, identifies core competencies of EMS providers, weighs offshore vs. domestic manufacturing options, offers tips on EMS provider corporate culture and more.

"EMS companies have transformed themselves from simple 'board stuffers' to companies offering a complete range of services including product design and product build," said Art Rutledge, president, Fawn Electronics Co. and IPC EMS Management Council Steering Committee member. "I urge all OEMs seeking a qualified EMS provider to choose carefully. Making the wrong choice could ultimately damage your working relationships with customers and your reputation in the market."

To access the guide, visit: www.ipc.org and click on "Business Resources" under the
"Knowledge" heading.

Now available: MiniMate (MMSD Series) with wire gauges from 20 to 30 AWG and PowerMate (IPBD Series) with wire gauges from 16 to 24 AWG. MiniMate cable and connectors are rated at up to 6 amps at 20°C, with PowerMate rated at up to 12 amps at 20°C.

Standard assemblies can be specified from the catalog for any cable length with a variety of pin counts and termination orientations. Also available are mating PCB-mount connector shells and contacts as components for customer assembly.

A range of assembly tooling is also available. Hand tools (CAT-HT) are ideal for low volume, pre-production and repair applications, while bench-top terminating units (CAT-3000 Series) and mini applicators (CAT-MA Series) allow quick change and semi-automated terminating with press capacities up to 3000 pounds.

Samtec Inc., www.samtec.com

YESTraX barcode traceability software enables traceability from AOI systems to the offline review/rework station. Can create a serialized barcode that can be assigned to rework images as well as SPC data. The SPC software will generate quality reports, archive data and improve quality control.

The increased need for a paperless environment and lean manufacturing, YESTraX is the first software to provide a barcode traceability function for the AOI market.

Logs board defects, generates barcodes for boards that do not already have one and creates quality control reports, reducing the time to log defects and create reports downloadable to various different software applications.

YESTech, yestechinc.com

OptiCon AdvancedLine is a new hardware platform for AOI that guarantees high fault coverage. The centerpiece of the new family is a modularly extendable camera that allows alternative selection between a one and four mega-pixel camera module. Users can add additional camera options for THT components, color inspection or 3-D measurement as well as angled view inspection for the inspection of J-Lead pins at PLCC and SOJ components.

Designed to offer higher test speed, reduced debug times, minimal false call rate and high fault coverage. The platform has an all new appearance and space for further options and capability.

The four mega-pixel camera with system-specific telecentric lens allows an inspection field of 40 X 40 mm at a 21 µm resolution. TOP lighting provides multicoloured LED illumination with three basic colors controllable separately. Quattro illumination with 16 illumination settings enables the display of shorts, laser labelling and polarity markings.

GÖPEL electronic GmbH, www.goepel.comww.goepel.com

FrameScan FX is an advanced vectorless test tool for detecting open pins on components and connectors assembled onto PCBs. Uses an enhanced in-circuit capacitive coupling technique that tests for open pins by applying an AC signal to an un-powered PCB node and measuring the voltage coupled to a plate positioned in close proximity to the component or connector being tested. Users can reportedly detect open pins more accurately and with greater repeatability.

The complete hardware and software suite can extend measurement capabilities. Solves test issues associated with smaller device packages and connector technologies. Hardware improvements include a new low-noise op amp that increases the front-end gain of the active probe to minimize the effects of noise upon other stages of the measurement circuit. Software improvements include an automatic Precision Mode that increases the number of measurement samples for low measurement signals.

Teradyne, www.teradyne.com

Panel-mount pressure sensors, such as Model AST4200, were designed to provide a hermetic seal against the media without the use of adapters. The one-piece bulkhead design mounts through the panel to keep hazardous media out of the control box. The solid one-piece 17-4PH or 316L high strength stainless steel design is free of welds, internal O-rings or fluid-filled cavities. Requires a minimal mounting configuration that uses a standard panel punch. A locknut holds the sensor to the panel and leaves room for a gasket. Two wrench flats on the nose of the sensor allow the user to tighten the external pressure tubing to the sensor without turning the part.

Units offer outputs of 10mV/V, 4-20 mA or 1-5V. Said to provide long life and resistance to media corrosion as well as over range and burst protection. Offers wetted material such as titanium and nickel alloys to produce strain gauge sensors that yield a high output with low thermal errors.

Provide gauge, sealed gauge or compound gauge pressure measurement in ranges up to 10,000 PSI. Sensors are calibrated and temperature compensated to ensure stability over specified ranges. Units offer accuracy of < +0.5% BFSL at 25ºC (77º F) and long-term stability of +0.25% full-scale output per annum. Exhibiting resistance to high vibration, shock and temperature extremes, and high levels of EMI/RFI filtrations, units perform in demanding environments.

American Sensor Technologies, www.astsensors.com