Altium, a developer of Windows-based electronics design software, unveiled a product roadmap for P-CAD, the company's professional tools for board layout specialists.
 
The announcement comes on the heels of the January release of Service Pack 1 (SP1), which provided customer feedback contributed on Altium's P-CAD Forum. The company gives service packs free of charge to licensed users.
 
 "Altium is committed to the ongoing development of the P-CAD design system," said Nick Martin, founder and Joint CEO, Altium. "We are presenting our customers with a systematic, approachable and incremental way to realize value from their investments with Altium."
 
Service Pack 2 (SP2) for P-CAD is currently in beta testing and expected to release in the second quarter, with Service Pack 3 already planned for release in Q3.
 
Altium will deliver a variety of enhancements in SP2 designed to give greater power and control over the PCB design process. Productivity enhancements include Variants, which can now be defined in both schematic and PCB with full ECO support in both directions, as well as the ability to run multiple instances of all P-CAD applications.
 
The addition of backwards compatibility support facilitates staggered upgrades within companies and trouble-free interaction between internal and external organizations.  Efficiency has been improved with layer ordering for printing and important improvements to copper pours.
 
SP2 will also come with increased routing power due to improvements to glossing and hugging performance, and the Specctra/Situs Exporter.
 
 
Altium Ltd., altium.com

Series SDS850 Magnetically Shielded Surface Mount Power Inductors feature a ferrite core and shield. Designed in a compact package with maximum height of 0.190" (4.80 mm), offer low DCR with high-energy storage. Use for DC/DC converters, signal conditioning and filtering applications.

Offers 29 inductance values from 2.2 to 1000 µH, and current ratings from 150 to 2500 mA. Operating temperature range of -40 to +85°C, available on 24 mm tape and reel with 1000 pieces per reel. Samples are available and production lead time is stock to six weeks ARO. 

API Delevan, www.delevan.com

FLX2010-MK can automate all placement and dispensing tasks in the production of membrane keyboards or other flexible circuits. Two dispensing heads allow the application of glue, conductive glue or solder paste. LEDs and other SMD components are aligned optically for accurate placement. Even metal domes for keys can be placed automatically.

 

All placement and dispensing tasks can be programmed in any sequence, can place all SMT components from 0201s to QFPs at up to 5,000 cph.

 

The two available models vary only in the size of the placement range (MK: 500 x 300 mm; MKL: 800 x 600 mm"). The films can be even larger and are fixed on a flat vacuum table. Different size substrates can be combined; product-specific adapter plates can be used for double sided flex circuits - even in the reflow process.

 

Each dispensing head can be individually lowered and can be used in non-contact metering mode or with a standoff. A variety of feeding systems are available for SMD components supplied in tapes, sticks or trays. Metal domes are supplied as bulk material, taped or in sticks - the feeding system is selected accordingly.

 

ESSEMTEC

Bivar has announced a new line of snap-in and vertical standard-mount card guides, PCB ejectors and handles, all manufactured in compliance with WEEE and RoHS Pb-free materials and processes. Applications include the latest PCB packaging technologies in telecommunications, computer peripherals, test and medical diagnostic instruments and equipment, and plant system enclosures.

Products in a range of type and styles (including snap-in, circular, flame retardant and deep channel card guides) will accommodate a combination of 1/16", 3/32" and 1/8" PC boards.

VERT-O-GIDE offers a dual channel vertical guide for 1/16" PCBs with over 31 styles, eliminating card cages in applications where PCBs can be vertically mounted.

The new line also includes Bivar's ejectors, inserter/extractors, PCB handles and connector cutout covers.

 

Over 571 different styles and sizes are available, including the company's optional stainless steel channel inserts available for all standard 1/16" PC board card guide styles, to provide anti-static properties.

Bivar Inc., www.bivar.com

CmController5 Compact reportedly helps improve yields and reduce solder joint defects by improving solder paste printing machine process stability. Solder paste printing is a critical step in the SMT PCB assembly process, since 60 to 70% of all soldering defects can be traced to the printing process.  The controller provides measurement technology for equipment and process capability analysis for printers and other production equipment; the data and measurement results obtained provide the base for stable and controlled printing and processing.
 
Michael Sivigny, general manager, said, "When a consistency problem originates in a systematic deviation, data from testing with our CmController is used to identify offsets, calibrate the printer and restore stability and repeatability to the printing process, lowering defect levels, eliminating rework and increasing throughput and profitability."
 
Process capability for a solder paste printer is measured by printing glue dots or solder paste on a highly accurate glass board with a specifically-matched laser-cut stencil and then evaluating it in the controller, particularly the positioning accuracy of the printed solder deposition relative to the substrate structures.

The mobile product and service offers third-party, objective evaluation methodology. Special vision algorithms, accurate glass plates and components allow for independent measurement of Cp and Cpk indices on production equipment. All brands and models of SMT printers, dispensers, placement and semiconductor machines are validated. Is designed for use on the production floor, does not require a controlled cleanroom environment.

CeTaQ Americas, www.cetaq-americas.com

LightRay Optics is a patented lighting accessory that attaches to MS-Q handheld imagers to enhance their ability to read direct part marks.   

Easily attaches to the front of the handheld imager. By directing light at the symbol (or mark) at a very shallow angle, it increases symbol contrast for the reader and improves overall symbol readability. Useful for reading 2-D symbols directly marked on highly reflective surfaces.
 
No custom programming is required to read several different code types.
 
Can also be quickly removed. Constructed out of industrial-grade materials to withstand harsh factory environments. Is field replaceable if damaged. 
 
Microscan Systems Inc., microscan.com

At SMT/Hybrid/Packaging, GÖPEL electronic GmbH will present the new OptiCon platform that is said to guarantee high test coverage, even on PCBs that could previously only be tested partially.

The system series' core piece is a modularly extendable camera that allows selection between a one and four mega-pixel camera module. Users can apply additional camera options for THT components, color inspection or 3-D measurement as well as angled view inspection. Said to offer higher test speed, reduced debug times, minimal false call rate and high fault coverage. Has an all new appearance and space for further options and capability.

GÖPEL electronic GmbH, goepel.com

 

 

Series KUSB-3100 USB-based data acquisition (DAQ) measurement solutions are an alternative to ISA, PCI and PCMCIA data-acquisition cards. The compact DAQ measurement tools offer easy installation with plug-and-play capability and easy portability. Using USB as an interface for data acquisition lessens the dependence on PC motherboard technology where slots for plug-in boards are required. Consists of five different multi-function modules that cover a broad range of applications.

Users can install a module without cracking open a PC to add a board, configure DIP switches and IRQ settings, or search for the correct device driver, then reboot the system. Units connect to USB ports on a PC via a standard cable. The PC automatically identifies modules and installs the necessary software to operate the unit.  

Can be installed or removed while the computer is running. Offer lower noise sensitivity than PC plug-in boards. Most provide a 500V isolation barrier from the PC, protecting the computer and the input device from damage caused by voltage spikes, surges or shorts. This protection also prevents the computer operating system from shutting down. 

Support USB full-speed data rates, for data acquisition sampling rates as high as 100 kHz. Model KUSB-3116 is fully USB 2.0 compliant, providing functionality at the 480 Mbits/sec data transfer rate. Customers can perform multiple I/O operations simultaneously at throughput rates up to 500 kHz in each direction. KUSB-3100 modules are powered directly from the USB port via the USB cable or through a simple connection to an external power source.  

Keithley Instruments,  keithley.com

Check Plot Online is a PDF preview tool that provides engineers with an accurate, convenient view of circuit board designs prior to production.
 
"Traditional Gerber viewers don't always show the actual manufactured image
without time-consuming setup," said Ron Huston, founder and CEO. "Our new PCB Check Plot Online delivers an accurate representation of the final design, allowing engineers to avoid costly redesign efforts and project delays once a circuit board moves into the manufacturing phase."
 
Engineers upload Gerber files to the FreeDFM.com Web site and receive feedback within minutes. The feedback highlights potential design for manufacturability problems and suggests modifications. The free service requires no commitment to order.
 
Advanced Circuits, freedfm.com/checkplot

Tough, lint-free UltraClean #810B SmartWipes offer the cleanroom-grade quality and cleaning performance of #810, but cost less because they are bulk-packaged by machine rather than hand-stacked. The Class 100 grade polyester wipes offer a range of industrial cleaning applications with extremely low particle generation and soluble extractables. Have good absorbency, resistance to tearing and softness; clean aggressively but will not scratch surfaces. Manufactured from 100% continuous filament polyester fiber with a knit construction and pattern, become softer when wet, while maintaining high tensile strength. Unaffected by solvents, generate very low electrostatic discharge.
 
Measure 9 X 9", meet Federal Standard 209D and are laundered and dried in a cleanroom environment.
 

JNJ Industries, jnj-industries.com

A 10-diopter swing-away magnifying lens is now a standard feature mounted free of charge on all O.C. White Vision Lite illuminated magnifiers.  The lens can be swiveled into position by the operator for an instant magnification boost as needed for applications such as questionable defects or problems on an inspection piece, working with tiny parts, etc.  Instantly combines with the 3-diopter lens for 13-diopter magnification.
 
Vision Lite is a dimmable illuminated magnifier with a Mil Std. 2000 approved lens. Features Full Spectrum Lighting, E-Z swivel and a 7.5 x 6.2" 3 diopter (1.75X) rectangular lens.
 

The O.C. White Co., ocwhite.com

With its built-in intelligence, Multicap 8 reduces schematic creation time and adds support for even more complex designs.

Modeless operation and auto-connect passives save time and increase flexibility, while graphical feedback ensures that all connections are made as intended. Wiring functionality further reduces design time - for example, simply touching a component's pin(s) to a wire or other component automatically creates a connection. Tool-tip style circuit annotations help to capture and share design notes. Variant Support facilitates the variable manufacturing of a single design.

Other enhancements include Bus Support for advanced designs and support for Hierarchical Designs. Bus Vector Connect and Bus Merge functions save significant time. Additional bus enhancements include a new off-page, hierarchical and sub-circuit bus connectors capability with an improved ERC. Component browser enhancements make finding parts even faster. Circuits can be annotated with visual error makers and "Zoom to Error" feature helps to capture errors before they become design problems.

Electronics Workbench, a National Instruments co., electronicsworkbench.com