Circuitmart programs feature experts who discuss the latest technology, processes and innovations from the world of electronics assembly and manufacturing.

Circuitmart is geared to professionals who have a need to know and who bear the responsibility of looking ahead, imagining the future and preparing for it.

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Insect Water Walking Mystery Solved Ever wonder how insects like water striders can walk on water? Even the world's best ... (Mar 17, 2010 - Time 0:60) Trends for Tomorrow

Ant Farm in the Keyboard A keyboard manufacturer received several keyboards back due to a very strange problem, ants. ... (Mar 17, 2010 - Time 0:56) Mysteries of Science

Pockets of Contamination Paper covers techniques for investigating pockets of contamination using a localized extraction method and ion ... (Mar 17, 2010 - Time 0:44) Tech Notes

Can Ultrasonic Cleaning Cause Damage? The use of an ultrasonic system is causing damage to one ultra sensitive SMT component. ... (Mar 17, 2010 - Time 4:10) Board Talk

Technology to Measure Oxidation Levels Does technology to measure the level of oxidation on SMT pads exist? Can you quantify ... (Mar 17, 2010 - Time 0:19) Ask the Experts

Stop Thinking to Make a Decision If you're trying to make an important decision, such as which house to buy, the ... (Mar 16, 2010 - Time 0:60) Trends for Tomorrow

Proper DI Water Resistivity for PCB Cleaning? What the proper resistivity reading for DI water when cleaning electronic assemblies and why? Is ... (Mar 16, 2010 - Time 0:17) Ask the Experts

Lightning Jolts Student As a lightning bolt hit near a lab, a blue spark jumped from a radio ... (Mar 16, 2010 - Time 0:46) Mysteries of Science

Squeegee and Stencil Life Is there a recommended usage rate for stencils? Is there a way to determine when ... (Mar 16, 2010 - Time 5:46) Board Talk

Nitrogen Effect For Wave Soldering This paper describes the implementation of a wave soldering system using inert gas. Technical results ... (Mar 16, 2010 - Time 0:41) Tech Notes

Nanotech Machines Performing Surgery Scientists are coming closer to a breakthrough that would lead to molecule-sized vehicles that could ... (Mar 15, 2010 - Time 0:60) Trends for Tomorrow

The Digital Solder Paste This paper discusses process of creating a digital solder paste, beginning with the building and ... (Mar 15, 2010 - Time 1:07) Tech Notes

Max Idle Time After Print, Before Reflow What is the maximum time for a PCB to sit idle after screen printing but ... (Mar 15, 2010 - Time 4:37) Board Talk

Turning Wood Into Plastic A lab was working on an exotic dashboard concept where they needed to shape and ... (Mar 15, 2010 - Time 1:03) Mysteries of Science

Reworking Circuits Under a BGA Component Is it possible to add circuits under leadless devices such as BGA's? Would the part ... (Mar 15, 2010 - Time 0:31) Ask the Experts

Does Lead Free Flux Make a Difference? Does using a lead free solder flux really make a difference? Why not use the ... (Mar 12, 2010 - Time 0:28) Ask the Experts

Cell Phone Camera Shopping When you're shopping it helps to know what other people think of the same product. ... (Mar 12, 2010 - Time 0:60) Trends for Tomorrow

Passive Component Solder Void Limit Is there a quality criteria for solder voids in passive components. Phil Zarrow and Jim ... (Mar 12, 2010 - Time 5:02) Board Talk

Strange Measurements Only On Fridays A research group tested prehistoric fish for mercury. They noticed that test measurements on Fridays ... (Mar 12, 2010 - Time 0:52) Mysteries of Science

Cleaning Assemblies in Batch Systems This study was undertaken to compare the relative performance of various batch cleaning processes to ... (Mar 12, 2010 - Time 0:46) Tech Notes

Heart Tissue Repaired With Stem Cells Scientists at the University at Buffalo showed for the first time that heart tissue can ... (Mar 11, 2010 - Time 0:60) Trends for Tomorrow

Issues with Components Near PCB Edges What issues are we likely to see whan we place BGA components very close to ... (Mar 11, 2010 - Time 4:54) Board Talk

Recommended Lead to Hole Ratio What is the proper minimum gap between a round conductor lead and a PCB hole ... (Mar 11, 2010 - Time 0:19) Ask the Experts

Predictability for PCB Layout Density This paper will discuss the use of a new tool called a "Predictability Calculator" to ... (Mar 11, 2010 - Time 0:55) Tech Notes

Flying Saucer Over The Factory At a new circuit factory an employee heard a thud and saw a bright metal ... (Mar 11, 2010 - Time 0:51) Mysteries of Science

Problems with Reflow Oven Profiles? What are the proper attachment methods when using thermocouples to record temperatures when conducting reflow ... (Mar 10, 2010 - Time 4:53) Board Talk

Wave Solder Process Issue We are seeing deformed, unwetted solder joints in boards after moving past the air knife ... (Mar 10, 2010 - Time 0:25) Ask the Experts

Preparing Supply Chains for Green Transitions Paper reviews today's global manufacturing shift to eco-friendly products and its impact on electronic components ... (Mar 10, 2010 - Time 1:04) Tech Notes

A Negative Attitude Will Earn You Less Money Researchers in Germany found that people who tend to be positively reciprocal make more money, ... (Mar 10, 2010 - Time 0:60) Trends for Tomorrow

A Hot Chip Scale Packaging Shipment A team building the world's first high-density Chip Scale Package needed to get it out ... (Mar 10, 2010 - Time 0:58) Mysteries of Science

Blindness Cured with a Contact Lens Scientists have cured a form of blindness using stem cells cultured on a contact lense. ... (Mar 09, 2010 - Time 0:60) Trends for Tomorrow

Polymer Thick Film Thinned Out A factory is making circuits using polymer thick film. One day the ink was too ... (Mar 09, 2010 - Time 0:55) Mysteries of Science

Reflow Oven Testing and Calibrating Is there a standard test board with specific pad and test point sizes we should ... (Mar 09, 2010 - Time 0:24) Ask the Experts

Implementing Halogen-Free PCB Assembly Paper discusses targeted reduction of halogenated compounds and techniques to ensure high end of line ... (Mar 09, 2010 - Time 0:49) Tech Notes

How To Calculate Component Standoff Height Is there a method to calculate what the overall height of components will be after ... (Mar 09, 2010 - Time 5:31) Board Talk

Cause of Voids in Leadless Packages What is the primary cause of solder voiding in leadless packages such as BGA's? ... (Mar 08, 2010 - Time 0:23) Ask the Experts

Algae Used to Make Solar Cells Engineers have discovered that instead of using silicon to make solar cells, they can get ... (Mar 08, 2010 - Time 0:60) Trends for Tomorrow

Do Vacuum Packed PCBs Need Baking? Do we need to bake PCBs that are vacuum packed? Can additional baking cause other ... (Mar 08, 2010 - Time 6:10) Board Talk

The 30 Second Fix The lamp in an old spectrophotometer went out. The factory repair guy claimed he would ... (Mar 08, 2010 - Time 0:59) Mysteries of Science

Reliability & Failure Mechanisms of Substrates Paper surveys via-related laminate failures using data from thermal cycling testing, failure analysis, and other ... (Mar 08, 2010 - Time 0:53) Tech Notes

Error Free Quantum Computers Current quantum computers make too many mistakes. Now researchers have overcome this challenge using about ... (Mar 05, 2010 - Time 0:60) Trends for Tomorrow

Flickering Fluroescent Lights Mystery One factory experienced health complaints from workers. What was causing the workers to experience these ... (Mar 05, 2010 - Time 0:57) Mysteries of Science

Cleaning Misprinted Circuit Boards Does wiping off the solder paste from a misprinted circuit board before machine cleaning help ... (Mar 05, 2010 - Time 0:39) Ask the Experts

Acceptable Level of Exposed Copper? Is there a general specification for an acceptable level of exposed copper for circuit conductors ... (Mar 05, 2010 - Time 5:07) Board Talk

Improve Etching Performance This paper discusses a new technology to improve etching performance using shiny side surface treatment ... (Mar 05, 2010 - Time 0:49) Tech Notes

Plating Quality Declines On Friday An electroplating line was running 24/7. Suddenly one Friday quality began to falter. ... (Mar 04, 2010 - Time 0:57) Mysteries of Science

Weak vs. Strong Networking Friends If you're among the hundreds of millions of people who use social networking sites you're ... (Mar 04, 2010 - Time 0:60) Trends for Tomorrow

Long Term Reliability Analysis of Lead Free Study includes a comparison of leaded assemblies and outlines results obtained so far into the ... (Mar 04, 2010 - Time 0:53) Tech Notes

Components Lifting During Wave Soldering How can we prevent through hole components from lifting or tilting during the wave solder ... (Mar 04, 2010 - Time 6:14) Board Talk

Isopropyl Alcohol Cleaning Precautions What safety precautions need to be taken when cleaning boards or electronic components with of ... (Mar 04, 2010 - Time 0:36) Ask the Experts

New Ways to Use Stem Cells Scientists at the Universities of Bath and Leeds have discovered a chemical that can be ... (Mar 03, 2010 - Time 0:60) Trends for Tomorrow

Conductive Epoxy: Pros and Cons What are the advantages and disadvantages of electrically conductive epoxies? The Assembly Brothers, Phil Zarrow ... (Mar 03, 2010 - Time 5:37) Board Talk

What Is the Ideal Humidity for PCB Assembly? How would the temperature and humidity differing from the recommended affect the solderability of circuit ... (Mar 03, 2010 - Time 0:32) Ask the Experts

TOP Doing More With Less This paper demonstrates the use of the Temperature Optimized Process to create a more effective ... (Mar 03, 2010 - Time 1:02) Tech Notes

Innovative Impromptu Air Conditioning One July the chiller at an old factory was using more electricity than normal. What ... (Mar 03, 2010 - Time 0:55) Mysteries of Science

Screen Print Discrepancy A factory made printed circuits using an additive process. Artwork on the finished sheets did ... (Mar 02, 2010 - Time 1:14) Mysteries of Science

Cleaning No-clean Flux with Tap Water   What happens when using tap water to clean a board originally assembled using no-clean flux, ... (Mar 02, 2010 - Time 0:50) Ask the Experts

Can Television Help Overcome Loneliness? Psychologists at the University at Buffalo and Miami University of Ohio found that TV can ... (Mar 02, 2010 - Time 0:60) Trends for Tomorrow

Bare Board Performance after Pb-Free Reflow This paper will focus on air-air thermal cycling, IST testing and material survivability after lead-free ... (Mar 02, 2010 - Time 0:39) Tech Notes

Through Hole Reflow - Pin in Paste How can we ensure proper plated hole fill during screen printing for pin in paste? ... (Mar 02, 2010 - Time 5:17) Board Talk

Automated Fingerprint Identification Several companies have invented software to carry out key steps in the fingerprinting identification process. ... (Mar 01, 2010 - Time 0:60) Trends for Tomorrow

Rework for Lead-Free Mirrored BGA Designs Paper includes recommended changes in materials and the hot gas rework process for lead-free BGAs ... (Mar 01, 2010 - Time 1:02) Tech Notes

Static Charge Overload A plastic molding plant had been running for less than a year. Suddenly parts began ... (Mar 01, 2010 - Time 0:55) Mysteries of Science

Cause of Blow Holes During Wave Soldering What causes blow holes in tight clinch wave soldering of radial lead LEDs? Why does ... (Mar 01, 2010 - Time 0:22) Ask the Experts

Leaded Parts Through a Lead Free Wave Are there any concerns if we wave solder boards with just a few non-RoHS complient ... (Mar 01, 2010 - Time 3:31) Board Talk

Potential HIV Vaccine Discovery Scientists changed the genes in a plant to produce a protein that is part of ... (Feb 26, 2010 - Time 0:60) Trends for Tomorrow

Will High Humidity Affect Reflow Soldering Will higher than normal humidity in our facility affect reflow soldering? What impact might it ... (Feb 26, 2010 - Time 5:17) Board Talk

RoHS War Stories This paper includes a series of "from the trenches" stories relating to implementation of the ... (Feb 26, 2010 - Time 0:47) Tech Notes

Olympic Balloon Fiasco As the opening ceremonies for the 1984 Olympics were being broadcast reports of "lost signal" ... (Feb 26, 2010 - Time 1:03) Mysteries of Science

Solder Joint Void Limit for BGA Components What is a reject limit for BGA component solder joint voids in lead free class ... (Feb 26, 2010 - Time 0:19) Ask the Experts

A Better Option for Chronic Back Pain Researchers have created bioengineered discs to be used in transplants. Eventually, people with injured discs ... (Feb 25, 2010 - Time 0:60) Trends for Tomorrow

How To Determine Stencil Thickness On what basis is stencil thickness decided in the case of BGA's or fine pitch ... (Feb 25, 2010 - Time 5:47) Board Talk

Adhesive Coating Line Dilemma A plant worker adjusting rollers on an adhesive line suddenly began to act strangely. What ... (Feb 25, 2010 - Time 0:53) Mysteries of Science

IPA To Clean Lead-Free Our products are RoHS compliant and we are using lead-free solder. Is there a specific ... (Feb 25, 2010 - Time 0:24) Ask the Experts

When Precision is Not Good Enough Papers shows that variations in pcb design can not be accounted for by look up ... (Feb 25, 2010 - Time 0:54) Tech Notes

New Customized Treatment for Cancer Scientists have created a system for delivering a cancer therapy, customized for each patient, directly ... (Feb 24, 2010 - Time 0:60) Trends for Tomorrow

Cyanide Leak and Sleepy Chemists Chemists were found on the floor of a boxcar while unloading drums of sodium cyanide. ... (Feb 24, 2010 - Time 1:02) Mysteries of Science

Is PCB Baking Necessary? I understand from some sources that PCB baking is not necessary if the PCB is ... (Feb 24, 2010 - Time 0:23) Ask the Experts

Solderability Problems at Low Humidity Can very low humidity effect solderability of PCB assemblies. Are there other concerns when working ... (Feb 24, 2010 - Time 4:49) Board Talk

Collaborative Cleaning Process Innovations This paper reports on mechanical and chemical innovations that open the process window for circuit ... (Feb 24, 2010 - Time 0:50) Tech Notes

Is There a Component Rework Limit? What is the maximum number of times allowed to rework the same component on a ... (Feb 23, 2010 - Time 0:30) Ask the Experts

Mystery Lights Flickering on Main Street Main Street's neon lights would flicker off and on but always after midnight. What was ... (Feb 23, 2010 - Time 0:48) Mysteries of Science

Is Your Child Addicted to Video Games? Nearly one in 10 young people are literally addicted to video games. Nearly 10% meet ... (Feb 23, 2010 - Time 0:60) Trends for Tomorrow

Cleaning No Clean Boards With IPA Are there specific instructions for cleaning no-clean circuit boards using IPA? The Assembly Brothers cover ... (Feb 23, 2010 - Time 5:53) Board Talk

Solving Test Challenges: Razor Sharp Probes This paper will review how to solve today's test challenges using new innovative razor sharp ... (Feb 23, 2010 - Time 0:50) Tech Notes

Idle Time Between Soldering and Cleaning After soldering components to a pcb, are there specific time intervals between the soldering process ... (Feb 22, 2010 - Time 0:48) Ask the Experts

Fireworks on the Circuit Line A lab made low cost circuits by printing conductive ink on film. Suddenly a cloud ... (Feb 22, 2010 - Time 0:52) Mysteries of Science

Pick and Place to Insert Radial Lead Devices Are there standard SMT Pick and Place Systems that can also insert radial lead devices? ... (Feb 22, 2010 - Time 4:21) Board Talk

Can Terrorist Attack Using Your PC? The US Defense Department detects 3 million unauthorized probes of its computer networks every day. ... (Feb 22, 2010 - Time 0:60) Trends for Tomorrow

Analysis of Voiding Under QFN Packages Paper covers results of experiments on QFN devices when the ensuing voiding level was calculated ... (Feb 22, 2010 - Time 0:50) Tech Notes

Flash: Enzymes That Eat Harmful Waste Researchers have discovered that certain enzymes in a bacterium called Bacillus cereus DQ01 can actually ... (Feb 19, 2010 - Time 0:60) Trends for Tomorrow

Reflow Solder Process Issue What conditions would be creating a "solder robbing" issue with our reflow process? We feel ... (Feb 19, 2010 - Time 0:18) Ask the Experts

Can Conductive Epoxies Replace Solder? Can conductive epoxies be considered a viable RoHS substitute for tin lead solder? ... (Feb 19, 2010 - Time 5:37) Board Talk

Was Sodium Causing Factory Fires? One summer a factory producing coloring dyes was experiencing many alarms signaling a fire. What ... (Feb 19, 2010 - Time 0:51) Mysteries of Science

Assembly and Reliability Investigation of PoP This paper discusses results of independent experiments to address aspects of successful Package on Package ... (Feb 19, 2010 - Time 0:46) Tech Notes

Revolutionary Organ Transplant Technique When an organ is donated, it must be transplanted quickly or it will be wasted. ... (Feb 18, 2010 - Time 0:60) Trends for Tomorrow

Design for Low-Halogen Green Electronics This paper reviews the current industry status with respect to the introduction of halogen-free plastics ... (Feb 18, 2010 - Time 0:54) Tech Notes

Selectively Annealing Metal Panels A factory was making door trim panels but the metal was cracking when pressed. How ... (Feb 18, 2010 - Time 0:48) Mysteries of Science

Mixed Cleaning - No Clean and Water Soluble What problems might we encounter if we clean no clean boards using a water wash ... (Feb 18, 2010 - Time 3:08) Board Talk

Is Pre-Bake Standard for Rework? On occasion we need to perform rework. Is there a rule or standard that can ... (Feb 18, 2010 - Time 0:36) Ask the Experts

DI Water Conductivity For Ultrasonic Cleaning What is the proper DI water conductivity in micro Siemens for ultrasonic cleaning? ... (Feb 17, 2010 - Time 0:14) Ask the Experts

Is There a Farming Industry Shortage? In the U.S., the percentage of workers in farm jobs fell from 41% in 1900 ... (Feb 17, 2010 - Time 0:60) Trends for Tomorrow

Mystery Circles On Metallized Film One afternoon big round blank spots in a roll of metalized film were detected. Were ... (Feb 17, 2010 - Time 1:06) Mysteries of Science

Stencil Thickness For Mixed Density Boards What is the best stencil thickness for mixed density circuit boards. Are stepped stencils a ... (Feb 17, 2010 - Time 6:57) Board Talk

Lead Free Development in Server Applications This paper examines the effects of varying surface finishes, temperature sensitive component limitations, process parameters ... (Feb 17, 2010 - Time 0:48) Tech Notes

Cloudy Copper Plating Bath At a printed circuit shop near Los Angeles there was trouble with the copper plating ... (Feb 16, 2010 - Time 0:42) Mysteries of Science

Recommended Rework Dwell Times Can a dwell time that lasts too long cause open traces in leaded rework? What ... (Feb 16, 2010 - Time 0:28) Ask the Experts

What's Causing Blow Holes? What could be causing blow holes but only with clinched radial lead components? Phil Zarrow ... (Feb 16, 2010 - Time 4:51) Board Talk

Thermal Cycle Testing of PWBs Paper delineates a method to establish a test protocol for thermal cycle testing of bare ... (Feb 16, 2010 - Time 0:38) Tech Notes

A New Technology Unlocks Mystery of DNA How would you like to know if you're going to get diabetes or heart disease? ... (Feb 16, 2010 - Time 0:60) Trends for Tomorrow

Drinking Water Harvested From Thin Air To wring water from warm air, the scientists fill a tower with hygroscopic brine. As ... (Feb 15, 2010 - Time 0:60) Trends for Tomorrow

Hand Soldering vs. Selective Wave We are experiencing problems hand soldering an LCD display. Do you recommend we switch to ... (Feb 15, 2010 - Time 0:50) Ask the Experts

Problem With Epoxy Resin Epoxy resin batches were a little off target. Workers were rotated and the problem disappeared. ... (Feb 15, 2010 - Time 0:57) Mysteries of Science

Coping in a Lead Free World Today's topic of discussion is orientated to you poor, lost souls who are the exemptees ... (Feb 15, 2010 - Time 4:26) Board Talk

Enhancing Reliability of PB-Free Solder Joints This paper reviews the physical properties of different underfills and how they affect performance through ... (Feb 15, 2010 - Time 0:50) Tech Notes

The Day They Shut Down Intel Chipmaker Intel had just started up a new chip factory. Safety classes were being held ... (Feb 12, 2010 - Time 0:54) Mysteries of Science

Conformal Coating & Connector Holes Is it possible to eliminate conformal coating from seeping into connector holes? How much coating ... (Feb 12, 2010 - Time 0:19) Ask the Experts

Threat to Privacy From RFID Some observers see RFID technology as a threat to privacy, because it can track everything ... (Feb 12, 2010 - Time 0:60) Trends for Tomorrow

Concerns Regarding Counterfeit Components We are learning about the infiltration of counterfeit components. How big is this problem, and ... (Feb 12, 2010 - Time 6:38) Board Talk

Lead Free Reflow and Influence of Moisture This paper examines concerns relating to lead free reflow, PCB degradation, and the influence of ... (Feb 12, 2010 - Time 0:50) Tech Notes

Pig Stem Cells Assist In Human Testing Scientists have discovered that adult pigs share many genetic similarities with humans, which has allowed ... (Feb 11, 2010 - Time 0:60) Trends for Tomorrow

Pin-In-Paste Hole Fill How can you ensure proper plated hole fill during the screen printing process? Will the ... (Feb 11, 2010 - Time 0:23) Ask the Experts

Do We Still Need SMT Adhesives? If double sided surface mount assemblies are the way of the future, is there a ... (Feb 11, 2010 - Time 6:13) Board Talk

Only The Old Reactor Worked The expected color reaction at a dye-manufacturing plant hadn't taken place. Why did the batch ... (Feb 11, 2010 - Time 0:48) Mysteries of Science

Copper Dissolution in Lead-Free Alloys Lead-free selective soldering can result in extended times at high temperatures, which can result in ... (Feb 11, 2010 - Time 0:46) Tech Notes

Could Yard Scraps Solve the Energy Problem A team of German and Chinese scientists has invented a new catalytic process to convert ... (Feb 10, 2010 - Time 0:60) Trends for Tomorrow

How to Clamp Odd Shaped Circuit Boards If a PCB doesn't have any free edges to hold or clamp the PCB firmly ... (Feb 10, 2010 - Time 0:19) Ask the Experts

Sealed Membrane Switch Mystery A factory was building membrane switches but all the switches from units in Denver failed. ... (Feb 10, 2010 - Time 0:58) Mysteries of Science

Mixed Components - Leaded and Lead Free Can you mix a leaded component and a lead free component on the same circuit ... (Feb 10, 2010 - Time 3:51) Board Talk

Embedded Passives Become Mainstream Paper looks at barriers to the implementation of high performance embedded passives, focusing on embedded ... (Feb 10, 2010 - Time 0:43) Tech Notes

New Technology Boosts Airline Security Radio frequency integrated circuits that use silicon semiconductor technology mean airports could afford to open ... (Feb 09, 2010 - Time 0:60) Trends for Tomorrow

Case Of The Disappearing Ink The 3M Company was developing a new ink hardening system. UV lamps were bleaching out ... (Feb 09, 2010 - Time 0:50) Mysteries of Science

Conformal Coating & Humidity Can conformal coating protect a circuit board that will be operating in a humid environment? ... (Feb 09, 2010 - Time 0:26) Ask the Experts

Is There A Thermal Cycle Limit? How many thermal cycles should we allow at a given location on a circuit board, ... (Feb 09, 2010 - Time 5:48) Board Talk

Comparison of SAC105 and SAC305 Solders In this paper, the thermal fatigue performance under accelerated test conditions is compared for three ... (Feb 09, 2010 - Time 0:41) Tech Notes

A Search Engine Better Than Google A college student has created a search engine that is not only faster than Google, ... (Feb 08, 2010 - Time 0:60) Trends for Tomorrow

Ultrasonic Cleaning Causing Damage What method can be used to prevent damage to sensitive SMT components during the ultrasonic ... (Feb 08, 2010 - Time 0:27) Ask the Experts

Tied Up Telephone Lines One day a of network phone links between several major plants became tied up. What ... (Feb 08, 2010 - Time 0:58) Mysteries of Science

Selective Surface Mount Soldering Options Selective soldering techniques vary widely in their ability to produce high quality, reliable electrical and ... (Feb 08, 2010 - Time 0:55) Tech Notes

Accuracy of Pick & Place System Ratings For estimating equipment capacity, why can’t we use the Pick and Place manufacturer's rating for ... (Feb 08, 2010 - Time 5:24) Board Talk

Theory of Evolution Applied to Computers A new computing platform treats the possible answers to a problem as a "population" of ... (Feb 05, 2010 - Time 0:60) Trends for Tomorrow

Cause of Defective Solder Joints What is the possible cause of incomplete soldering after surface mount reflow? The circuit boards ... (Feb 05, 2010 - Time 3:58) Board Talk

Problem With No Clean Solder Flux Residue After processing circuit boards with no-clean solder flux residue we are seeing a white residue. ... (Feb 05, 2010 - Time 0:31) Ask the Experts

Disappearing Foamy Mattresses A lab developed a new foamy mattress. Samples were shipped to the customer, but the ... (Feb 05, 2010 - Time 0:59) Mysteries of Science

SMT Process Characterization The paper focuses on process capability and process control. It suggests that a process capability ... (Feb 05, 2010 - Time 0:45) Tech Notes

Alternatives to Conformal Coating What are conformal coating alternatives to insulate solder joints and exposed conductors from condensing moisture? ... (Feb 04, 2010 - Time 0:23) Ask the Experts

Reprogrammed Blood Cells Act Like Stem Cells Researchers at the Howard Hughes Medical Institute at Children's Hospital in Boston have reprogrammed ordinary ... (Feb 04, 2010 - Time 0:60) Trends for Tomorrow

Screen Print Stepped Stencil Review Should you use a metal or rubber squeegee when using stepped solder paste stencils? What ... (Feb 04, 2010 - Time 6:01) Board Talk

Does Contamination Effect Whisker Formation? This paper will review some select failures due to metal whisker formation shorting and data ... (Feb 04, 2010 - Time 0:45) Tech Notes

Pennies Converted To Dimes A vendor was sorting a vending machine's change when he came across some strange looking ... (Feb 04, 2010 - Time 0:40) Mysteries of Science

New Search Engines Fill in the Blanks Developers of new Web 3.0 search engines can predict which words will allow users to ... (Feb 03, 2010 - Time 0:60) Trends for Tomorrow

Type III vs. Type IV Solder Paste What are the factors in switching from Type III to Type IV solder paste for ... (Feb 03, 2010 - Time 0:16) Ask the Experts

The Wobbly Employee and the Suspicious Bike One evening an employees came riding out of the plant on his homemade bicycle. The ... (Feb 03, 2010 - Time 0:51) Mysteries of Science

Development of a New Lead-Free Alloy This paper discusses development of a new lead free alloy for high reliability, high temperature ... (Feb 03, 2010 - Time 1:06) Tech Notes

What Causes Exploding Solder Joints? We have seen joint voids that look like "explosions" after wave soldering. Have you seen ... (Feb 03, 2010 - Time 3:53) Board Talk

Nanotech Ultrasound Revolution A new nanotech ultrasound allows scientists to peer inside a patient's cells, giving doctors the ... (Feb 02, 2010 - Time 0:60) Trends for Tomorrow

How to Re-Certify a Relow Oven After Moving After moving a reflow oven to a new site, what steps need to be performed ... (Feb 02, 2010 - Time 0:17) Ask the Experts

Corrupted Magnetic Tracking System Magnetic traveler cards were being used to track information. Suddenly one section was unable to ... (Feb 02, 2010 - Time 0:58) Mysteries of Science

Are Gloves Required for PCB Handling? How important are gloves when handling circuit boards prior to assembly soldering? Phll Zarrow and ... (Feb 02, 2010 - Time 6:13) Board Talk

Broadband Printing Challenges This paper will investigate the capability of a single thickness stencil to satisfy the paste ... (Feb 02, 2010 - Time 1:06) Tech Notes

Flexible Solar Cells, Low Cost, Easy To Install Scientists have invented solar panels that are flexible and shaped like shingles. These panels are ... (Feb 01, 2010 - Time 0:60) Trends for Tomorrow

Component Damage From IR Reflow We have an SMT package with J formed leads that crack at the shoulder after ... (Feb 01, 2010 - Time 0:32) Ask the Experts

Contamination from an Aluminum Flux Tank Could flux in our wave soldering system become contaminated by contact with an aluminum tank? ... (Feb 01, 2010 - Time 6:04) Board Talk

Bridging Supply Chain Gap for Exempt OEM's This paper discusses some ways to bridge the supply chain gap for exempt Original Equipment ... (Feb 01, 2010 - Time 0:57) Tech Notes

Energy Savings Ran Up the Bill A factory attempting to reduce energy costs would turn down the heat in the winter. ... (Feb 01, 2010 - Time 0:45) Mysteries of Science

Shiny or Matte Solder Resist? What are the differences in processing and cost for shiny and matte solder resists? Why ... (Jan 29, 2010 - Time 0:25) Ask the Experts

PCB Layout and Soldering Nozzle Design This paper gives a detailed explanation of the individual points which should be found in ... (Jan 29, 2010 - Time 0:55) Tech Notes

Viscosity of Component Encapsulate Over time liquid encapsulant will thicken. Yet on one occasion the viscosity was too low. ... (Jan 29, 2010 - Time 0:56) Mysteries of Science

Can a Wave Solder Air Knife Cause Defects? Can a wave solder machine air knife be the cause of solder joint defects? Just ... (Jan 29, 2010 - Time 5:21) Board Talk

Body Motion Used to Generate Electricity A new technology called the nanogenerator is about to hit the market. This amazing power ... (Jan 29, 2010 - Time 0:60) Trends for Tomorrow

BGA Replacement Limit How many times can a BGA component be replaced at the same location on the ... (Jan 28, 2010 - Time 0:22) Ask the Experts

The Graying White Plastic A large plastic injection molding plant was suddenly seeing their white plastic parts come out ... (Jan 28, 2010 - Time 0:48) Mysteries of Science

New Computers That Think for Themselves A scientist recently made a new discovery. The discovery isn't all that important, but the ... (Jan 28, 2010 - Time 0:60) Trends for Tomorrow

Hot Air Solder Leveling in the Lead-free Era This paper discusses current best practice on the operation of lead-free HASL lines and the ... (Jan 28, 2010 - Time 1:08) Tech Notes

Thermocouple Attachment Review Are tapes acceptable form securing thermocouple wires to circuit board when conducting profiles? Phil and ... (Jan 28, 2010 - Time 3:29) Board Talk

Socket Rework Challenge What is the best way to rework a memory module socket with 220 leads on ... (Jan 27, 2010 - Time 0:20) Ask the Experts

Dross Elimination and Prevention This paper will show the true cost of dross, including metal replacement, loss of efficiency, ... (Jan 27, 2010 - Time 1:00) Tech Notes

Switching from Type 3 to Type 4 Solder Paste What are the determining factors when switching from type 3 solder paste to type 4 ... (Jan 27, 2010 - Time 7:35) Board Talk

What's Behind IBM's Blue Underfill IBM is known as Big Blue. One of their underfill materials is also blue. Was ... (Jan 27, 2010 - Time 0:47) Mysteries of Science

A Case For Cold Fusion Chemists from the U.S. Navy say they have proven that cold fusion really works. This ... (Jan 27, 2010 - Time 0:60) Trends for Tomorrow

Staging Time Between Soldering and Cleaning What is the maximum staging time permissible for PCBA's between wave soldering and cleaning? Is ... (Jan 26, 2010 - Time 4:29) Board Talk

Set Up For Lead-Free Wave Soldering What is the best set up for a lead-free wave soldering machine? Concerns include temperature ... (Jan 26, 2010 - Time 0:21) Ask the Experts

Motivational Talks Increased Defects The factory had a high productivity rate. One worker was skipping break time to increase ... (Jan 26, 2010 - Time 0:52) Mysteries of Science

Gold Stud Bump Flip Chip Attachment Flip chip bonding is the most desirable direct chip attachment approach for minimizing size and ... (Jan 26, 2010 - Time 0:58) Tech Notes

Can a Viruse Provide Battery Energy? Scientists at MIT genetically engineered viruses to turn into the negatively charged anode end of ... (Jan 26, 2010 - Time 0:60) Trends for Tomorrow

Stencil Printing for Miniaturized Electronics This paper is a summary of significant experimental data and process optimization techniques that were ... (Jan 25, 2010 - Time 1:11) Tech Notes

The Role of Carbon Ink in Calculators The printed circuit used in a 1908's Texas Instrument's calculator was a flexible circuit made ... (Jan 25, 2010 - Time 1:01) Mysteries of Science

Faster Electronics Using Pencil Lead Scientists have been looking for ways to make computers run faster, and now they may ... (Jan 25, 2010 - Time 0:60) Trends for Tomorrow

What Causes Oxidation on SMT Pads? What causes oxidation on surface mount pads? We believe oxidation on BGA pads is resulting ... (Jan 25, 2010 - Time 0:32) Ask the Experts

Proper Storage Condition For PCBs Is there a defined specification for the storage of PCBs? What are some storage concerns? ... (Jan 25, 2010 - Time 3:48) Board Talk

Which Term To Use - PWB or PCB? Is there any real difference between the terms Printed Wire Board and Printed Circuit Board? ... (Jan 22, 2010 - Time 0:19) Ask the Experts

Technology Allows Scientists to "Read Minds" An amazing new technology that allows scientists to "read minds" will allow children who can't ... (Jan 22, 2010 - Time 0:60) Trends for Tomorrow

The Ink Spitting Autowriter A factory was testing a new Autowriter system. It went haywire when a big fork ... (Jan 22, 2010 - Time 0:58) Mysteries of Science

Qualification of Thin Form Factor PWBs Paper presents qualification testing of thin PWBs for warpage, cross section, shear testing, and more ... (Jan 22, 2010 - Time 0:58) Tech Notes

Is Pre-Bake Required Prior to Rework? On occasion we need to perform rework. Is there a rule or standard that can ... (Jan 21, 2010 - Time 0:36) Ask the Experts

Black Blob Covered Houses Joe came home from work one day to find his house covered in a mysterious ... (Jan 21, 2010 - Time 0:36) Mysteries of Science

Are Video Gamers Good at Relationships? People who are very good at playing video games are typically not very good at ... (Jan 21, 2010 - Time 0:60) Trends for Tomorrow

Estimating Stencil Life This paper discusses the technique used to predict how long solder paste can be left ... (Jan 21, 2010 - Time 0:54) Tech Notes

Hand Soldering vs. Selective Wave Do you recommend a selective wave soldering process for an LCD glass display? Would the ... (Jan 20, 2010 - Time 0:50) Ask the Experts

Mysterious Drop In Production Yield A factory manufactured membrane switches that used new radiation curing process. After installing exhaust fans ... (Jan 20, 2010 - Time 1:05) Mysteries of Science

Effect of Lead-Free on Key Material Properties Paper includes study of 14 commercially available PCB laminate materials to assess the effects of ... (Jan 20, 2010 - Time 0:41) Tech Notes

Virtual Reality Stimulates Your Senses Scientists are developing a "Virtual Cocoon" with such a realistic experience you'll feel like you're ... (Jan 20, 2010 - Time 0:60) Trends for Tomorrow

Questions About Soldering To Flex Circuits What is the best way to solder fine pitch surface mount connectors to a thin ... (Jan 19, 2010 - Time 0:30) Ask the Experts

Design for Flip-Chip and Chip-Size Technology This paper provides a comparison of different commonly used technologies including flip-chip, chip-size and wafer ... (Jan 19, 2010 - Time 0:51) Tech Notes

Brighter Chrome on the Third Shift Why was one third shift operator at a plating shop producing parts with a superior ... (Jan 19, 2010 - Time 0:56) Mysteries of Science

Remarkable Step to Keep Brains from Aging Science has just taken a remarkable step toward keeping our brains from aging and could ... (Jan 19, 2010 - Time 0:60) Trends for Tomorrow

Conductive Ink and the Shrinkage Factor Poly-Flex Circuits was building circuits using conductive ink, but had problems with component junctions. What ... (Jan 18, 2010 - Time 0:50) Mysteries of Science

Cause of Open BGA Solder Joints? We are seeing an unknown foreign substance around some PCB pads. They appear to be ... (Jan 18, 2010 - Time 0:33) Ask the Experts

Batteries Recharged In Seconds What if someone invented a new battery that you could recharge in seconds, instead of ... (Jan 18, 2010 - Time 0:60) Trends for Tomorrow

3 Steps To Solder Paste Selection By choosing the right solder paste for the application, you will achieve the highest process ... (Jan 18, 2010 - Time 0:57) Tech Notes

Was Clean Air The Culprit? A color film production facility was having a serious quality control problem and the building ... (Jan 15, 2010 - Time 0:45) Mysteries of Science

Money Might Buy Happiness Can money buy happiness? According to new research at Princeton University, it depends on the ... (Jan 15, 2010 - Time 0:60) Trends for Tomorrow

Step Stencil Design for Handheld Some of the new handheld communication devices offer real challenges to the paste printing process. ... (Jan 15, 2010 - Time 0:46) Tech Notes

Listening Spurs Imagination and Creativity Scientists at Carnegie Mellon University discovered that listening to the news on the radio engages ... (Jan 14, 2010 - Time 0:60) Trends for Tomorrow

Nickel Barrier Thickness Requirement What is the minimum nickel barrier thickness required when soldering to copper to restrict high ... (Jan 14, 2010 - Time 0:23) Ask the Experts

Epoxy Resin and the Reddish Gas Cloud A chemist mixed epoxy and a catalyst that caused an overheated reaction producing a reddish ... (Jan 14, 2010 - Time 1:20) Mysteries of Science

Artificial Muscle For Electronics At a recent conference, researchers explained some potential uses of artificial muscles in devices that ... (Jan 13, 2010 - Time 0:60) Trends for Tomorrow

The Phantom Appliance Switch An engineer investigating a phantom switch problem found that the switch activated when a nearby ... (Jan 13, 2010 - Time 0:43) Mysteries of Science

The Plant Manager's Valve Hanging next to an old brass valve was a sign that said "Plant Manager's Valve". ... (Jan 12, 2010 - Time 0:52) Mysteries of Science

Metallic Glass That's Stronger Than Steel A new metallic glass with a fatigue limit 30% higher than steel may soon be ... (Jan 12, 2010 - Time 0:60) Trends for Tomorrow

Do Smarter People Live Longer? Research on Swedish men found a link between a low IQ and a higher risk ... (Jan 11, 2010 - Time 0:60) Trends for Tomorrow

Trapped in the Vacuum Metalizing Room One evening a worker was cleaning inside a vacuum chamber when the door slammed shut. ... (Jan 11, 2010 - Time 0:59) Mysteries of Science

Exercise Your Brain to Keep It Fit If you want to keep your brain young and healthy, exercise it. This means your ... (Jan 08, 2010 - Time 0:60) Trends for Tomorrow

Pink Snow and the Red Dye Leak One morning after a snowstorm, the morning shift at Allied Chemical was greeted in the ... (Jan 08, 2010 - Time 0:47) Mysteries of Science

Powder Coatings and the Heated Technician One day a technician at a powder coating plant suddenly ran for the fire extinguisher. ... (Jan 07, 2010 - Time 0:56) Mysteries of Science

New Fuel From Plants and Trees Within 20 years, at least one-third of the fuel we'll need to power our cars ... (Jan 07, 2010 - Time 0:60) Trends for Tomorrow

Can Colors Affect Your Mood? Does "seeing red" make you "feel blue"? The colors you see make a big impact ... (Jan 06, 2010 - Time 0:60) Trends for Tomorrow

The Case of the Falling Floor The etching line was running when suddenly there was a loud thud. The floor, supporting ... (Jan 06, 2010 - Time 0:51) Mysteries of Science

Invisibility Cloak May Not Be a Fantasy An "invisibility cloak," like the one imagined in the Harry Potter books, may not be ... (Jan 05, 2010 - Time 0:60) Trends for Tomorrow

Routine Radioactivity Check Surprise A chemist had a hunch that radioactive contamination might have come from a window. How ... (Jan 05, 2010 - Time 0:46) Mysteries of Science

Dead Phone and the Mysterious Dialer The home had been switched over to cable telephone the previous month. But the phone ... (Jan 04, 2010 - Time 0:59) Mysteries of Science

What's the Most Effective Form of Teamwork According to an analysis of 22 years of research, covering 4,800 groups, the best teams ... (Jan 04, 2010 - Time 0:60) Trends for Tomorrow

Turning Skin Cells Into Muscle Cells Stanford scientists have turned one type of cell into another. This could solve a desperate ... (Dec 31, 2009 - Time 0:60) Trends for Tomorrow

Circuit Board Improvements Leave Spots After implementing line improvements, tiny bright spots appeared on the surface of newly made circuit ... (Dec 31, 2009 - Time 1:02) Mysteries of Science

Can Patients Grow New Bone Marrow? What if scientists could help patients grow new bone marrow of their own? This seemingly ... (Dec 30, 2009 - Time 0:60) Trends for Tomorrow

The Gold Does Not Add Up A gold inventory tally was kept to make sure that "gold in" matched "gold out". ... (Dec 30, 2009 - Time 0:59) Mysteries of Science

Body's Protein Strengthens Tumor Defense The key to living a longer, healthier life is a protein called SIRT1. It has ... (Dec 29, 2009 - Time 0:60) Trends for Tomorrow

Anodized Parts and the Peeling Paint A production line with spray painted anodized parts was running smoothly except on Wednesday when ... (Dec 29, 2009 - Time 0:57) Mysteries of Science

Lock Lubricant Causes Quality Problems A manufacturing plant made cylinder locks and some parts were coated with a light oil ... (Dec 28, 2009 - Time 0:59) Mysteries of Science

New Research Into Smart Fabrics Someday, your clothes will become smarter than you are. At least in some ways, such ... (Dec 28, 2009 - Time 0:60) Trends for Tomorrow

The Disappearing Roof Stacks The EPA was visiting a plant and asked for access to the roof. They had ... (Dec 24, 2009 - Time 1:07) Mysteries of Science

Could Coffee Help Solve the Energy Crisis? An incredible breakthrough just might solve the energy crisis, and you'll never guess where we'll ... (Dec 24, 2009 - Time 0:60) Trends for Tomorrow

Lead Poisoning - Was it from Wine? A couple was found dead possibly from lead poisining due to a pewter decanter containing ... (Dec 23, 2009 - Time 0:44) Mysteries of Science

A New System to Predict the Weather MIT researchers are developing a new system to quickly interpret weather data. More accurate forecasts ... (Dec 23, 2009 - Time 0:60) Trends for Tomorrow

Is True Happiness Linked to Spirituality? If you want your children to be happy, help them to develop a strong sense ... (Dec 22, 2009 - Time 0:60) Trends for Tomorrow

Bright Metallic Paint's Secret A company developed a super-bright metallic paint. A tech at a competitor announced that he ... (Dec 22, 2009 - Time 0:58) Mysteries of Science

The Recurring Transmitter Failure A large radio installation on a hilltop suddenly stopped working reliably. What was causing the ... (Dec 21, 2009 - Time 0:46) Mysteries of Science

Tracking Technology Improves Airport Safety When you fly a big dangers to your safety involves what happens on the tarmac. ... (Dec 21, 2009 - Time 0:60) Trends for Tomorrow

RCA TV Soldering Mystery Several decades ago, RCA then a major US based TV manufacturer, discovered a soldering problem. ... (Dec 18, 2009 - Time 1:02) Mysteries of Science

Can Your Body Heal Itself? Someday, when you have a serious illness or a broken bone, your body just may ... (Dec 18, 2009 - Time 0:60) Trends for Tomorrow

Does Lack of Sleep Increases Diabetes Risk People who don't get enough sleep for three days in a row start increasing their ... (Dec 17, 2009 - Time 0:60) Trends for Tomorrow

A Breakthrough Treating Heart Disease It's being called the biggest breakthrough in treating heart disease, a "smart scaffold" that allows ... (Dec 16, 2009 - Time 0:60) Trends for Tomorrow

New Robots Built to Help the Elderly We're on the threshold of building household robots that interact with people in a natural, ... (Dec 15, 2009 - Time 0:60) Trends for Tomorrow

Scratched Fenders That Heal Themsleves Scientists at the University of Illinois have invented self-healing coatings for automobiles, patio furniture, and ... (Dec 14, 2009 - Time 0:60) Trends for Tomorrow

Are There Any Positive Affects of Video Games? A new study at Michigan State University found that using cell phones makes no impact ... (Dec 11, 2009 - Time 0:60) Trends for Tomorrow

Do You Pick Your Mate Based On Smell? Science has found that if you smell too much like a potential mate, you'll both ... (Dec 10, 2009 - Time 0:60) Trends for Tomorrow

Breakthrough Heart Attack Treatment Scientists discovered a molecule that helps the heart heal itself. This could lead to treatment ... (Dec 09, 2009 - Time 0:60) Trends for Tomorrow

Scientists Invent Tiny Robotic Hands Scientists have just made an important breakthrough in building objects at the microscopic level. They ... (Dec 08, 2009 - Time 0:60) Trends for Tomorrow

A New Technology to Harness Energy A new technology uses tiny embedded sensors to harvest energy by absorbing sunlight, sound waves, ... (Dec 07, 2009 - Time 0:60) Trends for Tomorrow

Major Diabetes Breakthrough There's new hope for the 3 million Americans who have Type 1 diabetes: Researchers are ... (Dec 04, 2009 - Time 0:60) Trends for Tomorrow

Your Body Clock and Your Health Scientists have been gaining insights into heart disease and other disorders by studying the human ... (Dec 03, 2009 - Time 0:60) Trends for Tomorrow

Raising Cattle Immune to Disease A major breakthrough in the science of biotechnology could soon lead to healthier milk and ... (Dec 02, 2009 - Time 0:60) Trends for Tomorrow

Can Sound Waves Generate Energy? Engineers discovered that sound waves can coax a material to produce energy. This means that ... (Dec 01, 2009 - Time 0:60) Trends for Tomorrow

How Can You Influence Someone's Decision? Science is continuing to discover how people can influence each other's decisions. One highly effective ... (Nov 30, 2009 - Time 0:60) Trends for Tomorrow

Does Facebook Lowers Student Grades? College students who use Facebook have lower grade-point averages than students who haven't registered at ... (Nov 25, 2009 - Time 0:60) Trends for Tomorrow

Sleep Cleans Out Your Brain While you sleep, your brain "downscales" by eliminating much of the useless information it picked ... (Nov 24, 2009 - Time 0:60) Trends for Tomorrow

Machines That Can Actually See It sounds like science fiction, machines that can actually see. But soon, you'll see vision ... (Nov 23, 2009 - Time 0:60) Trends for Tomorrow

Affordable 3 Dimensional Printing Until now, 3-D printing has been so expensive that it was beyond the reach of ... (Nov 20, 2009 - Time 0:60) Trends for Tomorrow

Are Shoppers Less Likely to Buy In a Crowd? Shoppers follow crowds in stores, but they are less likely to buy something once they ... (Nov 19, 2009 - Time 0:60) Trends for Tomorrow

Consequences of Childhood Play Children today have forgotten how to play - and that could have troubling consequences when ... (Nov 18, 2009 - Time 0:60) Trends for Tomorrow

Material 200 Times Stronger Than Steel Scientists have harnessed a material that is 200 times stronger than steel. The material is ... (Nov 17, 2009 - Time 0:60) Trends for Tomorrow

Safer MRI Breakthrough The state of the art in medical diagnostics today is medical resonance imaging, but MRI ... (Nov 13, 2009 - Time 0:60) Trends for Tomorrow

Stem Cells Transform to New Tissue Someday if you need a new heart, liver, or kidney, you might be able to ... (Nov 11, 2009 - Time 0:60) Trends for Tomorrow