I am so excited to see how many people have joined various groups in the last year! Last April I compiled a list of the best LinkedIn groups for printed circuit board professionals and enthusiasts.  Many changes have occurred since then, with the addition of new groups and the demise of others.  Below is my take on the best groups for 2010.  I also want to point out a few groups I find to be great concepts, but which have yet to find the type of traffic necessary to sustain …

A big topic in the last few years has been the occurrence of (and the damage caused by) the growth of tin whiskers in high-profile and high-reliability products.  Elusive, often misunderstood, and difficult to prevent; tin whiskers have posed significant problems.  In fact, even just two weeks ago TechEye.net was speculating that tin whiskers may be behind the massive Toyota recalls. Whether the whiskers are out to race cars, or are turning into conductive plasma arcs capable of carrying hundreds of amps, it is clear that they are a force …

A little before 9am this morning, I had a great conversation with a PCB Designer in Ireland while also talking to a designer in Georgia.  No, I wasn’t in Ireland or Georgia, and no it wasn’t over the phone.  Instead we typed back and forth in a private chat, courtesy UP Media’s Virtual PCB show currently underway. Virtual Trade Shows are rising in popularity and I fully expect to see them more often in the future.  But as with anything, there are benefits and drawbacks depending on your role and …

A few weeks ago Morgan and I were doing a client visit, and had set up a table in the cafeteria of a large customer during lunchtime. It was a great opportunity for those who we currently work with to come and say hi, and also for co-workers to have an opportunity to learn about our services. We had a great time, and there was a lot of interest and great dialogue for the three hours we were there.
There was a particular moment, however, which really encouraged me …

Two weeks from now, in the heart of the Silicon Valley, many of the top design firms and printed circuit board professionals will be attending DesignCon 2010.  Held at the Santa Clara Convention Center from February 1st-4th, this show promises to be a very valuable event for many.  Already the line-up of exhibitors is impressive, with exhibitors ranging from small consulting firms such as The Bogatin Group, to large, multi-national companies like Tyco Electronics.   See the full list here.
I have spoken with several individuals in the last few weeks …

It has been interesting to read both the 2009 “end of the year recaps” and the 2010 predictions for the printed circuit board (PCB) industry as we have drawn close to the New Year.  Most have been quite comprehensive and informative, yet I hope to add value by also providing some impressions, critiques and praises.  Many refer to me as the fresh, young kid… and so it is my hope that I can provide a unique and valuable perspective.
The year 2009 has been an intense crash-course and immersion into the …

Within one of the presentations last week at the IPC Technology Interchange in Washington D.C., the question was raised of whether printed circuit board technology will reach a plateau or whether it will continue to keep pace with the technological demands and innovations to come.  Restated, the question could be:  as trace widths get smaller, nanotechnology improves, and demand for greater performance continues to increase – when/where/will PCB technology hit a plateau?
This is a complex question with a large number of factors.  One focus of the discussion could be on …

Do you think you have what it takes to make a mark in the field of Printed Circuit Board (PCB) design?  For the engineering minded and artistically oriented, PCB design is a fascinating field where you can achieve both financial success and fulfillment in doing something that you love.  Whether you’re just dipping your toes for the first time, or you are a seasoned veteran; I hope to provide some insight and encouragement.  A few accomplished men were gracious enough to speak with me and share their thoughts, stories, and …

Last week I had the valuable opportunity to speak at the PCB Atlanta show put on by UP Media in Alpharetta, GA.  The show is designed to serve professionals within the PCB industry by offering technical seminars for further education and by allowing pertinent companies to exhibit in a table-top format.  The show went very well, and I will be writing more about my experience there in the coming few days.
Below is the media portion of my presentation.  It gives a very general outline of the topics I covered and …

by Liam Morris
I have been blessed with the opportunity to speak during the afternoon sessions at PCB Atlanta on October 22.  UP Media has always been very kind to us and have now provided me with this opportunity.
The seminar I will be teaching will be on the topic of marketing yourself using the social media and online tools that are currently available online.  Below is the abstract I submitted when I approached them with the idea.
Are you trying to find a way to stand out among the crowd?  The field …