The worldwide smartphone market is forecast to grow 55% year over year in 2011 as a growing number of users turn in their feature phones for more advanced devices. According to the International Data Corporation (IDC) Worldwide Quarterly Mobile Phone Tracker, vendors will ship a total of 472 million smartphones in 2011 compared to roughly 305 million units shipped in 2010. That figure will nearly double to 982 million by the end of 2015.

The fast-growing smartphone market, which will grow more than four times the rate of the overall mobile phone market this year, is being fuelled by falling average selling prices, increased phone functionality, and lower-cost data plans among other factors, which make the devices more accessible to a wider range of users.

“The smartphone floodgates are open wide,” said Kevin Restivo, senior research analyst with IDC’s Worldwide Quarterly Mobile Phone Tracker. “Mobile phone users around the world are turning in their ‘talk-and-text’ devices for smartphones as these devices allow users to perform daily tasks like shopping and banking from anywhere. The growth trend is particularly pronounced in emerging markets where adoption is still in its early days. As a result, the growth in regions such as Asia/Pacific and Latin America, will be dramatic over the coming years.

Smartphone Operating Systems

“Underpinning smartphone growth is the rapidly shifting operating system landscape,” added Ramon Llamas, senior research analyst with IDC’s Mobile Phone Technology and Trends team. “End-users are becoming more sophisticated about what kinds of experiences are offered by the different operating systems. Taking this as their cue, operating system developers will strive for more intuitive and seamless experiences, but will also look to differentiate themselves along key features and characteristics.”

IDC expects Android, which passed Symbian as the leading operating system worldwide in Q4 2010, to grow to more than 40% of the market in the second half of 2011. A significant and growing list of vendors who have made Android the cornerstone of their respective smartphone strategies is propelling the growth of Android.

Symbian will steadily lose share throughout the forecast period as its biggest supporter Nokia transitions its smartphone strategy to Windows Phone. This will present a huge opportunity for competing operating systems to gain footing. Still, Nokia’s commitment to support Symbian devices until 2016 will keep the installed base of Symbian-powered smartphone users on par with its competitors.

Windows Phone 7/Windows Mobile will benefit from Nokia’s support, scope, and breadth within markets where Nokia has historically had a strong presence. Until Nokia begins introducing Windows Phone-powered smartphones in large volumes in 2012, Windows Phone 7/Windows Mobile will only capture a small share of the market as the release of Mango-powered smartphones are not expected to reach the market until late 2011. Nevertheless, assuming that Nokia’s transition to Windows Phone goes smoothly, the OS is expected to defend a number 2 rank and more than 20% share in 2015.

iOS was the third ranked OS going into 2011 and will remain a force in the mobile phone market throughout the forecast. After an initial explosive growth period, iOS is expected to grow at a more modest pace throughout the latter half of the forecast as the smartphone market matures and diversifies. Although a small market share decline is expected, IDC expects significant overall shipment volume growth through the end of 2015.

BlackBerry OS is expected to maintain its position as a Top 4 smartphone operating system over the forecast period. Like iOS, the BlackBerry OS will experience market share decline even as shipment volumes grow throughout our forecast.

Article from PCB007

Dell will launch its highly anticipated 10-inch tablet in the Chinese market first, based on a emerging belief that the U.S. market isn’t mature enough for a successful Android launch, Dell executives told CNET today.

Dell’s Streak 10 Pro (see specifications below) will launch in China this summer and in the U.S. market probably sometime next year, John Thode, a Dell vice president and manager of Dell’s mobility business, told CNET. The U.S. market simply doesn’t offer a viable 10-inch tablet strategy for Dell, he said.

“This is not an either-or for us. This is a choice about where is the best place to take our story and avoids a bunch of the inhibitors and barriers to success that we’ve seen in the U.S. market,” Thode said. “Things like confusion over what exactly Android is bringing to the table [and] an immature platform and roll out of devices that weren’t quite ready yet.”

Dell markets smaller tablets, such as the Dell Streak 7, and a hybrid product, the Inspiron Duo, in the U.S. but has yet to launch a tablet design that rivals the 9.7-inch iPad from Apple.

“China is the largest in the emerging market category and the second fastest-growing in the emerging market category. And China is also our second largest market right after the U.S.,” said Amit Midha, chairman of Dell Greater China. “The China market in units may cross the U.S. in the next couple of years,” he said, underscoring the importance of the market to Dell.

There are roughly 10,000 stores that sell Dell products in China and, by the end of the this year, there will be 2,000 service centers where customers can bring Dell products, Midha said.

Thode also cited problems at U.S. carriers. “Even simple things like distribution channels that are controlled by the carriers with pricing models that are completely upside down to adoption [of a tablet],” he said about the U.S. market.

He continued. “We looked at all of that and we said, well wait a minute, that instead of trying to swim upstream let’s go someplace where the growth rates are much more interesting, the adoption rates are much faster, the consumer is much more savvy…it became one of those aha moments,” he said, again speaking to the myriad problems in the U.S. Android tablet market.

This sentiment echoes recent criticism of Android tablet launches by Nvidia’s chief executive. Tablets other than the iPad have, so far, not sold well in the U.S. for many of the reasons cited by Thode.

The Dell Streak 10 is Dell’s third tablet product and its first 10-inch Android-based tablet.

Some of the salient specifications of the Google Honeycomb Android tablet are: a thickness of 12 millimeters (0.47 inches), a weight of about 700 grams (about 1.5 pounds), edge-to-edge glass, brushed aluminum back, a 1280-by-800 screen, front and rear facing cameras (including a 5 megapixel camera), full 1080p video playback, an SD slot, and an Nvidia Tegra dual-core processor.

The tablet can also be purchased with a dock that has multiple USB ports, a USB host mode that allows PC-like emulation capabilities, HDMI video, the ability to run separate Citrix sessions on external monitors, and an Ethernet port, among other features.

Article from CNET “The Circuits Blog”

The aerospace and defense industry globally will be facing tough and contradictory burdens in the next few years, as the need to meet an anticipated 25% jump in commercial-aircraft deliveries by 2014 contrasts with further belt-tightening of nations’ defense budgets in the wake of widespread budget deficits – both of which could lead to severe supply-chain pressures. That’s according to a study released today by AlixPartners, the global business-advisory firm.

“While bruised, the aerospace and defense industry emerged from the economic downturn in better shape than most industries, due largely to increased demand in the defense sector, plus some petty vigilant cost-cutting overall,” said David Fitzpatrick, managing director at AlixPartners and co-leader of the firm’s Global Aerospace and Defense Practice. “However, the industry now faces the ‘big squeeze’ – the contradictory challenge of quickly ramping up production for expected growth in the commercial sector coupled with the need to address expected cuts and therefore a sharpened focus on affordability in the defense sector. And those squeezed the most will be the supply chain.”

Commercial Sector

According to the study, the near-term outlook for commercial aircraft is positive due largely to increasing air-traffic demand globally, which is expected to grow 5.5% by 2012 alone. Asia and the Middle East, says the study, will enjoy 35% of all demand increases over the long term. Rising fuel prices and the need for more-efficient aircraft are already causing heightened demand for new aircraft, per the study. It notes that this year, for the first year ever, commercial-aircraft deliveries globally are set to exceed 1,000 and that global aircraft production is expected to increase 30% to 50% over the next three years.

Increasing demand for commercial aircraft, however, does not come without its challenges, and the guide-path to meeting global demand will be bumpy. Original-equipment manufacturers (OEMs) will be forced to ramp up production while simultaneously trying to innovate and develop products to meet demand for more fuel-efficient aircraft. Suppliers – who largely decreased capacity after suffering through the recession – will also face capacity and talent-acquisition constraints as they try to meet demand, which could lead to severe quality issues, according to the AlixPartners study.

There is significant risk, says the study, that commercial-sector suppliers will not be able to keep up with aggressive new manufacturing demands and will be challenged by: capacity constraints of their own (Tier-2 and Tier-3) suppliers that have under-invested in capability development; specialty raw-materials shortages (e.g., carbon fiber and titanium fasteners); and ongoing supply-chain delays and shortages resulting from the disaster in Japan.

“The aerospace supply chain was basically decimated by the economic downturn, as even sold orders were put on hold or otherwise put in a lumpy, stop-and-go mode,” said David Wireman, director in AlixPartners’ Aerospace and Defense Practice. “From all indications, that supply chain is not at all prepared for steep commercial ramp-up curve that lies ahead, and production constraints are a very real possibility.”

Defense Sector

But while demand on the commercial-aircraft side looks strong, defense, globally, looks to be weakening. According to the study, U.S. defense spending is expected to decrease by at least 12.2% by 2013 and by 6.5% by 2016, while defense spending in Europe, already down 2.8% in 2010, is expected to continue to drop sharply in the coming years, led by the U.K.’s recent announcement of an 8% cut by 2015 and promised drops of up to 25% in smaller European nations.

As a result of these expected widespread cuts, says the study, defense priorities will shift toward extending the life of existing equipment, improving communication networks and investing more in weapons systems targeted at supporting today’s more asymmetric warfare. However, says the study, the scale of these new investments will not be enough to make up for cutbacks in major-platform investments such as the F-35 fighter aircraft series built jointly by Lockheed Martin Corp., BAE Systems PLC and Northrop Grumman Corp., which has already experienced significant cuts in planned production numbers. In response to these kinds of cutbacks, the larger defense companies will need to pursue a more diverse business mix that will lead to partnerships, M&A and consolidation among smaller players as larger companies pursue new markets, the study says.

In sum, the study shows that both the commercial-aviation and defense industries face critical challenges that they will need to address. Key economic challenges will come from federal budget uncertainties, volatile fuel prices and new entrants into the few growing sectors of the industry. In particular, the recent volatility of oil prices, coupled with continued sluggish economies in the West, has made it hard to predict future industry trends. These factors are leading many aerospace and defense manufacturers, especially lower-tier suppliers, to delay investments, says the study.

“The aerospace and defense industry faces a very challenging next few years,” said Fitzpatrick. “The simultaneous need for near flawless execution on the commercial side and belt-tightening on the defense side, plus the need to deal with supply-chain challenges across the board while also seizing M&A opportunities will push management capabilities to the extreme.”

M&A Outlook

Driven by supply-chain pressures in commercial and budget cuts in defense, the pace of mergers and acquisitions in the aerospace industry is expected to rebound in the next few years. In addition, it finds, low valuations today across the industry, with multiples generally below 10 times earnings before depreciation and taxes, have made deals look far more palatable.

On the defense side, the study suggests that smaller companies will be in play as larger players look to encroach on new markets and make strategic, “bolt-on” acquisitions.

“The larger companies will be looking at these smaller participants that have new technologies, new products or complementary systems that can be easily and profitably integrated,” said Wireman. “Across the industry, valuation multiples are down 45% since 2008. To us, that sounds like the makings of a ripe deal environment.”

Business Jets

According to the study, the global business-jet sector, which suffered a 38% decline in deliveries between 2008 and 2010, will see some degree of recovery but will not experience a significant upturn before 2012 – with expected a compound-annual-growth-rate (CAGR) increase of 17% between 2010 and 2012. Recovery in business jets is expected to be limited largely by an only slowly improving global economy. Demand, it finds, will also continue to suffer from a large pre-owned product overhang (about 14% of the total market) and due to lingering negative public perceptions and media scrutiny about the use of private jets in a time when unemployment remains high and layoffs continue.

MRO

After two years of lost growth, the maintenance, repair and operations (MRO) market is expected to recover by the end of 2012 with 3.7% annual growth, leading to an expected global value of $61 billion by 2020, says the study. MRO growth will be fuelled by the engine, components and modifications segments, and will be driven by demand in developing and emerging markets. North America and Europe, on the other hand, will experience smaller-scale growth of 0.7% to 1.6% CAGR, respectively.

Profitability

According to the study, overall profitability is up and earnings-before-income-taxes (EBIT) margins have now reached levels not seen since 2006. Moreover, the findings show that in 2010 European companies’ profitability, which historically lagged those of North America, now trails North American companies by just 1.0%.

“Achieving sustained profitability through greater efficiencies and greater innovation remains the name of the game in aerospace, and it’s a game OEMs, suppliers and owners, including private-equity firms, will all have a key role in going forward,” said Fitzpatrick. “To successfully navigate the paradoxical challenges ahead, the aerospace industry will have to change in ways it has never changed before.”

Article  from PCB007

With the Google announcement of its Android Open Accessory Development Kit (ADK) at Google I/O 2011, Google joined Apple in the game of allowing mobile apps to interface with accessories. The Android Open Accessory will give hardware developers, a new API and an open accessory development boards to work with. This will allow external USB hardware (an Android USB accessory) to interact with an Android-powered device in a special “accessory” mode. When an Android-powered powered device is in accessory mode, the connected accessory acts as the USB host (powers the bus and enumerates devices) and Android-powered device acts as the device.

OPEN PLATFORM FOR HARDWARE DEVELOPERS -

The reference ADK boards will be available for software and hardware developers or even anyone interested in things electronic to develop accessories that will work with apps. This USB accessory is based on the popular Arduino Mega2560 and Circuits@Home USB Host Shield designs, since it communicates to the phone in its “accessory” mode. Developers can get the custom library / firmware with software to work with to make it run and test with shield. The programming language is based on Wiring and is very like C/C++.

ADK Challenge -

The challenge on the Google’s ADK FR-4 double-sided boards is keeping the white consistent along the big panels. The 6 different legends and colors becomes a challenge not only to ensure spacing and straightness but to make sure that white color doesn’t show through and the Google brand colors stands out.

Article featured on PCB007 | See More of Cirexx’s Case Studies

LaBarge, Inc., a provider of EMS, and Ducommun Incorporated, a provider of engineering and manufacturing services to the aerospace and defense industry, announced today that they have entered into a definitive agreement under which Ducommun will acquire LaBarge for a purchase price of $19.25 per share in cash.

The transaction is valued at approximately $340 million, including debt assumed and net of cash acquired. The acquisition requires LaBarge stockholder approval and is subject to customary closing conditions. The transaction is expected to be completed in late June 2011. Certain officers and directors have agreed to vote a number of common shares representing approximately 19% of the voting power of the company in favor of the merger.

Once the transaction is completed, LaBarge will be combined with Ducommun’s Technologies subsidiary, which will be renamed Ducommun LaBarge Technologies. The unit will be led by a senior team of individuals from both entities with LaBarge’s Chief Operating Officer, Randy Buschling, serving as Senior Vice President of the division.

Craig LaBarge, Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive Officer and President of LaBarge, said, “Following a very comprehensive exploration of strategic alternatives, LaBarge’s Board of Directors voted unanimously to recommend acceptance of Ducommun’s proposal to our stockholders. We believe this transaction creates significant value for LaBarge stockholders and new opportunities for our customers and employees. Combined, the two companies have complementary capabilities that we believe will be very appealing to many of our key customers. LaBarge has an excellent reputation for providing high-performance electronic and electromechanical products, and we look forward to continue doing so as part of the Ducommun team.”

Anthony J. Reardon, President and Chief Executive Officer of Ducommun, added, “On behalf of everyone at Ducommun, let me state how important we view this acquisition as we extend a warm welcome to all members of the LaBarge team. We firmly believe this transaction will be a transformational event for both companies, combining two great organizations with common cultures and a shared vision. LaBarge, with its market leadership, proven management and strong workforce, will bolster our technology business and, along with our AeroStructures operations, solidify our position as a world class manufacturing services company. Working together, we see a bright future for Ducommun LaBarge Technologies in serving our customers with access to new markets and global growth channels.”

Stifel Nicolaus Weisel is acting as Exclusive Financial Advisor and Armstrong Teasdale and Bryan Cave LLP are acting as legal counsel to LaBarge, Inc.

HotPCB has pointed to and written about the relationship between fabricators and designers since our inception.  And we are not the only one speaking to it.  Pete Waddell of UP Media wrote an editorial to the issue of DFM (design for manufacture) failures within our industry earlier this year.  We would like to speak to the issue as well, but not without providing a way to begin fixing the problem.

The issue is that there has been, and will continue to be a disconnect between printed circuit board designers and fabricators.  If you, as a designer, have a firm grasp of the details surrounding the fabrication process, power to you and thank you.  However, if you are a designer and have not spent time learning the process of building boards, I highly recommend it.  Now I understand that the two parties have their areas of expertise, and I am not asking you to do a 9 month apprenticeship in a board shop.  But some research, and using some valuable tools available will be very beneficial to you.  How?  Read on.

Whenever a board comes into our shop, we need to check it for manufacturability and errors.  We use a variety of methods, but one of the key methods is to run the designs through DFM software.  We estimate that about 50% of the jobs we process need to go back to the designer for edits and changes after it has been run through the DFM.  That means we need to call/email the engineer, often leave a message, set up a time to talk about the issues, have them go fix the problems, wait to receive the updated files, assure that we don’t accidentally use the old files, re-check the design files, and then continue on in the production process.  In a quickturn shop, this may take 1-2 days, and I have heard several claim they often see it taking 5-7 days to get this all hashed out.  In a tense, quickturn market, several days means that you have doubled the lead time which was originally possible.  In addition to this, the fabricators are spending a lot of time going back and forth, chasing down engineers, revisions, files, etc.  This is time that is not billed, but in the long run finds its way into your boards because the process is less efficient and is using a lot of man-hours.  And so the designers are delayed in getting their boards, the fabricators are spending a lot of extra time pre-production, and nobody wins.

My hope is that there would be an industry wide shift in mentality toward an attitude of responsibility on the part of all to check for manufacturability.  I believe that it ultimately rests on designers to begin this change, and recognize that they can run preliminary DFM checks on their designs.  It takes very little time to run it, especially compared to several days of back and forth with the fabricator.  With designers running preliminary checks, and fabricators running secondary checks, the process will grow to be more seamless and productive.

One company in the marketplace who has narrowed in on this issue is Intercept Technology.  Their top-end software contains a DFM program, and their goal right now is to make it as accessible to designers as possible.  In fact, for a limited time it is free.  I recommend this to everyone within the industry.  This is an incredibly valuable tool for designers.  Together we can help each other accomplish our goals and increase in efficiency.  Designers will get their boards more quickly, fabricators will be able to spend more time improving their processes and building boards, and greater understanding/collaboration will be fostered between both.

Do you have a DFM nightmare story?  Or a success story?  Please feel free to comment below.  Maybe you think this is all hot air and unnecessary.  I’d like to hear what you have to say.

Although plenty of part numbers go through our shop which are classified and their end use is unclear, it is still quite possible to recognize the end users and the importance of performing quality work.  Products, processes, and chains are only as strong as their weakest link; and narrowing our focus too far on one spot in the product development cycle can have catastrophic consequences.  Our company, Cirexx International, does a fair bit of work within the defense industry.  For this reason, I will use the following hypothetical example as a reference.

“Although PN xxxxxxx is a simple 6 layer rigid-flex, it plays a critical role within a hand-held communications device our warfighters in Iraq rely on and expect to be functioning regardless of extreme conditions.  It’s failure, delamination, improper design could mean life or death for a whole troop.  And we all know who our military serves… us.”

If we focus on and remember who our end user is, the technical nature of our boards, our workplace morale, and our general business practices will all be affected.

Technical
If we were to keep in mind the big picture of who we serve with our products, many technical aspects of our products would be affected.  Most notable, I believe quality and quality assurance would improve.  Technicians, managers, suppliers, etc would all hold themselves to a high moral standard above and beyond their ISO or corporate quality mandate.  Responsiveness to issues and concerns on the part of the customer would increase.  Recognizing that each delay in the product life-cycle keeps a potentially life-saving product out of production and out of the hands of our soldier, nurse, pilot, etc for a greater period of time.  Paperwork and voicemails will have less likelihood of being put off until the afternoon, the end of the week, etc.  And lastly, collaboration will improve.  Although it is not necessarily the job of the lamination technician to determine proper materials for use in the final product, they may have some knowledge of past performance that the designers did not.  Whether it’s that they heard from a colleague that a particular thickness of laminate has been having issues in extreme temperatures, or in humidity.  Knowing that the board will be in a product in use in the rain forest may happen to be a huge help.

Workplace Morale
Not only will the technical integrity of your boards increase, but also workplace morale and spirit.  Employee sense of ownership and duty will grow when their understanding of the big picture increases and the tunnelvision we often fall susceptible to is countered.  This will lead to increased attention to detail, greater job satisfaction, and a greater sense of community within your organization and between organizations.

Business Practices
Lastly, recognition of the true impact your company’s product has will lead to changes in how your business operates.  Customer service and support will take greater precedence.  Also, capital improvements and research/development will take greater priority.  Recognition of the ways we need to remain competitive, and provide the most cutting edge products to our customers will occur when we step back and think about the importance we play in the lives of so many people.

Who are your customers?  Your real customers… probably people who have never and will never hear of you.  Yet it is them who you serve, it is for them that we work day and night, providing the highest quality products with the best customer support and responsive attitudes possible.

What other improvements do you feel would occur if we were to all continually remind ourselves of these things?  Feel free to comment below.

Valor products are the world’s leading software for printed circuit board (PCB) design for manufacturing (DFM) and manufacturing execution (MES) systems. Valor’s solutions target three key segments in the PCB manufacturing market: design of the physical layout of the PCB, fabrication of the bare PCB, and assembly of PCB components. With the acquisition of Valor, Mentor is now positioned as the only EDA supplier to provide the electronics industry with a PCB systems solution from concept through manufacturing.

“Valor’s expertise and products in the manufacturing segment are an excellent fit to Mentor’s in the PCB design area as together we provide a concept-through-manufacturing design solution to our customers,” stated Henry Potts, vice president and general manager of the Systems Design Division of Mentor Graphics. “This acquisition will reinforce our number one position in PCB design while enabling Valor to leverage the strengths of Mentor and accelerate their delivery of differentiated design for manufacturing and manufacturing execution products.”

By acquiring Valor, Mentor is the first major EDA vendor to extend its scope into the market for PCB systems manufacturing solutions. This will benefit the electronics industry by enabling electronics companies to finally eliminate the long-standing technical barriers and inefficiencies between the worlds of design and manufacturing. Mentor will be in a unique position to deliver an efficient, bi-directional engineering process between designers, their partners in systems manufacturing, and the product supply chain.
“This is a very exciting opportunity for all of us,” said Dan Hoz, former Valor CEO and now general manager of the newly-formed Valor division of Mentor Graphics. “With both companies occupying leading positions in their respective markets, our combined expertise can deliver a breakthrough in operational integration between the world of design and the supply-chain oriented world of manufacturing, for the benefit of the entire electronics industry. We foresee a promising future for Valor as a division of Mentor Graphics.”

The development of solutions for the manufacturing market will remain a core activity of the Valor division, reinforcing Valor’s and Mentor’s long-term commitment to deliver solutions and support to the manufacturing market, as well as powerful integration of design for manufacturing functionality into Mentor and non-Mentor PCB design environments. For more information regarding the acquisition and the go-forward strategy, visit www.mentor.com/valor.

About Mentor Graphics

Mentor Graphics Corporation (NASDAQ: MENT) is a world leader in electronic hardware and software design solutions, providing products, consulting services and award-winning support for the world’s most successful electronics and semiconductor companies. Established in 1981, the company reported revenues over the last 12 months of about $800 million and employs approximately 4,425 people worldwide. Corporate headquarters are located at 8005 S.W. Boeckman Road, Wilsonville, Oregon 97070-7777. World Wide Web site: http://www.mentor.com/.

(Mentor Graphics is a registered trademark of Mentor Graphics Corporation. All other company or product names are the registered trademarks or trademarks of their respective owners.)

Here we go…

Industry Staples
Electrical/Electronics and Computer Development Engineers Group (2,789  April ’09- 5,796 Members Now)
This is the largest technical group I was a part of last  year.  It is a dynamic group, and very active.  However, the content tends to be a little bit more generic, and lacks the technical specificity found within the smaller groups formed for topical discussions.  That being said, I really appreciate that there is always something new whenever you visit, and there is a large, diverse audience to whom you can field discussion questions, share news articles, and work on your networking skills.

EMS Insider (Electronics Manufacturing Services (2,663 April ’09- 5,815 Members Now)
EMS Insider falls into the same category of LinkedIn group as the EECDE group above.  More general discussion on larger, less specific, and often marketing/manufacturing oriented topics.  This is a great group to be a part of so that you have messaging rights to people within the industry.

PCB Forum (1,133 Members Now)
The PCB Forum group is a mid sized group and falls right in the middle of everything.  Decent membership, good conversation, relevant news, etc.  If you’re not a part of this group, you ought to be.

Printed  Circuit Board Technologies and Solutions (330 Members April ’09- 930 Members Now)
Same thoughts as the PCB Forum above.

PCB Designers and PCB Designers Group (423 Members and 378 Members respectively)
These two groups cater to the PCB Designer, as is clear by their titles.  PCB Designers is the more robust and put together group, although PCB Designers Group still has provided some valuable activity for me in the news section whenever I have posted a link.  There is a discussion thread about combining the two groups… and whether that happened or not, I am not sure.  I would speculate that a majority of the members are overlapping members.  However, these are my two favorite groups!!…. be sure to check them out and join.  I see them growing tremendously in the next year.

VLSI (2,337 Members April ’09- 4,233 Now)
This group has grown a lot, but still has that feel of being subsidized by a few key contributors rather than it being a lively, dynamic community.

IPC – Association Connecting Electronics Industries
The IPC group is a great resource for the PCB Professional.  Although it is not updated or contributed to as often as many other groups, it is relatively free of junk postings and distractions.  I really appreciate the IPC and their efforts to provide resources; and supporting their LinkedIn group is a great way to show some support.

Rising Stars
These groups have great potential and I see them growing tremendously in the near future… however, that’s up to all of you.  With a little love and involvement, I see these topic/technology specific groups growing into very informative communities.  Some have very few members, and great content, while others have a good number of members, but need more applicable content.

Flex Circuit (42 Members April ’09- 172 Members Now)

PCB/BGA Rework and Repair (103 Members Now)

Unexplainable PCB Quality Issues (151 Members Now)

PCB HDI – Next Generation (124 Members Now)

Signal Integrity Engineering (1,184 Members Now)

RF/Analog/Mixed signal circuit design & product/test engineering (883 Members Now)

RFID/AIDC Technology (1,818 Members Now)

Homepage logo taken from this site.

I see a variety of similarities between Tin whiskers… and my own: Elusive, thin, short, and never helpful.  And there is always the random single hair that frustrates you to no end.

Unfortunately, the costs associated with tin whiskers in the electronics, defense, health, and aerospace industries are astronomical compared to my need to shave once every two weeks.  Failure of products due to tin whisker growth can undermine an entire mission, scrap a program, or take a life.  I think about electronic pacemakers, our men and women traveling to space, or our servicemen and women flying at Mach speeds thousands of feet above the ground.

There has yet to be a definitive ruling made concerning the cause/prevention of whiskers, although pure tin components and plating seem to exhibit the highest likelihood of developing them.  Best practices at this time are to use a tin/lead mix with no greater than 97% tin.  However, RoHS regulations are throwing a wrench into this with its demands for lead-free products.  Some RoHS frequently asked questions are answered here.

This issue received significant attention at the IPC Technology Interchange this last December.  Also, the Center for Advanced Life Cycle Engineering at the University of Maryland (CALCE) and The Institute of Scientific and Industrial Research at Osaka University (ISIR) are putting on another International Symposium on Tin Whiskers this June.  The call for papers is still out.  Read more about this at PCB007. Proceedings from past Symposiums can be found here.

For a great overview of tin whiskers, be sure to check out the resources provided by NASA.  The pictures in this article have all been sourced from NASA.

Have you dealt with tin whiskers in your products/designs? What types of damage have they caused?  What are some of the things you have done to diminish the likelihood of them?

Homepage Image Original found here