It’s important that the engineer or CADer who is laying out a PCB understands not just why fiducials are needed, but more specifically how fiducials aid stencil positioning and part placement during the surface-mount assembly process. A good understanding of fiducials will ensure that the PCB is designed with the correct number of fiducials, that they are properly sized, and that they are placed in optimal locations for the contract manufacturer. This attention to process during the design cycle will help eliminate errors during manufacturing.

Engineers have a love/hate relationship with connectors. With so many varieties and manufacturers to choose from, it’s not easy to make a selection when you’re designing a new product. We’ve put together this rough guide to help you choose a connector series.

In Wyoming, creating a technology culture feels like a chicken-or-egg problem. Will the people plant their roots here without businesses in place to hire them? Will the businesses invest in real estate without a sufficient supply of workers to fill the jobs? Will towns emphasize the arts to create an environment where both people and businesses can thrive?

We don’t know. But we believe the future of technology in Wyoming is bright.

Businesses have a choice to design their products using inside engineers, outside contractors, or a mix of both. For organizations without an engineering team, the reasons to hire a contract engineer may be obvious. But for companies with an on-site engineering team, what are the benefits to hiring an outside contract engineer?

When selecting the IPC package for a surface-mount component, the smallest package is not always the best choice for a design. Often, a deeper understanding of an organization can lead to one that is more optimal.