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The following two questions are directed to Ron Lasky, Ph.D., PE, an
SMT Editorial Advisory Board member, senior technologist at
Indium Corp., and visiting professor at Dartmouth College. Contact
him at 26 Howe St., Medway, MA 02053; (508) 930-2242; e-mail: rlasky@indium.com 
Dear Dr. Ron,
WEEE implementation has been delayed in the past months,
especially in the U.K. It seems like a delay in RoHS implementation
might follow. What are your thoughts?
I’m sorry to dash your hopes, but I would be surprised if
RoHS is delayed because of the fundamental differences between WEEE
and RoHS. WEEE is a recycling directive, the enactment of which requires
all European Union (EU) states to develop hundreds of millions of
euros in infrastructure to support required interactions with all “producers” of
electrical and electronic equipment (EEE). In the U.K., a system
must be set up to accept registration of all products, a clearinghouse
established to recycle the returned products, tracking systems to
monitor compliance, etc. By the way, there is no money set aside
to build this infrastructure. The RoHS Directive requires the “producer” to “put
on the market” only products that do not contain lead, mercury,
hexavalent chromium, cadmium, and two flame-retardants. There is
no paperwork requirement. By simply putting the product on the
market, you declare it is RoHS-compliant. Therefore, EU member
states have little infrastructure to develop for RoHS. WEEE requires
EU countries to do a lot of work, so implementation is being delayed.
RoHS requires you to do all of the work. Therefore, I will be surprised
if it is delayed.
Dear Dr. Ron, What is your biggest WEEE/RoHS concern?
My biggest concern is counterfeits. Tens of billions of dollars of
non-RoHS-compliant components, hardware, etc., are out there, and
people will try to unload them. This is not the time to buy from
the “grey” market.
Work with reputable suppliers and demand RoHS self-declaration
sheets for purchases. You should also ask the supplier how he knows
the product he is selling is compliant. Is there a third-party
analysis to support RoHS compliance?
What RoHS compliant material should I use for my boards?
If you are using the SAC305, then you can use the lead-free HAL which
is basically the same as SAC305. You can use the immersion gold and
silver and even the immersion tin. All of the new surface finishes
are about the same price. I expect that the HAL will go down in price
as it becomes more popular and widely available. The most popular
is gold immersion because it is already an industry standard for
SMT boards. As far as board material, the manufacturer of the laminate
that we currently use suggest that we switch from the ED130UV material
to the IS400 for simple double and four layer boards with no fine
pitch or BGA parts, and that we use IS410 or FR408 for the higher
end boards. This has to do with the temperature needed to seat the
parts and do rework on the board if there is a problem. If you want
to check out the material data, it is located at www.isola-usa.com You can look up the items by name.
Do I need a certificate of RoHS compliancy?
Yes, the factory should mark the box and send a certificate
as containing RoHS boards. The factory has to also put in a
statement that states that they do not use any of the banned
substances in their manufacturing process along with the material
certs for the board and the MSDS sheets.If the board is not
RoHS compliant, can you make it compliant?
We can make it RoHS compliant at any time. We are contracted by you to manufacture
boards to the specifications you call out. We do not take it upon ourselves
to change your boards without written authorization. If you want us to start
supplying RoHS compliant PCBs, then we need to know what surface finish you
prefer. We can offer Immersion gold, Immersion silver, Immersion tin, ENTEK
(OSP), and Lead free HAL. We need to know what you are going to use in your
process that will be lead-free, plus we
can provide samples if you like.
[INDEX]
TECHNICAL INFORMATION
Setting the Standards for Success
 Article by Dennis P. McGuirk is thePresident of IPC--Association Connecting Electronics Industries. CircuiTree, June 01, 2008. Recently updated guidelines and specifications for engineers in the printed circuit board and fabrication industries: including IPC-DR-572A, Drilling Guidelines for Printed Boards. IPC-SM-840D-Qualification and Performance Specification of Permanent Solder Mask. IPC-4101B with Amendments 1 & 2, Specification for Base Materials for Rigid and Multilayer Printed Boards. IPC-4412A with Amendment 1, Specification for Finished Fabric Woven from "E" Glass for Printed Boards. IPC-4563, Resin Coated Copper Foil for Printed Boards Guideline. IPC-5702, Guidelines for OEMs in Determining Acceptable Levels of Cleanliness of Unpopulated Printed Boards. IPC-9691A, User Guide for the IPC-TM-650, Method 2.6.25. Conductive Anodic Filament (CAF) Resistance Test (Electrochemical Migration Testing).
 Download the article
LED PCBs for the Auto Industry
Electronics functions continue to increase dramatically in the modern day automobile. Greater use of light-emitting diodes (LEDs) is a major portion of that remarkable auto-electronics growth. As replacements for older incandescent bulbs, LEDs are practically everywhere in newer auto models with such applications as stoplights, turn signal lights, internal lamps, fog lamps, dashboard and entertainment center lamps, and so on. The most recent automotive LED advancement comes from German automaker, Audi, which has introduced, for the first time, LED headlights as standard equipment in the 2010 Audi R8 V-10 model and optional on the V-8 R8 car model, as reported by Car and Driver Magazine.
The auto industry is quickly moving to LEDs for the number of benefits they offer compared to conventional lights. LEDs turn on faster, last longer, draw lower power, are more vivid in color, and can be viewed from greater distances compared to traditional light bulbs. LED energy is highly efficient with greater than 80 lumens per watt. As for longevity, LEDs have extremely long life, specifically 50,000 hours at 70 percent lumen maintenance. Put another way, they can be left on for three to four hours a day, and they'll last 25 years or more. Plus, LEDs are rugged, meaning no vibration effects, no filaments to break, and no moving parts. Above all, the auto industry highly favors LEDs simply because they reach full brightness within nanoseconds, a critical aspect, especially for break lights.
Hot Air Leveling in the Lead-Free Environment
As the electronics industry transitions to lead-free soldering,
hot air leveling should continue to be the preferred method of
preserving solderability. Its cost, while increasing slightly
as a result of the more expensive lead-free solders, should continue
to maintain a cost/benefit advantage over alternative board finishing
methods. Additional advantages, such as excellent solderability,
long shelf life, and durability should not be diminished in a
lead-free environment.
Board fabricators will be able to provide lead-free HAL boards with
thinner, shinier, more coplanar surface mount pads than their
tin/lead counterparts. Wetting times and action will be similar,
if not better, than those presently achieved with eutectic tin/lead
solder.
 January 25, 2006
As the electronics industry transitions to lead-free soldering, hot air leveling
should continue to be the preferred method of preserving solderability.
The European Union directives WEEE and RoHS promote recycling and
re-use of materials, and ban substances considered health hazards.
Similar legislation is being considered in China, California,
and other regions. Lead-free solders have been in use in Japan
for several years. Manufacturers planning to sell into the EU
market will have to comply with these directives.
Other topics included with article: Lead Free Alloys • Tin/Silver/Copper
to read article, please click on the link.
 Soldering
Tips: BEST
Instructors have put together video demonstrations of common
hand soldering tips and skills. These are not designed to be
in place of live one on one training where repetitive skills
and subsequent one on one feedback is given. Rather, they are
quick refreshers designed to be viewed if a specific skill
has not been practiced in a while. You can view the soldering
tips instantly using your Flash™ player
or you can download a video file version of your choice for
later review.
Fast Turn BGA Reballing Technique Developed
Recently BEST has developed and perfected
a reballing technique for area array devices which is designed
for speed and fast turn-around of small quantities.
The tooling is designed and fabricated at BEST.
The stencils are custom made for your device patterns using
the BEST laser.
 After
applying flux to the bottom of the part, a polyimide stencil
corresponding to the size of the balls and part pads is aligned
over the part. The properly sized solder balls are then poured
into the apertures with the fixture keeping the StencilQuik™ stencil
affixed to and aligned with the part. The assembly is then
reflowed, cleaned and inspected.
This technique is one that is straightforward and is used
when a moderate number of the same part pattern reballing
is required. The tooling and stenciling is designed for multiple
reball cycles.
More info...
 Costs
of Performing Internal Rework & Repair - Try
this calculator.
BEST is the recognized expert on all issues
pertaining to the Rework/Repair and hand soldering of PCBs.
[INDEX]
 SMT
Terms & Definitions:If you are looking for a definitive source on SMT terms and definitions for the training of your personnel check out BEST's compilation of SMT terms.
MicroSoft
VISTA Still Buggy, Several Flaws Exposed
As expected by now the upcoming Microsoft O/S is facing an
early crisis of confidence in the quality of its soon-to-be
released Windows™ Vista™ operating
system as computer security researchers and hackers have
begun to find potentially serious flaws in the system that
was released to corporate customers late last month.
On Dec. 15, a Russian programmer posted a description of
a flaw that makes it possible to increase a user’s privileges on all of the company’s
recent operating systems, including Vista™. And over the weekend a Silicon
Valley computer security firm said it had notified Microsoft that it had also
found that flaw, as well as five other vulnerabilities, including one serious
error in the software code underlying the company’s
new Internet Explorer 7 browser.
From what is the "word" here are five things you'll
hate about Windows Vista:
1. Your current hardware won't fully run Vista - Get ready
for the media blitz. Get ready for the frustration. Although
many computers in use today will be able to update and run
the new operating system, they'll only be able to run it in
what Microsoft slyly calls 'Windows Vista Basic'. In this mode,
you'll have the ability to search files but you won't have
3D Aero graphics, live animation along the Taskbar or smooth
streaming graphics on your desktop. Unless you buy a new PC
sometime in 2007, or add a high-end video card and some extra
memory to your current PC, you probably won't get the full
visual Vista experience.
2. Vista's Aero graphics eat laptop battery power - If you're
used to your laptop lasting on a long journey, you might want
to reconsider upgrading to Windows Vista - that is, if you
want the new Aero graphics features turned on. Unfortunately,
changing from Aero to Basic is harder than it should be.
3. User Account Protection - The User Account Protection feature
has already had plenty of negative press. See the above comments
on this point. For most of us, the frequent appearance of User
Vistas' Account Protection on common tasks will be security
overkill.
4. Missing drivers and incompatible applications - Not having
all the necessary drivers or not having software compliant
with a new operating system is to be expected in the beta of
a new OS but this situation still exists even after several
months of developer testing.
5. Troubled sleep - Microsoft claims that it has addressed
the complicated issue of whether to put your laptop to sleep
or have it hibernate when it's not in use. Instant Off, a new
option on the Start menu, allows Windows Vista to take a quick
snapshot of your system, then shut down completely, thus eliminating
the occurrence of a hot laptop inside your backpack.
This upgrade will take years to implement and gain acceptance......
Windows and Vista are registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation.
Information supplied by BEST.
[INDEX]
Transition to RoHS: The Seven Common Pitfalls to Avoid
 When it comes to the RoHS (Restriction of Hazardous Substances)
Directive, good things do not come to those who wait. This
directive, which severely limits the use of six hazardous
substances—most
notably, lead (Pb)—in products shipped to the European
Union (EU), is set to take effect in July 2006...read article.
EDA’s Transformation Will Lift It Out Of The Recession
- EDA market growth has bounced back in 2010; look for solid growth to continue in 2011
- Market hot spots include electronic system-level design, design for manufacturing, and new directions such as cable and wire-harness tools and thermal/fluid analysis
 The recession just can’t seem to sufficiently loosen its grip on the global economy, leaving most markets stuck in neutral. Consumer spending is weak, corporate spending is lackluster, and there doesn’t appear to be any rising tide on the immediate horizon to lift everyone’s boat. Yet despite all of the turmoil in the big picture, the EDA industry has held its own during the past year.
Though 2008 and 2009 were both big disappointments for market-wide growth, much of this was due to the accounting quagmire in which Cadence has been involved. Market-wide revenue dropped more than 11% in 2008. Then in 2009 the other top EDA companies also suffered from poor growth numbers when cautious spending became the norm for practically all customers. The market size dropped another 6.6% in 2009...read article.
[INDEX]
Power Management Integrated Circuits (IC) Market to 2020 - Battery Powered Portable Gadgets to Drive Sales Growth
OEMs and ODMs of smart phones are increasingly using modern Power Management ICs because of their superior capabilities, higher efficiency, and smaller form factor. Glut in Battery-Powered Portable Consumer Devices is Expected to Cause Sales Growth of Power Management ICs. The growing use of battery-powered consumer devices is expected to be a key growth driver of Power Management ICs during the forecast period 2010-2020. Power Management ICs find their usage in consumer devices such as smart phones, digital cameras, mp3s, iPods, LCD TVs, washing machines, and refrigerators. Power Management ICs are typically used for power supply and battery management applications in electronic devices. The Power Management IC revenue share from consumer appliances is expected to rise from $1,782m in 2004 to $2,751m by 2016. ..MORE INFO with Electronics.ca Publications
[INDEX]
Printed and Chipless RFID
 Summary
The biggest opportunity for RFID is the item level tagging of all things. This ultimately calls for a very low cost tag, something that some printed and chipless RFID technologies have already demonstrated or have the potential to achieve. Interestingly, few of the biggest chip RFID suppliers are working on these technologies. Instead, printers, packagers and electronics and materials companies are leading development, some seeing the ultra low cost RFID tag as just the beginning - with integrated ultra low cost components such as displays, sensors and power to come. This is the only report to cover the technologies, players, opportunities and challenges of what will become the most widely used RFID technology type. Detailed forecasts are given and global progress assessed.
RFID tags that do not contain a silicon chip are called chipless tags - some of which can be printed. The primary potential benefit of the most promising chipless tags is that eventually they could be printed directly on products and packaging for 0.1 cents and replace ten trillion barcodes yearly with something far more versatile and reliable.
The next ten years will see a rapid gain in market share of mainstream printed and chipless RFID tags. The numbers sold globally will rise from 12 million in 2011 to 209 billion in 2021. By value, chipless versions will rise from less than $1.38 million in 2011 to $1.65 billion in 2021, about one fifth of all income from RFID tags in 2021 because most of the increase in penetration will be by price advantage. This report gives the penetration of printed and chipless RFID into many different market verticals over the next ten years. It gives assessment of the different technology options and profiles of the main companies developing these.
For the lowest cost technologies, we consider how the cost structure will probably not be on a per tag basis, where the value of the tags in hundreds of billions is only a few million dollars, but those involved will make money on licensing the technology, readers, data management etc.
..MORE INFO
[INDEX]
Articles reprinted by permission from BEST, SMT, Product Compliance
Watch, Circuitree, Arena, Green Supply Line, Electronics.ca Publications and Electronic
Design. |
