Tips and Tricks – Solderpaste Editor

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PCB Services | eC Solutions

Solder Paste Editor – another smart tool available in your customer account

It has long been established that the quality of your assembled product has many influencing factors, design layout, material quality, component accuracy etc but many process engineers will argue that the first process is the most critical, the solder paste application.

For many years now we have offered our customers Solderpaste stencils, the layout of these being created by your CAD package or we create the paste layer during the data preparation stage and providing accurate paste to PCB application using both our eC-stencil-FIX and eC-stencil-mate.

Until now this has been effective, but as we design with more and more fine pitch and odd shaped components the more critical this solder paste application process becomes, requiring further need for control over the solder paste apertures themselves.

For this reason, our clever developers at Eurocircuits have extended our PCB Visualizer toolbox, enabling you to resize, offset, add or delete and split paste apertures across the design with an easy to use solder paste layer editor.

Why not take 4 mins and let Wim, our head of development, guide you through the new Solder paste layer Editor below

Should you have any questions about any of our services, please feel free to get in touch via email, telephone or instantly with our online chat during office hours. We will be more than happy to help.

Why not follow us on our social media, keeping up to date with all of our latest news?

           

News & Information

For many years Eurocircuits have provided you with important News & Information about our services, products, free to use smart tools and the Electronic Manufacturing World. Take a peak at what we offer:

  • Eurocircuits company update.
    This section contains updates and information about the Eurocircuits Group. As a valued partner you will receive updates and news covering our company activities, team news and business developments etc.
  • Events & Workshops.
    Eurocircuits is an active participant of events and exhibitions, it also organises events, seminars and workshops, especially concerning technical topics
  • Tips & Tricks.
    The electronic value chain starts with a design and then converting it to a digital form. This section covers all design related issues, their influence on manufacturing.
  • Electronic Manufacturing Technology.
    Eurocircuits goal is to inform all Electronic Designers about Electronic Manufacturing Techniques and processes. Whilst, this may start with PCB manufacturing it also covers the Assembly, Testing and Housing etc…
  • Online Smart Tools – Services & Products.
    All Eurocircuits customers have access to an online customer account and through this, access to our Smart Tools and services. This section covers User Guides, updates and new features and tools etc. It will help you to optimise your knowledge, use of these tools and the electronic manufacturing services and products we offer.
  • Customer Applications & Student Projects.
    Eurocircuits actively encourages its customers to share their experiences with other customers. In addition to this, we support many student projects and inspire them to write about their adventures and the technology they have designed.
  • eCvelo.
    Next to being an Electronics Manufacturing Company, Eurocircuits also has a heart for clean mobility. As result we have developed and are building trike and quad cycles with a covered frame. Keep updated by opting in to this section.
Eurocircuits TV

Eurocircuits TV is Eurocircuits’ media channel bringing electronic designers and others video news and VLOGs about our electronic manufacturing world.
Interact with us

The best way to share ideas and knowledge is face to face. Check out our eC-calendar

IMS pool now with enhanced base material

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PCB Services | eC Solutions

We have upgraded the Insulated Metal Substrate type we use in our IMS pool service

More powerful LED applications demand an increased focus on thermal management. More powerful LEDs produce more heat and temperature rise has an impact on the short-term function of a LED part such as colour shift and reduced light output.

The long-term effects shouldn’t be neglected either. Higher operating temperatures result in a reduced life time.

To reduce the operating temperature and thus the impact of the temperature on LED applications or power converters, we decided to make an upgrade on the IMS material. The former used Polytherm TC-Lam 1.3 is now succeeded by Polytherm TC-Lam 2.0 of which you can find the spec sheet on our Download page.

The main difference is the dielectric. This thermally conductive layer has better properties:

  • Thermal conductivity: 2.0 W/mK (upgrade from 1.3 to 2.0)
  • Thermal resistance: 0.50 K/W (lowering from 0.77 to 0.5)

The thick Aluminium (alloy 5052) layer remains unchanged and is responsible for the heat dissipation.

The Cu foil, on the opposite side, is still 35 microns thick. This Cu layer forms the base Cu for the circuit. Other service parameters remain unchanged and can be found here.

“How do we make IMS boards?”, explained on Eurocircuits TV.

Should you have any questions about any of our services, please feel free to get in touch via email, telephone or instantly with our online chat during office hours. We will be more than happy to help.

Why not follow us on our social media, keeping up to date with all of our latest news?

           

Blogs

Customer papers

If you are an active Eurocircuits’ customer and you feel like you have some interesting story to share with our Eurocircuits community, then please send it to us by e-mail. We will evaluate the content and if it fits the scope of what we publish then we will take it on board and inform you of it.

Production

Eurocircuits TV has made an informative piece on how copper is deposited on the PCB in the galvanic process.

All the details about our movie can be read in text form in our BLOG.

eC-tools

We publish articles as tip & tricks or videos on Eurocircuits TV to help our designer customers to maximise their efficiency by using our tools. We also publish seminars on how to use our smart tools. Here is one: “Introduction to Eurocircuits’ smart tools: PCB Configurator, PCB Visualizer”

eC-equipment

Here we release articles about our eC-equipment and their use.

If you would like us to produce a blog or white paper on a particular aspect of PCB manufacturing technology or PCB soldering, e-mail us at euro@eurocircuits.com
Interact with us

Come and meet us at

The best way to share ideas and knowledge is face to face. Check out our eC-calendar

Eurocircuits meets students

Supporting student projects is a top priority for Eurocircuits as students are our tomorrows customers. Learn how creative these students are and what they have accomplished.

Eurocircuits offers a solution to Via’s in Pads

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PCB Services | eC Solutions
Eurocircuits offers a solution to Via’s in Pads

Since the beginning electronic designers and production have always locked heads, designers wanting to making everything smaller and smaller and more and more cost effective, unfortunately this is sometimes counterproductive to both the PCB manufacturer and assembler, resulting in a comprise on both sides and often affecting the quality and electrical stability.

One such issue which often arises is finding a suitable solution to utilising the pad as a through hole connector without causing production and quality issues with solder wicking away through the via and causing insufficient, unstable or even unsoldered joints.

Eurocircuits have the solution, we now offer a Via filling and conductive capping service to enable designers to increase board density without reducing reliability.

We have create a small blog here about the service and how it can benefit you.

As always we have listened to our customers’ needs and invested in a solution that can meet both their demands and budget.

Should you have any questions about any of our services, please feel free to get in touch via email, telephone or instantly with our online chat during office hours. We will be more than happy to help.

Why not follow us on our social media, keeping up to date with all of our latest news?

           

Blogs

Customer papers

If you are an active Eurocircuits’ customer and you feel like you have some interesting story to share with our Eurocircuits community, then please send it to us by e-mail. We will evaluate the content and if it fits the scope of what we publish then we will take it on board and inform you of it.

Production

Eurocircuits TV has started to capture the production steps one by one. How do we register multilayers?

eC-tools

We publish articles as tip & tricks or videos on Eurocircuits TV to help our designer customers to maximise their efficiency by using our tools. We also publish seminars on how to use our smart tools. Here is one: “Introduction to Eurocircuits’ smart tools: PCB Configurator, PCB Visualizer”

eC-equipment

Here we release articles about our eC-equipment and their use.

If you would like us to produce a blog or white paper on a particular aspect of PCB manufacturing technology or PCB soldering, e-mail us at euro@eurocircuits.com
Interact with us

Come and meet us at

The best way to share ideas and knowledge is face to face. Check out our eC-calendar

Eurocircuits meets students

Supporting student projects is a top priority for Eurocircuits as students are our tomorrows customers. Learn how creative these students are and what they have accomplished.

eC-reflow-mate-V4 – a nice Christmas gift for an electronics engineer

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Read more →

Eurocircuits’ PCBA Services – resistors and capacitors for free!

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PCB Services | eC Solutions
Summer holidays are over - share your technical insights
Eurocircuits’ PCBA Services – resistors and capacitors for free!

Here at Eurocircuits we constantly aspire to lead the market and surpass our customer expectations by offering the ultimate electronics service.

We now offer resistors and capacitors for free!!!

After importing your BOM, we crosscheck your selected manufacturers part number for every resistor or capacitor line against our equivalent generic alternative list and where we are able to find a match then we offer that part for free!! That’s right Free, no strings attached!!

When you select our assembly service in the PCB visualiser

You can then upload your BOM to the PCBA visualiser:

After the import stage, wher we find a generic component equivalent, we automatically select this component to replace the component in your BOM. You can identify these component replacements with the component lines with Blue check marks:

For resistors and capacitors, you can see in the summary that these components are marked as “free”:

What is the benefit to you?

What could be better than “free” components? Well, firstly we keep reels of the components on stock, therefore guaranteed availability. Being reeled components means automatically pick and placed = higher accuracy and faster production. In addition components are stored in optimal conditions this reduces the possibility of oxidation affecting solderability and quality.

But why do we do we offer the components free?

Nobody does anything for free and this is the case here, the benefits for us is huge,

  • We source larger volumes and therefore obtain a better purchasing price
  • We only purchase occasionally rather than investing time for every order identifying and sourcing
  • Always available, this means that once we receive the completed bare PCB we are not waiting for component deliveries, production can commence during the next available production slot
  • Components can then be loaded and placed to our Pick and place machine, this means higher accuracy and faster placements, this mean higher throughput and yield on our side.

Why not take advantage of our experience and expertise and benefit?

If you do not wish to benefit from this option then we can still use your original manufacturers part number and place the individual orders but you will be charge for the “non” generic components at the normal component price.

To switch off free components then in the PCB visualizer you should select the option:

Other changes to our assembly service, where a none E24 standard value is identified for a generic replacement we will round up or down the value to the nearest compatible E24 generic value. We now apply a 20% component price surcharge to components supplied by customer, we have applied this policy to resolve the additional costs incurred for component handling, this price is automatically calculated and can be found in the component line in the summary tab.

We have also explained in greater detail how the PCBA Services work in our PCBA Visualizer & Services section on the website.

Should you have any questions about any of our services, please feel free to get in touch via email, telephone or instantly with our online chat during office hours. We will be more than happy to help.

Why not follow us on our social media, keeping up to date with all of our latest news?

                 
Blogs

Customer papers

Recently our customers have shared these white papers and application papers with us:

How to Prevent Emission Problems on Board Level – NEW
Posted on behalf of CNRood, active in the BeNeLux & Sweden. For many, the result of an EMC test comes as an unpleasant surprise. Large amounts of money and time are spent in re-designing the product, which causes heavy delays. The main cause of these additional costs and delays can be related to the designer’s opportunities, knowledge and desire to perform an EMC test on the product as early as possible. In this article, the author will give some simple advice and examples of test methods useful for avoiding undesired emission.
Suitability of an enhanced low melting point alloy for a handheld device – NEW
Posted on behalf of Interflux Electronics NV. Current lead-free soldering temperatures can damage temperature sensitive components. Moreover they can cause a shift in the properties of some components which can impact the functionality of sensitive electronic devices. An easy way to solve this problem is to use a soldering alloy with a lower melting point that allows for lower soldering temperatures. Currently however these alloys have limitations in shock and vibration resistance.
Intelligent Power Switch for Raspberry Pi – NEW
Posted on behalf of Peter Boxler. A Raspberry Pi does not have an On/Off switch and there is no easy way to shutdown the Pi while keeping the file system intact. This Intelligent Power Switch brings a clever solution to this problem: Power-On the Pi by pressing a pushbutton and also properly Power-Off the Pi with another press on the same button.
Low-cost calibrator delivers -5V to +10V DS with 70-µV error – NEW
Posted on behalf of Jordan Dimitrov. Calibration, the stage of truth in the design of every test and measurement device, is done with calibrators, sophisticated highly accurate multifunctional instruments, which cost thousands of dollars. In many cases however you do not need to go to the edge of technology.

If you are an active Eurocircuits’ customer and you feel like you have some interesting story to share with our Eurocircuits community, then please send it to us by e-mail. We will evaluate the content and if it fits the scope of what we publish then we will take it on board and inform you of it.

Production

Eurocircuits TV has started to capture the production steps one by one. Here’s what is published

eC-tools

We publish articles as tip & tricks or videos on Eurocircuits TV to help our designer customers to maximise their efficiency by using our tools.

eC-equipment

Here we release articles about our eC-equipment and their use.

If you would like us to produce a blog or white paper on a particular aspect of PCB manufacturing technology or PCB soldering, e-mail us at euro@eurocircuits.com
Interact with us

Come and meet us at

The best way to share ideas and knowledge is face to face. Check out our eC-calendar


Eurocircuits meets students

Supporting student projects is a top priority for Eurocircuits as students are our tomorrows customers. Learn how creative these students are and what they have accomplished.

Eurocircuits launch 5 working day PCB Assembly prototype service in the UK

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Eurocircuits Tips & Tricks – How to order the most cost effective PCB

Eurocircuits launch 5 working day PCB Assembly prototype service in the UK

Since end 2016 we have been informing you about our PCBA Visualizer tool. The final extension of these tools is of course the efficient and smooth production of assembled prototypes. To test this flow we have just now launched it in the UK market which will be our pilot market.

Meanwhile we are building our EMS partner network. Since the WoTS exhibition in 2016 we have been talking to many of our EMS customers regarding our plans to set up a smooth and reliable flow for PCBA manufacturing using our online Visualizer tools and platform to handle all BOM and data issues before the effective production starts.

To be transparent about what our customer can expect from us, we have put all actions on a time line and explained them all in this BLOG. In case you are interested as a designer customer or as an EMS customer in this PCBA concept, then take a look here.

PCBA services using Eurocircuits online Visualizer tools and the manufacturing services of our EMS partner network to fulfil as many PCBA prototype and small series orders as possible “right first time”, on time and on budget is our goal.

Should you have any questions about any of our services, please feel free to contact our sales office via email, telephone or instantly with our online chat during office hours. We will be more than happy to help.

Why not follow us on our social media, keeping up to date with all of our latest news?

                
Blogs

Production

Eurocircuits TV has started to capture the production steps one by one. Here’s what is published

eC-tools

We publish articles as tip & tricks or videos on Eurocircuits TV to help our designer customers to maximise their efficiency by using our tools.

eC-equipment

Here we release articles about our eC-equipment and their use.

If you would like us to produce a blog or white paper on a particular aspect of PCB manufacturing technology or PCB soldering, e-mail us at euro@eurocircuits.com
Interact with us

Come and meet us at

The best way to share ideas and knowledge is face to face. Check out our eC-calendar

  • 11 October – D&E event – Technopolis – Mechelen – Belgium
  • 12 October – D&E event – 1931 – Brabanthallen – De Bosch – The Netherlands
  • 18-19 October – Electronics Design Show – Ricoh Arena – Coventry – UK
  • 8-9 November – Prototyping 2017 – Kortrijk – Belgium
  • 29 November – LED event – Technopolis – Mechelen – Belgium
  • 30 November – LED event – 1931 – Brabanthallen – De Bosch – The Netherlands

Eurocircuits meets students

Supporting student projects is a top priority for Eurocircuits as students are our tomorrows customers. Learn how creative these students are and what they have accomplished.

Eurocircuits launch 5 working day PCB Assembly prototype service

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PCB Services | eC Solutions
Eurocircuits Tips & Tricks – How to order the most cost effective PCB

Eurocircuits launch 5 working day PCB Assembly prototype service at the Electronics Design show, Coventry, 18th & 19th October stand L46

Since launching the Eurocircuits’ PCB prototype services and PCB Visualizer tool customers immediately saw the benefit to their prototype and small series PCB requirements, providing a 24hr ordering possibility, fast and high quality, immediate offer and instant design diagnostic and correction. This has reduced dramatically the Concept → Market time scale and ensured producibility and excellent quality.

It was not long after launching our online services that we were constantly asked “do you also offer an assembly population service for my PCB prototype?”

Since the beginning of the year 2017 we have encouraged you all to utilise and put through its paces our PCBA Visualizer, this is our revolutionary Visualization and correction tool for Assembly data, an early detection tool for PCB Assembly problems. Now we are proud to announce that after a 2 ½ year project we can now offer a one stop shop for your PCBA prototype and small series needs (bare board and assembly).

How does it work?

Our Assembly service is a 5 working day service. Purchase and logistics of the components are handled during the lead time of the PCB production. Once the boards are ready and components are delivered the lead time for the population starts.

First you upload your PCB dataset as before. In PCB Visualizer you select the options “Include assembly”.

PCBA PICT1

You will need to add the BOM and CPL data so that an online price can be calculated.

What can our PCBA service do for you?

  • Ensure you have complete and correct data 24/7 with the online Assembly Visualizer
  • Validate the component BOM against our database, allocate components or alternatives quickly and easily
  • Verify Component footprints against the PCB layout immediately identifying incorrect landing definitions and component selection
  • Validate each component by component type for landing definition and Polarity
  • View an immediate Price summary for the PCB, assembly and components
  • Take the stress out of component sourcing and pricing – leave it to our experts
  • A single point of purchase, a single PO for a complete service

With our Assembly Visualizer we offer a complete DFM check, component sourcing and manufacturing service giving you peace of mind that your prototype or small series can be confidently manufactured to meet your deadline.
We would like to invite you to try our PCB visualizer on your data and see how you could benefit.
Why not take a few minutes to watch our Assembly Visualizer video?

The further details of the flow are explained on our website giving you a clear overview of the steps to follow and the assembly capabilities you might expect.

Why not come and meet the team at the Electronics Design show, Coventry, 18th & 19th October stand L46?

Should you have any questions about any of our services, please feel free to contact our sales office via email, telephone or instantly with our online chat during office hours. We will be more than happy to help.

Why not follow us on our social media, keeping up to date with all of our latest news?

                
Blogs

 

Production


Eurocircuits TV has started to capture the production steps one by one. Here’s what is published

eC-tools

We publish articles as tip & tricks or videos on Eurocircuits TV to help our designer customers to maximise their efficiency by using our tools.

eC-equipment

Here we release articles about our eC-equipment and their use.

If you would like us to produce a blog or white paper on a particular aspect of PCB manufacturing technology or PCB soldering, e-mail us at euro@eurocircuits.com
Interact with us

Come and meet us at

The best way to share ideas and knowledge is face to face. Check out our eC-calendar

  • 11 October – D&E event – Technopolis – Mechelen – Belgium
  • 12 October – D&E event – 1931 – Brabanthallen – De Bosch – The Netherlands
  • 18-19 October – Electronics Design Show – Ricoh Arena – Coventry – UK
  • 8-9 November – Prototyping 2017 – Kortrijk – Belgium
  • 29 November – LED event – Technopolis – Mechelen – Belgium
  • 30 November – LED event – 1931 – Brabanthallen – De Bosch – The Netherlands


Eurocircuits meets students

Supporting student projects is a top priority for Eurocircuits as students are our tomorrows customers. Learn how creative these students are and what they have accomplished.