CHAPTER NEWSLETTER – March 2025
Greetings!
When industry colleagues ask what’s new with the Printed Circuit Engineering Association, I sometimes don’t know where to start.
Do I bring up our AI in Electronics project, which to date has produced the first industry roadmap outlining the status of the technology and the requirements for broad implementation of this exciting (and often confusing) game-changer?
Do I point to the PCEA Training certified printed circuit designer curriculum, the only one developed by a cadre of experts like Stephen Chavez, Mike Creeden, Gary Ferrari, Rick Hartley and Susy Webb, and how it is being adopted by blue chip companies and major academic institutions around the world?
Do I mention our new Discord server, bringing together PCEA members from around the world on a private channel for discussing technical questions and career opportunities? (Want to join the PCEA Discord? Send a note to membership@pcea.net.)
Do I highlight the chapters forming in Missouri, Virginia and Michigan?
Do I share the news of our newest event, PCB Detroit, a two-day technical conference coming in June to the heart of Michigan’s largest city?
Indeed, PCEA has more going than we have room to mention. So feel free to ask us about anything you are interested in. Whatever it is, we are probably working on it.
And last call to register in time for the early bird discount for PCB East, coming April 29-May 2 to the Boxboro (MA) Regency Hotel and Conference Center in Boxborough, MA. You'll gain access to more than 75 hours on everything from circuit grounding to RF and mixed signal design, DDR5 routing, board stackups, simulation, controlling EMI, and power delivery system design. It's the only place on the East Coast you'll find Rick Hartley, Susy Webb, Dan Beeker, Steph Chavez and so many other experts.
Plus, there's a full day of free sessions on April 30, and you can connect with 60+ exhibitors representing such leading PCB software companies as AllSpice.io, Altair, Altium, Arena AI, AutoPCB, Cofactr, DownStream Technologies, EMA, InstaDeep, Polar Instruments and Siemens. All attendees will be treated to a free lunch on the show floor on the exhibition day.
The discounted price for the PCB East 2025 technical conference ends March 29. Book now!
Mike Buetow
PCEA President
mike@pcea.net
Local Chapters
Please forward your chapter news to pcea@pcea.net for inclusion on our website and in future newsletters.
National: The annual PCEA meeting will be held September 30 during PCB West at the Santa Clara (CA) Convention Center. An update on all association programs, plus the annual awards, will be presented.
Missouri: The new PCEA Missouri chapter hosted an outstanding talk on DfA by Dale Lee in February. To hear the recording, click here.
Portland, OR: Our March meeting is on on embedded capacitors and resistors. And thanks to Greg Starrett for a lively talk on stencil technologies in February. Contact Stephan Schmidt for details.
San Diego: The chapter is sponsoring a pair of talks on April 23 during the Del Mar Electronics Show. Check the pcea.net site or contact Luke Hausherr for details.
Upcoming conferences:
- PCB East. Apr. 29 – May 2 in the Boston suburbs.
- PCB Detroit. June 2-3, Detroit
- PCB West. Sept. 30 – Oct. 3 at the Santa Clara (CA) Convention Center.
- PCEA Training. PCEA will hold Printed Circuit Engineering Professional curriculum and certification classes as follows:
– May 9, 16, 23, 30, Jun. 6
Reading Material
See below for highlights of the recent issues of PCD&F/Circuits Assembly. Read it all here.
Have an idea for an article? Contact us at pcea@pcea.net. No writing experience required!
- Controlled impedance on high-speed flex PCBs. With a mesh or hatched ground plane, it is possible to design systems that include high-speed signals, both single-ended and differential.
- The via-in-pad and wrap plating process. A look at the process from a manufacturing perspective.
- Is the industry ready for a solderless world? A groundbreaking advancement in solderless electronics manufacturing.
- The benefits of nitrogen in PCB soldering.Whether for reflow, selective or wave soldering, nitrogen can simplify post-soldering cleanup and limit oxidation and contamination.
- AI-driven solutions. PCB design’s AI integration is at hand.
- Board procurement. New tariffs are top of mind for many in our industry right now.
- NIST 800-171 compliance. Are your PCB supplier’s security measures up to par?
