We all know it when we see it. Perhaps it is the avid sunbather that has spent too many years working on that summer tan, or the hotdog that has made one too many rotations on the gas station warmer. Either way, the result is the same, and aging is clearly visible. Heat and humidity can be fun, but they can also be a fickle mistress that causes irreparable damage. While the visual effects shown in a connector may not be akin to an aged hot dog, thermal aging can also take its toll on … [Read more...]
Environmental Compliance with ISO 14001
Burning rivers, toxic runoff, dumped waste in an open field, acid rain, and brown air. Are we describing a dystopian future or the not so distant past? Either way, most of us wouldn’t find this an appealing environment to live in, and ISO 14001 is here to prevent it. As with ISO 9001, ISO 14001 is largely customer driven, and is a requirement placed on suppliers by their customers. Where ISO 9001 focuses on quality, ISO 14001 covers environmental management for companies. ISO 14001 … [Read more...]
Understanding Low Level Contact Resistance (LLCR)
Samtec performs several tests in-house as part of our qualification testing on a product series; including Low Level Contact Resistance (LLCR). It measures the amount of resistance in a position on a part. LLCR is used in combination with several other tests to track the overall performance of a part under specific conditions, and is the test we will be discussing today. What is Low Level Contact Resistance (LLCR)? LLCR is used to measure the electrical resistance of a system under test … [Read more...]
Samtec Introduces New Flyover™ QSFP28 Cable System
As bandwidth requirements become more difficult to route over any distance through a lossy PCB, system architects now have an alternative signal path strategy through Samtec Flyover™. Samtec Flyover™ designs break the constraints of traditional signaling substrate and hardware offerings, resulting in a cost effective, high-performance answer to the challenges of 28 Gbps and beyond. Samtec Flyover™ QSFP28 Cable System Samtec proudly announces the release of the new Flyover™ QSFP28 … [Read more...]
Beef Up Your Quality with ISO 9001
Companies proudly display it, and customers often require it. It can be a large undertaking to receive, but can help to streamline processes, maintain records, align goals, and avoid costly mistakes. We of course are talking about ISO 9001 certification. This quality standard helps maintain a customer focus and top management buy-in for a continual improvement plan throughout your company. Having an ISO 9001 certification can lead to easing a customer's concerns over your processes, and could … [Read more...]
Up in Smoke with UL (Underwriters Laboratories)
Chances are likely you have seen it, and even see it more than once per day. You can find their logo on just about every power cord of a consumer product alongside other standards, but what is UL testing and why do we need it? What is Underwriters Laboratories? Underwriters Laboratories (UL) has a long history of testing to a variety of standards, and is the mark preferred by many in multiple industries. Since its inception in 1893 UL has performed testing on products to provide … [Read more...]
Wet Chemistry Testing for RoHS Compliance
When you hear ICP you might think of the American hip hop duo know as the Insane Clown Posse, but rest assured we are talking about Inductively Coupled Plasma Testing (ICP Testing). While the band might bring a more colorful conversation; it will not aid you in RoHS or REACH compliance. REACH (Registration, Evaluation, Authorization, and Restriction of Chemicals) and RoHS (Restriction of Hazardous Substances Directive) are the driving for force of Inductive Couple Plasma testing, otherwise … [Read more...]
Get the Lead Out With RoHS
"Did you eat a lot of paint chips when you were a kid?" Thanks to REACH and RoHS we can no longer use lead-based products as a fun punch line in a movie. If a product has heavy metals in it, then the EU doesn’t want it, and if the EU doesn't want it then you better make sure your products don't contain it. The Restriction of Hazardous Substances Directive (RoHS) does share some similarities with the Registration, Evaluation, Authorization, and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH), including … [Read more...]
REACHing into Environmental Compliance
Doing business today isn't quite like it was back in the 80's. Sparkling teeth and x-ray vision shouldn't be a side effect of a customer using your product. This, of course, is said in jest, but no longer do we sell only a product; but a product and physical, chemical, and electrical compliance data. Much like the Dodd-Frank Act seeks to regulate the use of Conflict Minerals in products, the European Union addresses the use of harmful chemical substances and their potential impacts on users … [Read more...]
A Local Makerspace
Ideas and designs can often stay exactly that without proper access to equipment and knowledge on how to bring them to fruition. This is where having the right occupation (think machinist), a friend with tools and equipment, or a makerspace can really come in handy. Much like your local gym has afforded many people access to equipment that would be too costly or take up too much room has done for fitness, the local makerspace has bridged this gap for the makers, inventors, and small business … [Read more...]
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