The NBA Finals, the first week of Wimbledon, the fourth benches-clearing-brawl-of-the-season between the Pirates and the Reds, and precision RF at IMS are all things I will miss in June. Hopefully live sporting events will return later in the year. IMS has been rescheduled as a virtual event, taking place in August and September. But, since IMS was originally scheduled for next week, I thought I would share with some of you microwave-minded people our new and soon-to-be-released precision … [Read more...]

The other day I spoke to a new engineering co-op about the raw materials in PCB connectors. Our discussion covered the most obvious items, like the plastic insulator, the pins, plating, and packaging. Not surprisingly, most of the discussion focused on the contact system in the socket/receptacle, because that is one of the most critical components in the system. That led to the question “why does an engineer select one contact system over another?” I rattled off a list of factors a designer … [Read more...]

Have you ever heard of Volcano Boarding? I hadn’t either, but it’s exactly what it sounds like. You get on a board made of some wood and metal, then fly down the side of an active volcano (yes, I said active). And if that’s not extreme enough, thanks to the boundless depths of the internet there are lists of activities across the globe that will make your adventure-seeking heart pound (or maybe hyperventilate). Severe Environment Testing Speaking of extreme, if you are a frequent visitor … [Read more...]