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PCBWay launches mechanical and electronics design competitions

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PCBWay launches 7th electronics project design contest

Some people believe that the printed circuit board, or PCB, is one of the most important inventions – if not the most important invention – ever.

The man credited with the invention of the first PCB is Paul Eisler, who is said to have sold the rights for £1 – that’s one English pound – at the end of the 1930s.

Eisler did negotiate a minority stake in a company called Technograph through the sale, but if he had negotiated a single penny for every PCB sold, it probably would have generated more money for a single product in history. [Read more…] about PCBWay launches mechanical and electronics design competitions

PCBWay now offers multi-colored printed circuit boards

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PCBWay now offers designers the chance to print any color image on the PCB they design

Printed circuit boards are often overlooked by the very consumers they work so hard to serve, and that’s fine because they are not meant to stand out – in fact, they are usually hidden away inside the device somewhere. PCBs provide essential functionality to the device they are embedded into. Therefore, they tend to be whatever colors the PCB manufacturer offers.

And until now, the overwhelming majority of PCBs have been green in colour. That is because of the solder mask – almost every manufacturer uses the green standard solder mask.

The main reason is that green is thought to be be the most functional color: you can have white text on it and it will show up well, while still protecting the circuits underneath.

[Read more…] about PCBWay now offers multi-colored printed circuit boards

The Critical Role of PCB Assembly in Electronic Evolution

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The world of electronics is moving so fast that the devices are connected in such a small and smart way that the PCB assembly is considered to play the most important role in innovation.

Now the question arises here as to how the printed circuit board (PCB) assembly has become the backbone in this regard.

In this context, PCB assembly offers a clear and visible base, thanks to which we enable them to integrate the components without any hindrance. This process is considered more for connecting circuits. [Read more…] about The Critical Role of PCB Assembly in Electronic Evolution

3D printed organs set to become ‘reality in two decades’

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Biotech firms are making progress in developing 3D-printed organs, with recent breakthroughs aiding the production of increasingly intricate tissues. Companies like Vital3D are tackling the challenge with cutting-edge technology, and seeing remarkable results.

In recent years, 3D printing has emerged as a transformative technology for the field of organ transplantation. Doctors are already using 3D-printed skin for burn treatment and wound healing, and this year has seen the first successful use of 3D-printed cartilage for ear reconstruction.

Now, amidst rising demand for organ transplants and a dire shortage of donor organs worldwide, researchers are working toward using 3D printing to produce even more complex structures, like livers, hearts, and kidneys. [Read more…] about 3D printed organs set to become ‘reality in two decades’

Understanding PCB Materials: A Comparison of FR4 and High-Frequency Materials

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When you first start learning about PCBs and their manufacturing, things seem to be extremely complicated. At some point, you might think, “It’s not for me.”

But as soon as you keep learning, complexities start getting untangled quite easily. And today, we’ll untangle one of the biggest debates about PCB. [Read more…] about Understanding PCB Materials: A Comparison of FR4 and High-Frequency Materials

Can 3D printed organs alleviate shortages of kidneys for transplants?

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Rising kidney transplant demands underscore a pressing global health concern. While 3D-printed organs promise a potential solution, challenges in printing speed and accuracy persist. In this Q&A interview, Vidmantas Šakalys of Vital 3D provides valuable insights and hints at a “transformative solution on the horizon”.

The increasing demand for organ transplants paints a dire picture of the global health industry. According to the Global Observatory of Donation and Transplantation, 2021 witnessed an overwhelming 144,301 organ transplants, marking an 11.3 percent surge from 2020 with this number gradually increasing each year. Alarmingly, out of this figure, approximately two-thirds were kidney transplants.

In the United States alone, out of almost 90,000 US citizens on the wait list for a kidney transplant in a given year, only around 25,000 receive one, with 17 individuals losing their battle against time every day, succumbing to the consequences of extended waiting periods. [Read more…] about Can 3D printed organs alleviate shortages of kidneys for transplants?

Dual Extruder 3D Printing Advantages How to Use

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A dual extruder allows people to print things in two colors, and it helps to make the printing process a little faster, or perhaps a little more efficient, and as yet may prove to offer a broader range of printing options as we advance the technology behind 3D printing.  [Read more…] about Dual Extruder 3D Printing Advantages How to Use

How to 3D Print Custom Inline Skates

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3D printing is also referred to as additive manufacturing. It is the process of creating 3 dimensional (3D) objects that are solid.

The solid objects are printed from a digital file by way of additive processes where thin layers of material are added in succession.

Many objects can be printed, including 3 wheel inline skates. The following instructions will explain how to do so. [Read more…] about How to 3D Print Custom Inline Skates

Why Your Company Should Be Using Custom Packing Tape

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Here are seven ways the use of custom packing tape can benefit your company.

Packing tape might be a simple roll of stationary and yet, it is extremely functional. To keep your cargo safe and sound during shipping and while in transit, packing tape is crucial. For example, it protects your products from contamination.

It’s not uncommon for packages to be damaged while loading and unloading from one place to another. These small tears can let in harmful contaminants, that is why using proper packing tape is very important for the integrity of your products. [Read more…] about Why Your Company Should Be Using Custom Packing Tape

Design brief: 3D printed casting of 3-foot long robot arm

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By Alkaios Bournias Varotsis, product marketing manager, nTopology

3D printed sand casting molds and cores are changing the way high-performance, large metal parts are manufactured today.

Additive manufacturing is enabling modern foundries to produce complex metal parts in rapid lead times.

This article explains the benefits of coupling advanced design tools with 3D printed sand molds using, as an example, the redesign and manufacture of a 3-foot long robotic arm. [Read more…] about Design brief: 3D printed casting of 3-foot long robot arm