Fullscreen HTML5Med Res (??MB)HTML4

B C P F E R      This year the U exhibition returns to Sydney   T E A     (Australian Technology Park, Eveleigh, September 10-11). While the exhibition covers all aspects of electronics from components and design through to assembly, the concurrent SMCBA conference means there is a focus on PCBs and surface mount technology. SILICON CHIP (also exhibiting at – stand A32) is pleased to support and showcase many of the organisations also at this month’s Now in its 5th year, Electronex – The Electronics Design & Assembly Expo – is regarded as the definitive event for the electronics industry. The expo alternates annually between Sydney and Melbourne and the last event in Sydney in 2012 attracted over 1200 engineers and decision makers from the electronics sector. Improvements in design, system development and manufacturing assembly can be more easily achieved by keeping up to date with the latest technologies, products, development tools and industry knowledge base. The competitive future of practically every Australian industry sector is increasingly dependent on the utilis ation and integration of the latest electronics into all aspects of production, assembly, systems development, maintenance and service. Design, electronic and electrical engineers, OEM, scientific, IT and communications professionals are invited to attend the event where they will find the latest technology driving future product and system developments. This specialised trade event continues to enjoy strong growth and is the pre-eminent electronics technology showcase and conference in Australasia. Electronex comprises a major trade show, with more than 90 companies represented, that will showcase and demonstrate the latest new product releases for industry, scientific and commercial applications. The SMCBA – Electronics Design & Manufacture Conference is being held in conjunction with the exhibition. This year’s conference will feature several acclaimed international presenters and deliver a wealth of information on electronics design and manufacture as well as new streams on Embedded Systems and New Product Development. New Rigol MSO1000Z Mixed Signal Oscilloscopes at Electronex Emona Instruments will launch the new Rigol MSO1000Z series mixed signal oscilloscopes at the Emona Instruments stand, B1, at Electronex 2014. The MSO1000Z series are the latest in Rigol’s popular range of oscilloscopes. Rigol have built a solid reputation for quality and excellent performance, with thousands of units in use in educational institutions and industry around Australia. The new MSO1000Z series continue this tradition of quality and performance by providing advanced features at an affordable price. The MSO1000Z series offer four channels, the choice of 70MHz and 100MHz bandwidth, as well as 16 digital channels. Sampling rate is 1GS/s and units come with 12Mpts standard memory with optional 24Mpts. Typical of Rigol oscilloscopes, the MSO1000Z series provide a fast 30,000wfms/s waveform capture rate and a unique optional 60,000 frames real-time waveform record and play-back, as well as UltraVision technology that provides multi-level intensity grading display. While offering Australia’s best value in mixed signal oscilloscopes, the MSO1000Z series also offer a variety 58  Silicon Chip of trigger and serial bus decoding functions (RS232, I2C and SPI), wider vertical range (1mV/div~10V/div), lower noise floor, better for small signal capturing and optional in-built 25MHz dual channel Function/Arbitrary waveform generator. All units offer a wide range of interfaces USB Host, USB Device, LAN (LXI), AUX and include a large 7inch TFT (800x480) WVGA display with multi-intensity waveform display. If you can’t get to Electronex 2014, contact Emona Instruments at 78 Parramatta Rd, Camperdown NSW 2050, Tel: (02) 9519 3933 or via their website, www.emona.com.au siliconchip.com.au siliconchip.com.au Pb September 2014  59 B C P F T A E E Brand new R U Raspberry Pi B+ board The new Raspberry Pi B+, now available from element14, is the first major update to the popular credit-card sized computer. It adds connectivity and power features to enable bigger and better projects. The new board, which marks the first significant change to the multi-million selling credit card-sized computer, is priced at just $38. The new board offers more sensors and accessories than before, enabling users to build bigger and better projects. Advanced power management and enhanced connectivity make it possible to power four USB accessories, such as 2.5 inch hard drive, through the device. Up to 1.2A can be delivered to the USB ports to connect power-hungry devices and accessories without needing mains power or an external USB hub. Featuring a 40-pin extended GPIO interface, even more sensors, connectors and expansion boards can be added to the board, allowing users to increase the complexity of their Raspberry Pi projects. The first 26 pins remain identical to the original Raspberry Pi Model B for 100% backward compatibility. The Raspberry Pi B+ is based on the same Broadcom BCM2835 Chipset and 512MB of RAM as the previous model. It is powered by micro USB with AV connections through either HDMI or a new four-pole connector replacing the existing analog audio and composite video ports. The SD card slot has been replaced with a micro-SD slot, tidying up the board design and helping to protect the card from damage. The B+ board also now uses less power (600mA) than the Model B Board (750mA) when running. Since its launch in February 2012 over three million Raspberry Pi boards have been sold and the element14 Community has become one of the leading websites for discussion and collaboration around Raspberry Pi projects and developments. With over 250,000 registered users the element14 Community is the largest online community for design engineers to share ideas, knowledge and solve challenges. For more information on the new board or the Raspberry Pi phenomenon in general, call into stand B11 at Electronex 2014 or visit the element14 Raspberry Pi Community website at http://www.element14.com/raspberrypi 60  Silicon Chip Prototype and low volume PCBs and PCB Assembly Brisbane based Iconic PCB locally manufactures and assembles printed circuit boards, whether for prototypes or for small production runs. Iconic PCB has the ability to rapidly deliver electrically tested PCBs. Iconic PCB also manufactures multilayer boards. The PCBs are supplied as brass boards or fully finished in green solder mask, white overlay and immersion silver. Recent introduction of a very competitively-priced low volume rapid in-house stencil and SMT assembly process augments the overall capability. Obtaining prototype PCB/PCBA product from Iconic PCB ensures your IP remains within the Australian legal framework. Iconic PCB also offers quality imported bare boards. With Iconic PCB you will have good communication, accessibility and flexibility. Please visit our web site www.iconicpcb.com e-mail sales<at>iconicpcb.com or call 07 32033637 for further information.  Brisbane based PCB/PCBA manufacturer  Prototype and low volume  Quick turnaround  Single / double and multilayer PCBs  PCB assembly SMT and PTH  Source of overseas PCBs www.iconicpcb.com sales<at>iconicpcb.com 07 32033637 siliconchip.com.au PCB Designing and Manufacturing Tips – straight from the horse’s mouth! Most decent electronics engineers can design a half-decent Printed Circuit Board. But few understand what happens when they send their PCB file off to the manufacturer. There are many traps that most wouldn’t know about, let alone consider. We asked Tejas Shah, the Business Development Manager of major Australian/New Zealand PCB supplier QualiEco Circuits, to give us some tips (with examples) from the manufacturing side. P CB designers are often confused as to what manufacturers need to turn their masterpiece into reality. Without knowing the requirements of the manufacturer, mistakes are often made – and mistakes are always costly. The manufacturer has great skill in interpreting what the designer actually wants but sometimes, they are left scratching their heads. The adage “impossibilities done immediately, miracles take a little longer” springs to mind! This article explains some basic PCB design/manufacturing concepts and ideas which will help expand your knowledge in not only PCB design but how your choices affect cost of efficiently manufacturing PCBs. Shielding or open tracks raised if the gap is smaller. If you use shielding tracks or open tracks for antennas, please mention this clearly. CAM engineers normally catch such tracks and may result in a query. Tracks too close to cut lines If any of your copper area or tracks are close to cut lines, the CAM engineer might ask your permission to shave copper to avoid cutting into it during routing or v-cut. If you allow 0.3mm gap for routing and 0.4-0.5mm gap for v-cut, it would be considered a safe distance. How to design a manufacturer-friendly PCB Every manufacturer has a CAD/CAM department, where your PCB design is checked thoroughly before it goes in final production. An EQ (Engineering Query) may be raised if the CAM engineer has any doubts. This process not only increases manufacturing lead time but can create confusion if there are many queries to resolve. To-and-fro communication may also annoy you if queries are not handled professionally by the CAM engineer. The million dollar question is – Is it really possible to design query-free PCBs? Yes, it is possible, if some simple rules are followed throughout the design phase. A few examples that I am going to discuss here will certainly help you achieve this. siliconchip.com.au Multilayer PCB design Inter-track gaps If you are designing a multilayer PCB, please provide a detailed layer stack-up, if you have any special requirements . Remember – there is more than You should have at least 2 to 3mil (0.05 to 0.076mm) gap between two adjacent solder mask openings. A query would most likely be September 2014  61 B C P F T A E E R U one way to build a structure and every manufacturer can prepare the layer stack up differently, based on the stock they carry for prepreg and core. Plated holes If your design file requires any holes to be plated, please provide copper pads on both sides. If the CAM engineer leaves the design unchanged, there could be plating issues, so you will most likely be asked for permission to add copper pad or, if you change your mind to non-plated hole, to isolate copper. Surface finish considerations You need to choose the surface finish very carefully. HASL is a default finish for most PCB manufacturers. If your product requires RoHS compliance, you can choose either lead-free HASL or immersion silver/ gold/tin finish. As a rule of thumb, if the minimum pitch of your SMD components is 0.5mm or lower, it is strongly advisable to choose immersion silver/gold/tin finish. A word of caution: immersion silver finish PCBs need to be used within 2.5 to 3 months of the date of manufacturing. Silver finish demands great care in packing and storage. Some interesting facts – Did you know this? 1. Rigid PCBs can be made as thin as 0.25mm. It means you can use it like a flexible PCB in certain cases. It is not a perfect replacement but if your aim is only to achieve little bit of flexibility, this is not a bad idea! Technical specifications Mating PCBs If your project requires one PCB to be inserted in another PCB (ie, mating PCBs), always consider both laminate thickness tolerance (±10%) and routing tolerance (±0.1 to 0.2mm) before designing slots It is best practice to provide basic technical specifications in one of your layers. Some manufacturers do not send a detailed technical confirmation report and assume lot of technical parameters to their own standard, which may not be same as your expectations. Communication is extremely critical for PCB manufacturing and one little misunderstanding could cost a fortune. What makes a PCB expensive? If you know what specifications are standard, you can make the maximum out of your design. Unfortunately, specifications differ from manufacturer to manufacturer – there is no “standard” specification. The table below shows what QualiEco Circuits considers standard/non-standard features. Standard features result in the lowest cost PCBs. Non-standard features can of course be achieved but will result in a more expensive board. 2. If you are designing a panel (ie array) of PCBs for pick and place assembly, you can get away with panel strip on only two longer sides of the panel by wisely placing break off tabs. Tab and hole sizes and positions are extremely important. You can save up to 20% of unit price by intelligently designing your panel structure. For high volume manufacturing, it is indeed a huge saving! A smart PCB manufacturer can study your component reference to judge required mechanical strength of the panel before suggesting an optimum panel structure. PCB Specifications QualiEco - Standard QualiEco - Non-Standard Laminate thickness Copper thickness Via hole size Track width/spacing Solder mask colour Overlay colour Surface finish High Tg laminate Peelable solder mask Impedance control Blind/Buried via No “X” out panels Via tenting Via plugging Gold finger Edge connector Edge bevelling Plated rout/PTH cut out Countersunk hole Jump scoring 0.8mm to 1.6mm 1oz (35µ) 0.25mm and above 5mil (0.127mm) and above Green, Red, Blue, White, Black White, Yellow Leaded or Lead-free HASL Tg 130°-135°C No No No No Using solder resist (not guaranteed 100%) Using HASL (not guaranteed 100%) No No No No No No 0.4mm, 2.0mm & above 2oz and above >0.1mm & <0.2mm >3mil (0.076mm) & <5mil (0.127mm) Red, Blue, White, Black (for high volume) Yellow (for high volume) Immersion silver/gold/tin, OSP Tg 150°-180°C Yes Yes Yes Yes 100% guaranteed 100% guaranteed (silicon plugging) Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes 62  Silicon Chip siliconchip.com.au Lintek has 27 years experience in Manufacturing PCBs in Australia T he PCB manufacturing industry has certainly changed over Lintek’s 27 year involvement. To survive in this industry is not easy; your customer service, quality and knowhow must be second to none – local clients know that they are paying a premium and they don’t need too many excuses to move offshore. The ‘heavyweights’ of the 1980s and 90s have all but disappeared – or have moved higher up the food chain where they can value-add by providing turnkey solutions. For Lintek, a 100% Australian manufacturer, the trick has been to try to stay nimble, dynamic and quick to respond. Developing good customer relationships and educating designers about the process complexities we encounter is paramount to our survival. They find that the best clients ‘Design for manufacture’ and are willing to modify their designs if it improves quality, consistency and price. There is always a compromise between price and performance as higher quality dielectrics cost more, can be more difficult to process and manufacturing times are longer due to tighter process controls. Having an in-depth understanding of material behaviour over many years of processing exotic laminates gives their engineers the confidence to take on the most complicated projects, many of which their clients find difficult to source anywhere else. Knowing your ‘sweet spot’ is extremely important when taking on the rest of the world – having a technological advantage certainly helps. R&D is extremely important to Lintek as it helps the company stay in touch with industry trends. The continuous miniaturisation of parts can leave you falling behind the pack very quickly and new opportunities become more difficult to find. Driven by industry demands, Lintek is currently developing a number of new capabilities. One of these is to develop ‘via-in-pad’ technology around vacuum metalisation. This will enable the formation of copper-filled ‘microvias’ laser-drilled down to copper capture pads on multilayer PCB stacks. The copper-filled vias will simplify the assembly of BGA devices down to 0.4mm pitch and will be a first for Australia. LINTEK To help develop these capabilities, Lintek has been successful in receiving funding for this project through DMO under the PICIP (Priority Industry Capability Innovation Program). The successful application for funding is testament to the critical role they play in supporting key defence suppliers. They are also working with the team from DIIC (Defence Industry Innovation Centre) to take business to the next level. Their understanding of business and government assistance available, along with training and awareness programs, has been a great help. Since their involvement with DIIC Lintek have joined SCIP (Sustainable Continuous Improvement Program or SC21), have become more active in the GSC (Global Supply Chain) and are working on implementing ‘lean management’ practices. Finally, Lintek would also like to thank Andrew Pollock and his team at the SMCBA, they do a great job and offer an invaluable service to the Australian electronics industry. PRINTED CIRCUITS TOMORROWS PRINTED CIRCUITS TODAY Incorporated in 1986, Lintek is a quality Australian manufacturer of Microwave printed circuit boards. Lintek’s patented High Vacuum Deposition process enables the production of extremely accurate microwave circuit features on a wide variety of conventional and exotic substrates including precision milled metal backed carriers. High bond strength to PTFE and minimal side wall undercut are two key features synonymous to Lintek’s process. This innovative process allows Lintek to provide PCB’s for the latest high frequency commercial or military designs as well as the standard FR4 Single sided, DSPTH and Multilayer circuit boards. Unrivalled Accuracy i) Lintek’s process requires significantly less etching to remove a very thin 1-2 micron vacuum deposited copper seed layer instead of the standard 18 microns copper base layer used on Electroless copper processes, thus eliminating undercut and ensuring the repeatability of:a. very fine track and spaces. b. accurate copper features and filters. c. near perfect side wall resolution. d. superb impedance control. Repeatability of Fine track and spaces. e. High bond strength to exotic substrates ii) Plated through holes are stronger and more reliable due to the same amount of copper being deposited in the hole barrel as on the surface. This is particularly important on PTFE materials, which have a large thermal expansion in the Z direction. iii) The elimination of Sodium etching that is normally used on PTFE materials, this saves time, cost and our environment. Testing and Verification Quality System AS/NZS ISO 9001:2008 compliant. Underwriters Laboratories (UL) Approval File Number EI24884. IPC-A-600 Trainer on staff, all Inspectors are IPC-A-600 Certified Specialists. Compliance certification is available on request. Please visit our website to see our latest stock list. www.lintek.com.au Lintek Pty Ltd, 18-20 Bayldon Road, Queanbeyan NSW 2620. Australia Tel: +61 2 6299 1988 Fax: +61 2 6297 6958 sales<at>lintek.com.au siliconchip.com.au Near perfect side wall resolution and minimal undercut. Strong plated through holes, Copper on the surface and through the hole is the same thickness. ISO9001:2008 UL Approval September 2014  63 B C P F      Understanding CO     How, When, Where and Why they’re used T A E E R U You may not realise it but many, if not most, PCBs these days have a conformal coating. But what is that – and what is its purpose? C onformal coatings are thin polymeric films which cover and protect solder joints, the leads of electronic components, exposed tracks and other metallized areas on PCBs from corrosion. Humidity, condensation, salt-spray, corrosive gases or a combination of all of these activate the start of the corrosion process, which can be accelerated by residues from soldering and other assembly processes prior to coating. There are many conformal coating chemistries available and each have their own benefits and drawbacks. Conformal Coatings are available in solvent-based, water-based and 100% active materials (nearly everything that is applied in liquid form is converted into solid protective coating), as well as vapour deposited coatings.In these, gases are mixed in a vacuum, where they are polymerized and deposited onto the surface of the PCB as a protective film. The primary benefits and disadvantages of the different chemistries available can be summarised as follows: Coating Standards Most conformal coatings are either qualified to MIL-I-46058C or meet the Coating Type Solvent-Based Acrylic Solvent-Based Urethane requirements of the closely related IPC-CC-830B specifications. In addition they may be recognised by Underwriters Laboratories, either as a permanent coating, in which case the flammability of the coating is assessed to UL94V0, or as a conformal coating, where the electrical properties will be assessed as part of the UL746E standard. The actual protective capability of the coating in the end use environment is of greatest concern to the user. Corrosion Corrosion is a complicated electrochemical process with a variety of potential mechanisms and causes, well beyond the scope of this article. However, in the vast majority of cases, there are three requirements that must be fulfilled in order for corrosion to proceed, as shown above right. In order to prevent the possibility of corrosion, it is necessary to remove one of the pre-requisite conditions. The choice of metals is limited to those used in the solder and solder finish chemistries (which are often dissimilar) and there will always be areas of potential difference in an operating circuit. Cleaning can help remove ionic species, but In order to obtain the maximum levels of protection available from the particular chemistry, two key criteria must be fulfilled: 1. The coating must display excellent adhesion to the substrate in question under both dry and highly humid or damp conditions to prevent delamination. 2. The coating must fully cover the exposed metal surfaces in order to be effective as a moisture barrier. Thus, selecting the ‘correct’ conformal coating is merely the first stage in the protective process. Perhaps of greater importance is the preparation prior to coating (eg cleaning) and the actual ap- Primary Disadvantage(s) Ease of use Fast Drying Good general purpose protection Easy rework Poor solvent-resistance High Volatile Organic Compound emissions Adhesion unpredictable Ease of use Better chemical resistance High Volatile Organic Compound emissions Harder to rework Excellent High and Low Temperature performance Excellent protection against liquid water Low odour, easy to use 64  Silicon Chip Application Process Primary Advantage(s) Silicone Chemistry UV curable cannot prevent the re-deposition of ionic species from the operating environment. Conformal Coatings help prevent the formation of electrolytic solutions by acting as moisture barriers. The coating must have good adhesion to the substrate to prevent delamination. Once the coating is delaminated, moisture can eventually collect in this ‘pocket’ and form an electrolytic solution with any pre-existing ionic contamination. This is the reason that cleaning prior to conformal coating is recommended. Low VOC emissions Fast-curing Reduced Work In Process (WIP) Porous to moisture vapour Less protection against corrosive gases Silicone cross-contamination Can have high VOC emissions More sophisticated process Harder to rework siliconchip.com.au ONFORMAL COATINGS: by Phil Kinner Technical Director, Electrolube plication process itself. Conformal coating materials are not intelligent; they go where they are placed. Most materials will tend to slump away from sharp component edges, leads and solder joints due to gravity, and this behaviour can be made worse by longer drying times and also by baking, if the initial viscosity drop is greater than the increase due to solvent evaporation. It is also extremely difficult to achieve good coating coverage on the backsides of leads. Understanding and controlling this behaviour, and its effect on the conformal coating coverage, will be key to the performance of coated assemblies operating in harsh environments. Therefore, the process by which the conformal coatings are applied, and the workmanship and control within that process, will have the greatest influence on the success or failure of that particular coated assembly. Conclusion Understanding that the conformal coating can only protect the surfaces to which it is applied with perfect coverage, and that voids, bubbles and cracks in the coating are likely to present a highprobability corrosion initiation site, is a major step towards developing a reliable product. Choosing a suitable conformal coating chemistry that can withstand the expected environmental challenges whilst still Fig.1 – required conditions for corrosion of a printed circuit board. yielding acceptable performance levels is the next step. But ensuring that the material can be combined with an application process that gives a suitable level of defect-free coverage, is consistent, repeatable and yields the required levels of performance is the ultimate step towards ensuring a high-reliability product. 10 95 75 25 5 0 siliconchip.com.au EL_AU_181x120mm_Conformal Coatings_07204_prepress September 2014  65 B C P F T A E E Low Profile R U Pushbutton Crazyflie – DIY Nano Quadcopter for harsh environments APEM have released the IA series of pushbutton switches designed for harsh environments. The pushbuttons are highly resistant to salt spray, frost, sand and hydrocarbons and are rated at IP67 above panel. The polyurethane membrane is UV resistant and is press fitted onto the bushing, ensuring high resistance to ingress. The actuator provides a positive tactile feedback even if the operator is wearing gloves. The maximum current and voltage rating into a resistive load is 2A and 24VDC with an electrical life at full load tested to 1 million operations. The total travel of the actuator is 1.5mm with a typical operating force of 7N. Electrical functions are N/O or change over and flying leads are supplied as standard. The case is supplied only in black but the actuator colours can be blue, black, green, yellow, red, white or orange. For further information contact Control Devices on stand D29 at Electronex 2014, or via www.controldevices.net Tel 1800 266 876. Ever wanted a development kit that flies? Well now you can! The Crazyflie is an open source nano quadcopter kit designed for flexible development and hacking. It’s among the smallest in the world, weighing only 19 grams and measuring 90mm motor to motor. There is a 2.4GHz radio chip onboard which is used for receiving commands and sending telemetry data back to the USB RF Module (included) on the host computer. All you need is a PC compatible joystick and micro-USB cable for charging (both sold separately). This nano quadcopter was designed with development in mind and has an expansion header and backed with good software support. The platform is open source, which means schematics, firmware and source code are available for customisation, or even just to check out how it ticks. This kit requires partial assembly, some soldering skills and is not for absolute beginners. Contact: Core Electronics Pty Ltd Website: www.core-electronics.com.au Taking the burden out of prototyping Embedded Logic Solutions Pty Ltd has been a supplier of quality tools for embedded system development and prototype assembly for over ten years. Teaming up with leading names like LPKF and Number One Systems, the company provides cost effective in-house PCB production and SMT board assembly solutions for prototype applications. Understanding the fast turnaround importance for PCB prototyping and the challenges faced with outsourcing or in-house manual component placement, Embedded Logic Solutions now distributes the complete range of SMT assembly solutions, from German manufacturer, Mechatronic Systems, offering customers an end-to-end, cost effective prototyping line, in-house. Going beyond boxed solutions, the company is considering a PCB routing and assembly service for proof-of-concept and prototype boards. The service, soon to start as a pilot project, will target companies, professional designers and amateurs and will include component sourcing if required. For further information on this service and other prototyping solutions, please contact us by phone or via website. Embedded Logic Solutions Pty Ltd are on stand D12 at Electronex 2014; otherwise you’ll find them Suite 2, Level 3 144 Marsden St, Parramatta NSW 2150 Tel: (02) 9687 1880 Web: www.emlogic.com.au NUMBER ONE SYSTEMS THE WORLD BEATING PCB DESIGN SOFTWARE Easy-PC delivers even more remarkable value for money and sets the new benchmark for performance in PCB CAD. Easy-PC features • Hierarchical SCM Design • Star/Delta points • Layout patterns and groups • Design calculators • Electrical rules check (ERC) • Panel Editor • Full and Split Powerplanes • Design analyser feature • Plus many more exciting features... You can also download a trial version from www.NumberOne.com Call us today... +61 2 9687 1880 530 $ FROM O NLY +GST Embedded Logic Solutions Pty Ltd Email | sales<at>emlogic.com.au | www.emlogic.com.au 66  Silicon Chip siliconchip.com.au “Rigol Offer Australia’s Best Value Test Instruments” Oscilloscopes RIGOL DS-1000E Series NEW RIGOL DS-1000Z Series NEW RIGOL DS-2000 Series 50MHz & 100MHz, 2 Ch 1GS/s Real Time Sampling USB Device, USB Host & PictBridge 70MHz & 100MHz, 4 Ch 1GS/s Real Time Sampling 12Mpts Standard Memory Depth 70MHz, 100MHz & 200MHz, 2 Ch 2GS/s Real Time Sampling 14Mpts Standard Memory Depth FROM $ 339 FROM $ ex GST 654 FROM $ ex GST 934 ex GST Function/Arbitrary Function Generators RIGOL DG-1022 NEW RIGOL DG-1000Z Series RIGOL DG-4000 Series 20MHz Maximum Output Frequency 2 Output Channels USB Device & USB Host 30MHz & 60MHz 2 Output Channels 160 In-Built Waveforms 60MHz, 100MHz & 160MHz 2 Output Channels Large 7 inch Display ONLY $ 439 FROM $ ex GST 688 FROM $ ex GST Power Supply Spectrum Analyser RIGOL DP-832 RIGOL DM-3058E 9kHz to 1.5GHz 100Hz to 1MHz Resolution Bandwidth Optional Tracking Generator Triple Output 30V/3A & 5V/3A Large 3.5 inch TFT Display USB Device, USB Host, LAN & RS232 5 1/2 Digit 9 Functions USB & RS232 1,450 ONLY $ ex GST 460 ex GST Multimeter RIGOL DSA-815 FROM $ 890 ONLY $ ex GST 541 ex GST Buy on-line at www.emona.com.au/rigol Sydney Tel 02 9519 3933 Fax 02 9550 1378 Melbourne Tel 03 9889 0427 Fax 03 9889 0715 email testinst<at>emona.com.au siliconchip.com.au Brisbane Tel 07 3275 2183 Fax 07 3275 2196 Adelaide Tel 08 8363 5733 Fax 08 83635799 Perth Tel 08 9361 4200 Fax 08 9361 4300 EMONA web www.emona.com.au September 2014  67 B C P F T A E E R U Need solder paste stencils? Mastercut Technologies now manufactures DEK Stencils in Australia Mastercut Technologies is now licensed by DEK Singapore to manufacture DEK VectorGuard stencils, as well as supply new frames. The DEK VectorGuard Framing System is an automatic tensioning system for solder paste stencils. It eliminates the need for complex alignment procedures and is independent of traditional pneumatic assistance processes. The stencils feature an extruded aluminium guard, which is securely attached to the edge of the foil using interlocking plastic corners. Providing accurate and automatic tensioning, it takes only seconds to mount a foil into the VectorGuard frame. Mastercut will be launching the DEK VectorGuard Framing System in Australia, at Electronex in September this year. This comes after the launch of the LPKF ZelFlex System in 2013, also by Mastercut. 68  Silicon Chip With over 20 years experience, Mastercut is the only solder paste stencil manufacturer in Australasia and pride themselves on providing the highest quality stencils and fast turnaround. Mastercut Technologies Managing Director, Mr Jim Cove, explained, “All of our stencil customers demand guaranteed high precision and fast delivery, in order to meet their forever tight deadlines”. “We use German laser cutting technology which has been specifically designed to manufacture stainless steel SMD solder paste and adhesive stencils, for a consistent high quality cut and excellent paste release”, Mr Cove Said. Both VectorGuard and ZelFlex systems provide superior tensioning and result in a reduction of stencil storage space by up to 75% compared to traditional mesh mounted stencils, as well as being more cost effective to freight. Visit Mastercut at stand A15 at Electronex in Sydney, 10-11th September to see both the VectorGuard and ZelFlex frames first hand. Alternatively, you can contact Mastercut Technologies at 22 Leda Drive, Burleigh Heads QLD 4220, Tel. (07) 5576 1900; website www.mastercut. com.au siliconchip.com.au Juicy fruit... get more Raspberry for your money with the NEW Model B+ TM Order code: 2431426 Get yours today at element14 au.element14.com 1300 361 005 nz.element14.com 0800 90 80 80 ® Raspberry Pi is a trademark of the Raspberry Pi Foundation siliconchip.com.au Visit us at ElectroneX 2014! 10-11 September 2014 Australian Technology Park, Sydney STAND B11 September 2014  69 B C P AT E R U Introducing Soltronico Soltronico is a new Australian company providing a unique blend of high quality, small volume manufacturing and custom jobs that larger manufacturing plants ignore. Being local (their plant is located near Newcastle, NSW), customer service is their top priority. Their work includes prototyping, small production runs, electronic repair and custom re-design of older equipment. Soltronico are open to discuss any need that you have requiring an electronic solution. Give Jose a call at (02) 4911 1124, or check them at www.soltronico.com.au FE SOLTRONICO Electronic Manufacturing Services ******** Australian owned ******** Customized solutions for your electronic manufacturing needs !! Turnkey manufacturing solutions: * PCB assembly from prototype to production runs * Custom design * SMT and through hole to IPC-A-610 requirements * Wire harness and cable assembly to IPC requirements * Component parts kitting and supply * Mechanical chassis assembly * Test, repair service solutions Contact Jose Lopez | Operations Manager e: jose.lopez<at>soltronico.com.au or m: 0422 7000 48 Need prototype PC boards in a hurry? Mill them yourself! Satcam’s range of Quick Circuit machines will take your computer PCB design and turn it into a finished prototype faster than it takes a courier to deliver one from a bureau! Gone are the days of messy (and dangerous!) chemicals, film negatives or positives, a light source and then the clean-up – not to mention the tedious task of drilling all those holes. The Quick Circuit takes a blank piece of PCB material, reads the design (from the vast majority of PCB layout packages) and then goes to work milling, or if you like grinding, off the areas where you don’t want copper – the inter-track spaces and even the holes. Change the bit and even those holes are drilled for you. It’s fascinating to watch the QuickCircuit move over the blank board – but you don’t even have to stick around watching because the process is largely automatic. And it can even produce double-sided boards. The result is a finished PCB ready for component placement and soldering – it really is that easy. What about strange shaped boards, cutouts, notches and fitted shapes for components? No worries – again, with a suitable bit, the QuickCut will cut any shape required. It will even tell you when the bit needs changing to achieve these. And how long? A typical 300 x 300mm single-sided board will take about an hour to produce. Compare that with traditional (photo) methods which don’t have the flexibility of the Quick Circuit Mill. If you need prototype boards in a hurry, there is only one way to make them: mill them, with a Quick Circuit from Satcam. Visit Satcam on www.satcam.com.au or call (02) 9807 7081. QUICK Prototype PCBs With Quick Circuit you can make your own prototype circuit boards and accurately machined panels in next to no time Why isn't there one on your bench? SOLTRONICO PTY LTD Unit 8/9 GEORGE ROAD Salamander Bay NSW 2317 Phone: +61 2 4911 1124 www.soltronico.com.au 70  Silicon Chip Web: satcam.com.au email: satcam<at>satcam.com.au siliconchip.com.au Rohde & Schwarz: German engineered quality at an unexpected price. Established more than 80 years ago, Rohde & Schwarz is a leading global supplier in the fields of test and measurement, broadcasting, secure communications, and radiomonitoring and radiolocation. We help you develop the technologies of the future. Here are our latest innovations in the field of oscilloscopes and power supplies. Want to know more? Visit: www.rohde-schwarz.com/value NEW ¸HMO1002 Signal Oscilloscope NEW ¸HMC8041/2/3 Power Supply sales.australia<at>rohde-schwarz.com siliconchip.com.au September 2014  71 B C P F T A E E R U Keysight Technologies’ New U5855A Handheld Thermal Imager     With the shift toward predictive maintenance, the   U5855A TrueIR thermal imager allows engineers to safely and efficiently identify potential faults without shutting down the systems or disrupting the productivity of an industrial plant. The U5855A comes with Fine Resolution capability, which enhances the quality of thermal images by reconstructing the image based on multiple continuously captured infrared frames. This allows the U5855A to achieve an effective image resolution of 320 x 240 pixels from a 160 x 120 pixel detector. With this feature, the U5855A provides four times more resolution than typical 160 x 120 thermal imagers. Together with a 4x digital zoom, the U5855A reveals finer details, especially when inspecting small cracks on industrial pipelines even from a distance. The U5855A’s light and ergonomic design allows engineers to comfortably use the thermal imager for longer periods of time and operate it single-handedly in tight HAMEG Instruments now carry the Rohde & Schwarz name Test and Measurement products from Rohde & Schwarz subsidiary HAMEG Instruments are now marketed under the Rohde & Schwarz logo. The well-known brand name will help improve the international position of the economical, general-purpose T&M instruments from HAMEG, which are part of the joint Value Instruments portfolio. Previously, all HAMEG products had a dual logo that included the company names Rohde & Schwarz and HAMEG. According to Roland Steffen, Executive Vice President and Head of the Test and Measurement Division, “In recent years, HAMEG has grown rapidly in Europe. Now we want to expand this growth to other regions. The best way for this to succeed is with the Rohde & Schwarz brand, which enjoys an outstanding reputation worldwide. This strategy clearly sets us apart from other suppliers.” Using the Rohde & Schwarz logo is also the logical continuation of the Value Instruments initiative, where the two companies’ portfolios of reliable precision instruments in the entry-level price segment are marketed together under the Value Instruments label. André Vander Stichelen, Managing Director of HAMEG Instruments, elaborates, “By changing the logo, we want to underscore the common bond between the two companies. The strategic focus of HAMEG will not change. We will continue to offer affordable, optimum performance T&M equipment.” The company HAMEG Instruments GmbH will continue to operate as an independent company under the umbrella of the Rohde & Schwarz group of companies. The two sites in Mainhausen and Chemnitz will be expanded. For more information on Value Instruments, visit http:// value.rohde-schwarz.com or call into the Rohde & Schwarz stand (D2) at Electronex 2014. 72  Silicon Chip locations. Users can also easily change settings or access frequently used functions such as torch light and laser pointer, auto scaling or trigger with quick access buttons. Keysight Technologies are on stand C11 at Electronex 2014. If the name Keysight Technologies doesn’t ring any bells, you probably remember them by their old name, Agilent Technologies. Keysight Technologies Australia is on stand C11 at Electronex 2014; you can also contact them via their website, www.keysight.com or call 1800 629 485. Address is 679 Springvale Rd, Mulgrave, Vic 3170. Altronics at Electronex As well as releasing their all-new 2014/2015 product catalog at Electronex 2014 Altronic Distributros will also be showcasing a selection of their products, including the ‘latest thing’ – a 3D printer from Velleman. Did you ever wanted to create your own prototype products in 3D? Did you dream that your 3D creations become real products? This is your chance to make it happen with Velleman K8200 printer. It’s a build-your-own 3D printer kit which can print objects up to 200x200x200mm using PLA or ABS filament 3mm plastic wire. It’s extremely fast, precise and reliable printer even when printing at higher speed. The K8200 is compatible with all free ‘Rep Rap’ software and firmware. It is made out of aluminium profiles and is easy to assemble; it leaves room for the user to freely alter the machine and modify it to their liking. The print bed is heated. You can convert the Velleman K8200 to be used as a CNC machine or a Computerised PCB drilling machine. Create your own custom designed one-off PCBs, cut Acrylic shapes and do much more. Check the Velleman K8200 out at Electronex, or for further information and assistance please call Altronic Distributors on 1300 780 999 or send an email to: sydwsale<at>altronics. com.au or refer to their web site, www.altronics.com.au siliconchip.com.au