In part one of this series we discussed the purpose of ITAR (International Traffic in Arms Regulations) and the government agency responsible for it’s oversight and enforcement. We also talked about what items are covered by ITAR through category 21 of the USML (United States Munitions List) and what the potential penalties are for violations. In this posting we shall talk about who ITAR applies to and the registration process.

Why do we have to register for ITAR?

Registration provides the United States Department of State necessary information used monitor and regulate defense items that are manufactured, imported and exported. It is important to point out at this point that (more…)

The steps required to build a standard printed circuit board are numerous. I shall start by itemizing the steps. I shall then document each one in greater detail as we go. The generic fabrication steps are as follows… (more…)

A misconception by many people is that printed circuit boards are a commodity. A commodity is defined as a good for which there is a demand, but which is supplied without qualitative differentiation across a market. The product is the same no matter who produces it. Paper is paper and copper is copper. One would think that if a printed circuit board is manufactured to the standards of the IPC then it would be considered as a commodity. If the board meets the specification requirements then it would be consistent enough from supplier to supplier to be considered a commodity. The reality is far different than the wish.

It is true that a printed circuit board is built to an industry standard. The industry standard specifies the minimum acceptable requirements for quality and performance. However, a board made by one manufacturer is not (more…)

There is an old saying, “A picture speaks a thousand words.” To help understand what a fabrication drawing is, I have posted several views along with brief explanations. The first view is a full size view of a fabrication drawing (more…)

In this post I shall provide a listing of sample fabrication drawing notes that may be used on any fabrication drawing for a pcb. Fabrication drawing notes typically specify materials and finished requirements in a text outline form. Critical requirements shall be specified in the note structure.

Notes: (more…)

Not clearly specifying information may result in errors along the manufacturing supply chain. For example, one of my customers had an old legacy design they needed to have built. The fabrication drawing called for FR4 as the material the board was to be built on. The original designer specified a high volume resistivity requirement in an email sent to the previous manufacturer. The requirement was never added to the the fabrication drawing. The company that used to build the pcb went out of business. The original designer retired. My company built the design. A contract manufacturer assembled the boards. The customer installed it into their rack. None of the assemblies worked.

To make a long story short, (more…)