In this episode of the D-Code Podcast, hosts Elias Malfavon Jr., Daniel Stanphill and Sean Kincaid welcome special guests Karlie Severinson and Madison Soliday to discuss the upcoming SMTAI 2025 event.

They share insights on new programs, the importance of networking, and the excitement surrounding the sold-out expo floor. The conversation also touches on the challenges of event planning, the role of AI in the industry, and the significance of fostering connections among attendees. Listeners are encouraged to participate in the event and take advantage of the opportunities it presents.

In this conversation, Chris Hunrath, Vice President of Technology at Inselectro, shares his extensive experience in the PCB industry, discussing the importance of knowledge transfer to the next generation, the challenges and innovations in PCB manufacturing, and the significance of thermal properties in design. He also delves into issues like electrochemical migration, dendritic growth, and the evolution of PCB processes and materials, highlighting the future of manufacturing and material science.

Courtesy of the @EMAC Bright Manufacturing Challenge, the University of Minnesota's "Rise and Grind Crew" has already won $1000 and proceed to the next round for their Creative Design for their Line-following Robot. Next stage: actually build the robot and test it out at SMTAI 2025 in Chicago for a chance at $2500! Ethan Chung and Alexander Wan represent the team of 5 from @universityofminnesota who decided to take their design to the next level. While all teams start with the same basic PCB requirements, the same motors and wheels, they have to create their own hardware, firmware, assemble the robot, and have it perform in the line-following contest autonomously. Watch the episode to see their design and watch them impress Elias, Sean, and Daniel with their solution and show off favorite features in Altium. The D-Code Podcast and the SMT industry at large regularly discuss how to get the next generation of college students coming up to actively enter the SMT/PCB space. Why keep talking about it back and forth with other people experienced in the industry when we can get it direct from students actively studying to become EEs? Special thanks to EMAC and the @SMTAorg for creating this opportunity! Bright Manufacturing Challenge: electronicsworkforce.com/thechallenge SMTAI Event Description: smta.org/event/challenge2025 #pcbdesign #altiumdesigner #smtai #electronicsmanufacturing #robotics #universityofminnesota #soldering

Rev 2.12 - Matthew "Argy" Argyris of Europlacer Loves Talking Screenprinting ...and as you'll see, so do we! Welcome to the 4th uh that is FIRST try at getting Matt Argyris, famous inventor of the "Closed Loop Pressure Feedback System for Squeegee Pressure Microadjustment" (we are testing something, watch to find out), onto the podcast. For what it is worth, that is almost entirely Elias' fault. (Trust me on this one.) Oh yeah, the episode. Check out the chapter list below to get a better idea of the episode topics we "espouse": 00:00 Introduction to the Podcast and Guest 01:32 Matt's Journey into Screen Printing 04:04 Evolution of Screen Printing Technology 06:23 Exploring the Placement Side of PCB Assembly 09:20 Continuous Learning in Screen Printing 11:07 Q from Last Episode: Printing Flux Only? 12:37 Innovations in PCB Manufacturing 14:42 Equipment Maintaining Accuracy Over Time 17:08 PSA 01005s are small, folks 17:41 Comparing Old and New Screen Printing Technologies 20:39 AI FACT Matt Argyris Invented Closed Loop Squeegee Pressure Feedback Mechanism 24:15 Field Experiences and Troubleshooting 28:19 The Customers Improve The Product 31:46 Tell The Expert How It Really Is Though 35:07 Vocabulary: Sean's Favorite Word (After Lexicon) 36:24 Jet Printing: The Future of Manufacturing? 39:59 The Role of Stencils in Modern Printing 44:31 Long Board Printing: Challenges and Innovations 46:07 Long Board Stencil & Reflow Strategies 49:52 Industry Extremes: Small vs. Large PCB Designs 51:40 Let's Get Sean On Board 53:15 Matt - A Lifeline in Times of Need 53:58 Closing Thoughts and Future Connections #pcba #smtstencil #screenprinter #electronicsmanufacturing #01005

YouTube is highly recommended for this episode, as it is all visual! Join Trevor Yancey from TechSearch International as we take a look at a few non-destructive imaging techniques with the Comet Yxlon guys, David Kruidhof and Vineeth Bastin. Join as we learn about CT scanning and laminography alongside Trevor who describes the modules we see and demonstrates a number of technologies present in the Apple Watch 10 series with cellular. Trevor and TechSearch International have been breaking down advanced technology devices and creating reports on what's found inside, and we had a blast learning about how these are used in combination.

Watch, like, subscribe, and comment!

In this episode of The D Code Podcast, hosts Sean Kincaid, Daniel Stanphill, and Elias Malfavon Jr. interview John Burke, a veteran of the electronics manufacturing industry with decades of hands-on experience in SMT, reliability, and high-stakes applications like Formula 1 and surgical robotics.

John shares insight into how manufacturing has changed over the years, why low-volume high-mix production is more complex than people think, and how technologies like laser soldering are reshaping what's possible.

What we cover:

Surface Mount Technology: from early days to modern lines

Six Sigma and how it's actually used in factories

High mix / low volume production and the unique challenges it brings

Design for Manufacturing: not optional if you care about yield

Real-world examples from F1, SSDs, and precision medical builds

Laser soldering and its expanding role in production environments

New Episode Alert! The latest installment of The D Code Podcast featuring electronics industry veteran Adrian Leal. Whether you’re just starting out in PCB manufacturing or you’ve been around the block, Adrian’s insights on mentorship, networking, and ESD are pure gold. What You’ll Learn: How a mentor can accelerate your career growth Why face-to-face networking still matters and how social media amplifies it The critical role ESD plays in quality control (ESD is the silent killer) Real-world stories that prove personal connections lead to professional opportunities Takeaways to Act On: 1. Seek out and be a mentor 2. Build and nurture your network online and in person 3. Master ESD best practices before it masters you 4. Share what you know; ask why to unlock deeper insights Watch the full episode here: https://youtu.be/Y_BhzxJBnPU Listen on your favorite podcast platform: Join the conversation: What’s the best piece of mentorship advice you’ve ever received? Drop it below

Rev 2.8 - Sean Patterson on AI - an excellent high level overview

When Sean Patterson "finally" decided to try out AI for a personal project, he was blown away by the time he saved. You'll hear this story and many more in this excellent brief of the power of AI for small to medium businesses.

Heck, he's so passionate about this topic, he founded his own company in between the time we scheduled his interview and when we recorded!

While Sean fully supports small to medium businesses in following a rough guideline of "AI First", he strongly cautions... well, let him tell you himself and just give this episode a go!