Some people are just wired to share knowledge, and if you've ever encountered Bob Willis on LinkedIn, YouTube, or in person, you likely learned something valuable. Bob is someone who recognizes the value of getting in and playing with something to learn it, whether it is in your job description or not. Get over there, manipulate it, and understand it!Aside from picking his brain about training, lead-free solder testing, causes and mitigation of tombstoning... well, watch for yourself! See chapters below for additional details.Chapters00:00 Producer Paul's Pick00:41 Introduction to Bob Willis11:03 Cross Training And Communication18:11 Lead-Free Solder: Challenges and Insights24:31 Stencil Design for Mitigating Tombstoning33:10 Flux Dipping37:00 The Value of Training44:11 Challenges in Reflow and Wave Soldering49:13 Bob's Semi-Retirement and Future Plans54:08 Assembly Challenges with Smaller Componentslinkedin.com/in/bob-willis-47514a35/www.bobwillis.co.uk

THE FINAL BOSS - Mike Konrad, Author, Podcaster, Narrator, Business Owner, SMTA Talking Head...Final as in, last SMTA International 2025 Interview, folks! Thank you for tuning in to each one along the way. 😀Mike Konrad has been one of our largest supporters and we are not exaggerating when we say that we are only here because of him. We are here because of many reasons, but one will always be Mike. From guiding us through the initial decision to even start a podcast to loaning us the entire recording setup we used for Apex, he's been instrumental.He was  @thereluctantentrepreneur  once upon a time, but he's excited enough about the topic to have his own podcast on the topic... so... perhaps he's Enthusiastically Reluctant, or something.Best known in our industry for  @AqueousTechnologies  and his knowledge about cleaning, he is perhaps most recognized online for his  @ReliabilityMatters  podcast - reliable enough to be at over 180 episodes released!!! We appreciate you, Podfather.

If you've ever heard of Zestron, then you know they are pretty serious about cleaning. But among the more technical discussion you'll find here, John Neiderman also shares that Zestron has as highly decorated Reliability & Solutions (R&S) Team that consults on projects, including root cause and failure analyses. By analyzing the full process, including printing, placement, profiling and more, they often uncover process improvements to benefit you that have nothing to do with changing or investing in your cleaning processes or chemistry choices. This service isn't just available to OEMs and the large outfits - part of becoming a customer of Zestron is gaining access to education, support, and a partner when you need to up your reliability game or make process changes to level up your capabilities.

When running a PCBA Consulting agency, you run into everything. Or so Brent Johnson imagines. He may have just recently started his agency, but he has years of process engineering experience, and has already worked with a popular guest on the podcast, Jordan Danko! Let the roasting begin... No, this was a great conversation, and it just felt like the right time to bring back "a lack of board supports on the second side" from one of the hosts you see here... He was asking for it though, because he was really trying to pry all the info he could out of Brent for free.

Viktoria Rawinsky Solves (PCB) Crime For a Living! How fun does that sound, really? Viktoria gets to spend her time studying, imaging, and finding the root cause of various failure types, often in combination. It takes serious detective chops to not just find one culprit involved in a defective board, but to find and overlay all the "fingerprints" when multiple causes of failure work together to obfuscate the issue. When COVID hit and many were scrambling or holding on tight with fear, Viktoria went out and bought top-of-the-line imaging equipment at bargain prices and re-invested in her own future. Learn more from "The Dendrite Queen" through the following chapters: 00:00 Producer Paul's Pick00:35 Viktoria Rawinsky of LinkedIn Fame02:36 Incomplete Solder Mask Crosslinking05:56 Sean Stream of Consciousness Monologue09:44 Anyone Can Measure - Interpretation Is The Key12:44 NDAs Don't Cover Detective Stories16:22 Mic Drop Moment

Justin has a lot of media experience, and is used to having the camera and mic with him, asking questions of others and giving them a chance to shine. We were therefore stoked to have a conversation that was equal parts Personal Marketing, SMTA Involvement, but also really interesting technical conversation as he got into discussing ROCKA not just as a company, but as a leader in modern stencil roll development. Speaking of marketing, we are going to need to get some kind of credit for helping launch the new campaign slogan for the special polyester blend of stencil roll that performs so well, "Where You Spray, It Will Stay".

We knew Sutharshan just got elected to the SMTA Board of Directors (Congratulations!), but we didn't know his full background with the SMTA. It's been 18 Years since the first time Sutharshan expressed interest in learning more about the SMTA! Safe to say he has made the most of his time participating in various ways in that time. SMT Elite is a newer venture for Sutharshan, but with experience in process engineering, DFM reviews, constant knowledge absorption via regularly scheduled webinars and training opportunities... He's more than up to the task.

This is an excellent blend of technical conversation and personal experiences of the connections formed in this community, especially via SMTA activity. Robert Boguski is entertaining and humorous while discussing his company's background and role, and there are plenty of laughs in the first half while generally keeping to industry topics. But for those of you who like to learn more about:the personal lives of our hosts and guests... the experiences behind the scenes and outside of primary employment that help shape who we are at work...the support you can receive from participation in organizations such as the SMTA... this one is a treat. Learn how the real quality connections made initially for networking turn into lifesavers and genuine supports in times of need. Thank you Robert for one of our longest and most dynamic conversations at SMTAI. From Producer Paul: It was because of my involvement in the podcast and all of those who have encouraged us and supported us along the way that I was there with Daniel at the SMTA STAR High Reliability Conference when we got the news about Dad passing. We were fortunate enough to be together, and to be there with some amazing humans who helped us through. Thanks to the Podfather aka Mike Konrad, the Bosom Buddies, all of our awesome GUESTS, fans, supporters, sponsors, mentors, and especially the friends who go well beyond simple industry connections. -PP

Gary Bales, President and CEO of Aurora Boardworks, stops by the set to discuss Daniel's employee personnel file! We kid, but we did have a great conversation about ABW's storied history, and their recent investments in new automation and production capabilities. Thank you to Gary and ABW for their continued support of The D-Code Podcast!

What does naturally adaptive mean to you? To @Essemtec it means the ability to dispense solder paste, pick and place components, easy programming, intuitive software, reworking on demand, and more! The first time we talked to the good people at Essemtec they were already boasting dispensing speeds of 720,000 dots per hour. Now, they are up to 1.1 million dots per hour! As Sean Kincaid said- Mind blowing! 🤯🤯🤯 Underfill, potting, glue dispensing, flux jetting, reballing BGAs, into cavities or step ups, inline or on an island, what else do you need? Flexibility in a high-mix/low to medium volume environment is critical. If you are changing setups daily, you are always looking for ways to reduce the downtime of product changeovers. Frank Hart did a great job explaining to us how they provide bespoke solutions for their customers. Essemtec is redefining what is possible in the SMT world!

We at The D-Code love ‪@KYZEN-Corporation‬. From connecting at events to becoming great friends, we keep trying to find someone from KYZEN we don't like and so far, no dice. This holds true for Chelsea Jewell as well, who was already a great friend of Daniel and Elias , and now Sean has finally met her now by attending SMTAI 2025*. As Application Lab Manager, Chelsea gets to work on just about anything in the cleaning world, as KYZEN operates in most industries that require cleaning technology. With 13 years of experience at KYZEN, she has seen just about everything, but by no means has the job become boring. There are constantly new puzzles to solve, as she describes here!

Jarred Ragard discusses customer-driven development and how Hanwha Semitech prioritizes customer needs. It can be difficult to navigate the competing demands of ever smaller components needing quick and accurate placement while at the same time there are larger and more complex components need to be placed in the same line.

One wrong label can ruin thousands of boards. SMTAI 2025 show highlight Inovaxe Our podcast is centered around problems and solutions and David Ly from Inovaxe had one for every problem! We talked about how easily a simple labeling error can snowball a customer supplied reel with multiple stickers, a misprinted internal label, or just one manual transcription mistake. It only takes one mix-up to create thousands of bad panels. The point David kept coming back to was being proactive, not reactive. The best ROI isn’t waiting until a problem happens, it’s preventing it entirely. The video shows exactly what that means. The MODI Incoming Goods Scanner automates the receiving and labeling process to eliminate human error the second material enters the building. The IMSD2000 Smart Dry Cabinet lets you locate reels before opening the door, protecting MSL parts and extending floor life. The SREX Smart Racks bring pick-to-light storage that syncs with MES, ERP, and placement machines for full traceability across the factory. The Smart Stencil Rack tracks stencil usage and maintenance automatically. The InoBright Feeder Cart Add-On turns standard carts into intelligent, trackable systems with part and setup visibility. And the VCcount X-Ray Counter brings high-volume, high-accuracy reel counting with splice and bag detection. Every piece ties back to one theme eliminating manual touch points before they cause downtime or scrap. Huge thanks to David Ly and the Inovaxe team for walking us through the lineup. Always a great reminder that preventing problems is the smartest investment you can make.

Thermal profiling from the experts- Generous to say experts as there was really only one expert on the panel, Miles Moreau. Daniel shared his typical methodology for profiling a board and Miles was kind enough to say that was the way most people do it, albeit not the most accurate.  Sean brought up different thermal profiling methods and devices he's used in the past and then highlighted that KIC now has wireless options for their profilers. So for anyone that has ever used a traditional thermal profiler, you know the challenge of trying to extract the information after it comes out of the oven piping hot. Imagine a world in which you can see the true delta from your set points to the on board temperature in real time as it goes through each zone.... Now quit imagining because the future is here! Listen to this interview we did at SMTAI to level up your thermal profiling knowledge.

Thank you to the  ⁨@SMTAorg⁩  for the wonderful SMTA International 2025! Today we bring you a taste from each of the interviews we recorded while in the D-Code booth.It was incredibly tough to whittle down such excellent conversations to just 2-3 minute clips from each interview, because there is technical and personal conversation in just about each one. If you are here to learn more about the hosts or about technologies... you are in luck with both!Huge thank you to our all of our sponsors, to the SMTA, and a special shout-out to Chrys Shea and Bill Capen. We tried to record something special with Chrys in the booth and Bill joining virtually, but tech gremlins won out in the end. Stay tuned to see that content instead in an upcoming episode.#electronicsmanufacturing #smta #expo2025

Alex Norman can't stop BMS-ing... err, he is always willing to share knowledge about battery management systems. As a content creator with a presence on LinkedIn, Youtube, Patreon, and more, Alex shares his hobbies and his professional work with equal ease. Ever designed a prototype first and trusted that the battery needs would just work out? Yes you have. Don't lie, Alex has the receipts. The earlier you incorporate the planning for your battery needs, the better! You aren't DFM-ing if you aren't BMS-ing. #batterymanagement  #batterymanagementsystem #electronicsmanufacturing

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/thechallengeSMTAI 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 Guest01:32 Matt's Journey into Screen Printing04:04 Evolution of Screen Printing Technology06:23 Exploring the Placement Side of PCB Assembly09:20 Continuous Learning in Screen Printing11:07 Q from Last Episode: Printing Flux Only?12:37 Innovations in PCB Manufacturing14:42 Equipment Maintaining Accuracy Over Time17:08 PSA 01005s are small, folks17:41 Comparing Old and New Screen Printing Technologies20:39 AI FACT Matt Argyris Invented Closed Loop Squeegee Pressure Feedback Mechanism24:15 Field Experiences and Troubleshooting28:19 The Customers Improve The Product31:46 Tell The Expert How It Really Is Though35:07 Vocabulary: Sean's Favorite Word (After Lexicon)36:24 Jet Printing: The Future of Manufacturing?39:59 The Role of Stencils in Modern Printing44:31 Long Board Printing: Challenges and Innovations46:07 Long Board Stencil & Reflow Strategies49:52 Industry Extremes: Small vs. Large PCB Designs51:40 Let's Get Sean On Board53:15 Matt - A Lifeline in Times of Need53:58 Closing Thoughts and Future Connections#pcba #smtstencil #screenprinter #electronicsmanufacturing #01005