Electronic Devices Archives - Page 8 of 8

Can a Contract Manufacturer Help Your Business?

October 13, 2017 By cscheafer

Can a Contract Manufacturer Help Your Business?

Although each electronics company has its own unique needs and capabilities, there are several parts of the manufacturing process that can be improved with a little outside help. Many electronics companies benefit from working with a qualified contract manufacturer. A contract manufacturer can help with the following situations.

Streamlining the design process

It can be difficult for designers and project engineers to come up with new ideas. A contract manufacturer provides an extra set of eyes when creating new products. Contract manufacturers are often able to figure out ways to make production more efficient. This can save you a lot of time and money in the long run.

Producing large orders

As your company grows, you might find that you simply do not have the manpower or equipment to fulfill large product orders. A contract manufacturer can help you turn out larger quantities of your electronics products without having to purchase additional equipment or hire additional engineers.

Producing smaller, more complex devices

Many electronics companies find it difficult to keep up with technology. Modern electronics components are smaller and more complex than ever before. In order to produce these components, it’s crucial to remain up-to-date with the latest technology. Older equipment simply isn’t able to produce complex devices. Contract manufacturers keep up with the latest technologies and have the equipment necessary to produce small, complex devices.

Avoiding costly design and production errors

If your electronics company does not have the capabilities necessary to fulfill large orders, a lot of time and money can be wasted on creating faulty electronics. Using a contract manufacturer ensures all products are tested regularly for flaws. This allows you to catch and correct problems sooner.

Choosing a contract manufacturer

When choosing a contract manufacturer to work with, it’s important to look for a company with ample experience. They should have strict quality control measures in place to ensure consistent quality of products produced.

Means Engineering, Inc. provides comprehensive contract manufacturing services from our location in Carlsbad, California. We are up-to-date with the latest technologies and are an ISO 9001, AS 9100 and ISO 13485 certified contract manufacturer.

“Going Green” – What it Means for Electronics Manufacturing

August 18, 2017 By cscheafer

“Going Green” – What it Means for Electronics Manufacturing

“Going green” means to learn about and utilize practices that lead to environmentally friendly decisions with the ultimate intention of protecting our environment and our resources for future generations. Going green is becoming more and more important every day.

Improper Disposal of E-Waste Creates a Number of Environmental Problems

When electronic devices end up in our landfills, toxic substances such as lead, mercury and cadmium leach into our soil, eventually contaminating our groundwater. Electronic waste must be disposed of properly in order to protect our environment from these harmful substances.

The toxic materials found in electronic devices are not only harmful for our environment, but also for the workers creating these products. Green electronics manufacturing seeks to reduce the amount of harmful substances used in electronic devices, and the risks associated with them.

Challenges Faced By Electronics Manufacturers

Electronics manufacturers are now faced with the unique challenge of designing, developing, building and installing electronics while paying special attention to the product’s environmental impact throughout its entire lifecycle.

Manufacturing electronics creates a lot of waste. Electronics manufacturers are encouraged to reduce the amount of e-waste by designing products that minimize the amount of harmful substances used and by recycling and reusing as much as possible. Green manufacturing also includes the manufacture of products with longer lifecycles. This helps further reduce the amount of e-waste created by the electronics industry.

Green manufacturing focuses on reducing parts, rationing materials and reusing components. When done right, green manufacturing allows electronics manufacturers to create environmentally friendly products while maintaining the same quality and reliability of the electronics they produce.

Consumer Responsibility

More than twenty million tons of e-waste is produced every single year. The U.S. alone produces 3.4 million tons per year. Electronic waste makes up as much as 5% of the world’s municipal solid waste.

Consumers are encouraged to dispose of e-waste properly. Computers, cell phones and household electronics should never be disposed of with regular trash. Most cities have special waste management services to handle e-waste. It’s important to check local guidelines regarding the proper disposal of e-waste.

Machining in the Electronics Industry

August 11, 2017 By cscheafer

Machining in the Electronics Industry

Modern electronic devices are smaller than ever before. In order to produce these products, electronics manufacturers must be able to create electronic components that are smaller, stronger, lighter and more powerful. This creates a unique challenge for manufacturers.

Electronics machining makes it possible to produce the high quality parts necessary to create modern electronic devices. Precise machining allows electronic components to be smaller, more reliable and stronger than previously possible.

Tight Tolerance Precision Machining

Means Engineering, Inc. provides tight tolerance precision machining services. We are able to accommodate even the most stringent requirements. Our expert team is well prepared to solve a number of machining issues. We are able to produce parts that other companies cannot. We have the capabilities to handle a variety of volumes no matter how small, large or complex the project.

We offer our precision machining services to a variety of industries. Our expertise and first-rate equipment allows us to create high quality products from even the most complex designs. We offer prototypes, one offs and full production runs. We have experience working with a wide range of industries including aerospace, medical, semiconductor and defense. We are able to quickly and efficiently produce quality parts that meet and exceed the expectations of our clients.

High Quality, Reliable Parts

Every year, the electronics manufacturing industry faces more pressure to produce better, faster and stronger products. This is especially true for the semiconductor industry. In order to remain successful and competitive in the marketplace, companies need to be able to meet the growing needs of their customers.

Since our expert staff has extensive experience with the machining process, we are able to evaluate plans before any manufacturing takes place. This puts us in the best possible position to address areas of concern before production. This helps us ensure that our customers receive high quality parts time and time again.

Means Engineering, Inc. is able to handle a wide variety of projects regardless of their size, material or quantity requirements. We maintain ISO 9001 and AS 9100 certification. This ensures you receive the best quality available today.

Electronics Manufacturing Trends

July 28, 2017 By meiadmin

Electronics Manufacturing Trends

Changes in technology and the way in which people use electronics continue to drive change in electronics manufacturing. Demand for high quality and less expensive options is encouraging manufacturers to develop new practices and improve their manufacturing operations. Many of the trends in the manufacturing industry are focused on reducing costs and improving quality.

Green Technology

More and more organizations are looking for ways to reduce their carbon footprint. As such, electronics manufacturers continue to search for ways to make electronics more environmentally friendly.

E-waste can have a significant impact on our environment. Electronics manufacturers are working towards developing greener electronics that have longer lifecycles and utilize more recycled plastics.

Changes in Medical Electronics

Global demand for medical equipment and devices is growing at an alarming rate. With this growth comes the need for increased quality control and assurance of medical electronic devices. Few devices can impact the lives of humans as much as those used in the medical industry. Quality and reliability is extremely important.

Many changes are taking place in medical electronics manufacturing. New materials are being used, power density is increasing and changes are being made to the way in which information is managed. Quality control in medical manufacturing is more important than ever before. Means Engineering Inc. has full ISO 13485 certification. This ensures that every medical device we deliver is high quality, safe, effective and reliable.

Evaporative Cooling

A lot of heat is generated during the manufacturing process. In order to keep costs down, many companies in the electronics manufacturing industry use evaporative cooling to reduce heat and control humidity. Evaporative cooling uses water to remove heat from the air. Very little energy is required to run the cooler.

Flexible Hybrid Electronics

New technologies emerge all the time. One of the most popular new technologies is flexible hybrid electronics (FHE). Flexible hybrid electronics combine elements of the electronics industry with high precision printing. Hybrid electronics are lighter and more flexible than any other type of electronics component. This makes it possible to incorporate electronics into clothing and other highly flexible products. This technology is dramatically changing the way in which electronics are being used.

How Do Printed Circuit Boards Work?

July 21, 2017 By meiadmin

How Do Printed Circuit Boards Work?

Printed Circuit Boards (PCBs) are used to support and wire the components in many electronic devices. In fact, almost every electronic device available today contains at least one PCB. While many simple electronic devices use single layer PCBs, the PCBs in complex devices may have as many as twelve layers. PCBs provide electricity and connectivity to the parts of an electronic device.

How PCBs Are Made

PCBs are made by mounting components on a non-conductive board. These components are connected by small pathways called traces. In addition to the traces, PCBs have several small holes. These holes allow components to sit flush with the surface of the board.

When creating PCBs, electronic engineers must fit several components on a very small space. Components added to printed circuit boards may include microchips, diodes, registers and switches. The traces connect each of the components and provide them with electricity. These connections are crucial to the proper operation of electronic devices. This is why printed circuit boards are so important to electronic engineering.

The bottom layer of a PCB is non-conductive. The top layer is made from a sheet of metal. The metal layer is printed with etch-resistant ink. It is then etched with special chemicals that remove all but the printed design. The components are then connected through soldering. Thousands of printed circuit boards can be printed at one time.

PCB Design

PCBs are typically designed on a computer. This allows electronic engineers to thoroughly test the PCB before it is produced. It also allows for the ideal arrangement of the parts. After design, the printed circuit board can be printed. PCBs are typically designed with a Computer Aided Design or CAD program. CAD software has replaced the need for manual drafting, which is often inefficient.