electronics – Advanced Circuits | PCB Manufacturing & PCB Assembly https://www.4pcb.com/blog Printed Circuit Boards and PCB Assembly Manufacturer Blog Wed, 17 Nov 2021 21:57:53 +0000 en-US hourly 1 PCB – Printed Circuit Board Fun Projects for Kids | Advanced Circuits /blog/pcb-printed-circuit-board-fun-projects-for-kids-advanced-circuits/ /blog/pcb-printed-circuit-board-fun-projects-for-kids-advanced-circuits/#respond Wed, 25 Mar 2015 21:31:37 +0000 http://dev.4pcb.com/blog/?p=844 Continue reading ]]> At Advanced Circuits we take pride in sponsoring youth science competitions and we offer students discounts on PCBs for use in their engineering projects. We also keep an eye out for fun ways that young people can learn more about printed circuit boards and electronics.

Did you know that you can make dozens of amazing things using a little ingenuity and some simple kits? Here are a few project kits that can help you take your ideas and make them into real working applications:

Little Bits:

This popular set of electronics kits offers modules and sets that allow makers to create hundreds of different projects. Why not make something that can solve a common problem in many households — Need to ensure that the garage door is kept shut when it’s supposed to be? You can build a Garage Door Monitor with Little Bits! Problem solved! This monitor is an ingenious invention that works by measuring light levels (if you get a high level of light from the door being open, this device will be able to read it). Now all you need to do is combine this sensor with a smartphone app to close it, if necessary.

Sparkfun:

This site is a veritable treasure trove of electronics projects! One of their most interesting sections is their robotics category. Get several kids together and build several MiP Robots. These can be controlled and directed to dance, respond to hand motions, and interact with other MiP robots. Anyone familiar with the WowWee robots will thrill to the MiP’s ability to react to hand gestures, thanks to WowWee’s own GESTURESENSE™ technology.

MakerShed:

This is the official store of Make. What’s good about this store is that it is very easy to navigate. You can search by project difficulty, or by project type. Or you can just browse around and click on the image of a project that you like. One of these is the Bigshot Camera Kit. Imagine making your own digital camera!

These are but a few of the fun kits out there today – here’s a list of several more you can check out:

http://lifehacker.com/the-best-electronics-starter-kits-1515941488

What’s great about these and similar sets is that they usually require little to no electronics experience. Kids of all ages (and their parents), can start with a simple project, then work their way up to more complex creations. The only problem you may have is deciding what to make first!

Sparkfun’s How to Use a Breadboard

Aspiring electronics wizards will want to get right to work on one of these fun projects. A breadboard is basically named after an actual breadboard that hobbyists sometimes took from kitchens and used as a base to create a circuit. This tutorial is modeled after that same design and can teach kids (and their parents too!) all about prototyping a circuit so they can test out their ideas.

The tutorial is great because not only will kids learn about the history of breadboards and what can be done with them (Sparkfun talks about how they use them to replicate customer problems and do testing) but also it provides a complete list of everything needed to work with breadboards and learn all about them. Hey kids! Ask Mom or Dad if you have some of the items already in the tool box at home, then get some help ordering or buying the rest locally. These breadboards can provide many hours of project fun.

Have we whet your appetite for breadboard projects? Then check out Instructables’ ‘10 Breadboard Projects For Beginners.’ No soldering is needed. Kids can explore all of these circuit projects and learn how to make a Musical Bell, four kinds of LED lights, electronic dice and more. Rainy days don’t have to be boring anymore with these projects, and parents might really enjoy them, too.

All of these project kits are certainly inspiring! We hope you’ve enjoyed reading about them. Please take a moment to review all the features of our Engineering Student Program. You can get multilayer PCB design discounts plus we offer details about how to use our FreeDFM.com tool and PCB Artist software.

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Customizing Printed Circuit Boards and Consumer Electronics /blog/customizing-printed-circuit-boards-and-consumer-electronics/ /blog/customizing-printed-circuit-boards-and-consumer-electronics/#respond Fri, 24 Oct 2014 16:04:03 +0000 http://dev.4pcb.com/blog/?p=404 Continue reading ]]> printed circuit board consumer electronics

A growing trend in consumer electronics is the desire of the customer to get a customized product tailored to their individual needs. This is either accomplished with a completely custom product that is built from the ground up, such as a home computer, or with a semi-custom product, which adds or changes features and components on a mass-produced item. An example of a semi-custom product is a digital camera, which can be modified with new hardware or software. To support this new functionality, device manufacturers need to be flexible in the design and manufacturing process, especially when it comes to printed circuit boards. While offering customized versions of your products may require more lead time for production, it can also help smaller companies compete directly with larger organizations by bringing in more business and notoriety.

How do Custom Products Affect Printed Circuit Boards?

When your customers or clients request a customized product or changes to an existing offering of yours, your team will need to ensure that you can deliver. Designing base printed circuit boards that you can use and add onto can help you lower production costs without sacrificing customization options that are popular with your audience. Working with the largest component library when designing PCBs allows you to incorporate the features and options that will take your products and applications to the next level. This is also true if you’d like to add new hardware or functionality to your finished product later on. Learn more about the PCB design process and how to maximize the efficiency and performance of your circuit boards by contacting an expert at Advanced Circuits.

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Recycling Printed Circuit Boards and Other Electronics /blog/recycling-printed-circuit-boards-and-other-electronics/ /blog/recycling-printed-circuit-boards-and-other-electronics/#respond Fri, 25 Jul 2014 16:38:12 +0000 http://dev.4pcb.com/blog/?p=350 Continue reading ]]> recycle printed circuit boards

Driving around the city you may see signs advertising electronics disposal drives. While it is extremely important to recycle old electronics and printed circuit boards, it is important to understand how to properly dispose of these materials in order to help improve the environment. According to The Economist, only about 15% to 20% of electronic waste in America is actually recycled. Other disposal methods that are used, such as incinerators, can release the brominated flame retardants found in PCBs and other chemicals that are some of the most toxic substances known. If inhaled or digested, these can cause cancer and other reproductive disorders. In addition to affecting those that work at disposal centers, chemicals may get in the food chain and end up affecting our future generations. This is why it is necessary to work with your PCB supplier to learn about ways to properly dispose of your circuit boards.

Buying Compliant Printed Circuit Boards

In addition to properly and efficiently recycling your printed circuit boards and other electronics when you do not plan to use them anymore, you also want to purchase PCBs that are compliant with global regulations in the first place. Advanced Circuits offers PCBs that are manufactured and assembled according to various industry certification standards for quality and environmental safety. Advanced Circuits can provide you with UL-approved PCBs that meet RoHS, REACH and Conflict Metals requirements and regulations. To learn more about your options and to place your next PCB order, contact a representative today.

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Next-Generation Electronics and PCBs Will Require Smaller Capacitors /blog/next-generation-electronics-and-pcbs-will-require-smaller-capacitors/ /blog/next-generation-electronics-and-pcbs-will-require-smaller-capacitors/#respond Wed, 26 Feb 2014 18:07:11 +0000 http://dev.4pcb.com/blog/?p=332 Continue reading ]]> blog-printed circuit board small capacitorsThere is a lot of talk going on in consumer electronics and the engineering industry about the “next generation” of products in development. From ultra-HD displays to smaller and faster personal electronics, the future of the industry may rely on the quality and capability of smaller and smaller capacitors. Researchers from the National Institute for Materials Science in Japan say that they have developed a new way to shrink capacitors even further than they are now using the materials available. The result can add more power to PCBs and usher in higher-performance devices sooner than expected. The difference between existing nanocapacitors and the “ultrathin” capacitors the NIMS team is developing is that the new capacitors use layers of oxide nanosheets in a gentler process under mild conditions.

Have PCBs Reached Their Performance Limit?

Until new methods such as ultrathin capacitors make their way into the marketplace, developers and manufacturers of PCBs are finding that the materials and processes available today are reaching the performance limit of circuit boards. Continuing to research new methods to add energy storage and processing power will allow manufacturers to deliver the PCBs that can be used in the consumer products and business applications of the future. With this new technology, it is a good idea for engineers and engineering students to study the intricacies in order to be able to fully implement them in applications down the road. Learn more about the current state of the PCB industry and the newest capabilities of your PCB manufacturer by getting in contact with an expert at Advanced Circuits.

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Top Reasons to Recycle Old Electronics and Printed Circuit Boards /blog/top-reasons-to-recycle-old-electronics-and-printed-circuit-boards/ /blog/top-reasons-to-recycle-old-electronics-and-printed-circuit-boards/#respond Wed, 26 Feb 2014 18:06:45 +0000 http://dev.4pcb.com/blog/?p=330 Continue reading ]]> recycling old printed circuit boardsDoing your part to protect the environment as both an individual and a part of your company will allow us all to conserve valuable resources, reduce energy consumption and create a brighter path for our future. By recycling old electronics and printed circuit boards we can achieve these goals. Electronics are made with chemicals and materials that are hazardous to the environment when not disposed of properly, which is why many states make it illegal to dump electronics in with regular trash. If these items make their way into a landfill they will just sit there, allowing the chemicals to potentially seep into the soil or get into water supplies. Recycling old PCBs and electronics that you no longer have use for will allow you to meet regulations and ensure that the items are properly disposed of.

Salvaging Parts and Printed Circuit Boards to Use in New Applications

When you are working on a new project it can be beneficial to find printed circuit boards and components from your old electronics that you may be able to repurpose. This lets you test out your application in the early stages and work on your overall project design before ordering PCBs that are built specifically for your new needs. Of course, reusing older parts will cut down on your costs. However, it may also limit you in terms of features and functionality moving forward. Recycling your old PCBs and designing new advanced ones in their place will help you unlock the potential of your application as it continues in its development.

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Advanced Circuits dedicates itself to producing the highest quality PCBs and products while minimizing any negative effects that manufacturing can have on the environment. Every piece of scrap PCB boards produced from Advanced Circuits’ manufacturing processes are taken directly to a certified refinery to ensure they are responsibly extracted and recycled.

For more information about Advanced Circuits’ sustainable PCB manufacturing and assembly practices, please contact us today.

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CES 2014 Shows the Future of PCBs and Technology /blog/ces-2014-shows-the-future-of-pcbs-and-technology/ /blog/ces-2014-shows-the-future-of-pcbs-and-technology/#respond Tue, 18 Feb 2014 23:31:27 +0000 http://dev.4pcb.com/blog/?p=309 Continue reading ]]> future of printed circuit boardsWith the Consumer Electronics Show taking place in Las Vegas, the biggest names in technology gather together to show off the latest in technology and products that are tabbed as the next big thing. While a lot of products that debut at CES may not gain a strong foothold in the marketplace, it is still interesting to see where technology is headed and what we can expect to see in the future. Especially when it comes to PCBs, engineers and product designers like to see where the industry is headed and the features that consumers expect. Some of the biggest trends at CES 2014 revolved around the interconnectivity of all of the devices we use on a daily basis. From smartwatches to home security systems that we can access from our cars, creating a seamless experience across all platforms will be key for companies moving forward.

How Will PCBs Play a Role in the User Experience?

As previously mentioned, consumer electronics are moving toward creating a unified user experience no matter where a person is. Being able to arm your home security system from your car or transmit driving directions from your smartphone to your vehicle GPS unit means that compatible technology will need to be included in these products. PCBs that can handle these components are needed so that users get the functionality they expect and the technology we use can continue to advance. When you are in the process of designing printed circuit boards for your project be sure to check with your manufacturer about their capabilities so that you get the most out of your PCBs.

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