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Silicon Use in Electronics

November 3, 2017 By meiadmin

Silicon Use in Electronics

Most modern day electronics contain silicon. This important semiconductor material is used to power a wide variety of electronic devices from supercomputers to microwave ovens.

In its pure state, silicon resembles aluminum. Silicon wafers are commonly used as a substrate for microelectronic devices. These devices are built in or over the wafer.

What is silicon?

Silicon is a chemical element found in both sand and glass. It is the second most abundant element in the Earth’s crust. Silicon is typically found compounded with other elements. Silicon elements are able to bind atoms tightly and in complex arrangements. The abundance of silicon makes it inexpensive and easy to acquire. This is the biggest reason why silicon is the most widely used semiconductor material.

What is a semiconductor?

Semiconductors are able to conduct electricity under certain conditions and act as an insulator under others. In its pure form, silicon acts as an insulator. Adding impurities changes the electrical properties of silicon. This process is known as doping. Semiconductors are treated with a variety of dopants to change the material’s resistance.

How is silicon manufactured?

Silicon wafers are used in the production of a wide range of electronic components. These wafers are created through a complex manufacturing process. Silicon manufacturing involves the production of metallurgical silicon, which is converted into trichlorosilane then purified and decomposed with hydrogen. This process creates a poly-silicon rod, which is crystallized and cut into wafers.

Why is silicon the most commonly used semiconductor material?

Although there are other semiconductor materials available today, silicon is the most commonly used. There are a many reasons silicon is the preferred material for electronic devices. Perhaps the most obvious is the abundance of silicon in the Earth’s crust. Silicon can be obtained through extremely effective extraction and purification methods. In addition to its availability, silicon forms a nice stable oxide and is relatively strong and easy to handle. The abundance of silicon makes it possible to create wafers of all shapes and sizes, no matter how big or small the requirement. These and other reasons make silicon the best choice for electronic devices.

Top Challenges Faced by Electronics Manufacturers

October 6, 2017 By meiadmin

Top Challenges Faced by Electronics Manufacturers

The global marketplace is constantly evolving. No other industry experiences more change than electronics. New technology becomes available at an alarming rate. In order to remain competitive in the electronics industry, electronics manufacturers must be able to keep up. Electronics companies of all shapes and sizes face the following challenges.

Short Product Life Cycles

Technology evolves to meet the wants and needs of consumers. It’s crucial for electronics manufacturers to have the right processes in place for new product introduction. Teaming up with a qualified contract manufacturer ensures new products meet all quality, volume and release requirements.

Meeting Demand

Demand for technology is rapidly changing. Because technology is so closely intertwined with demand, it is extremely vulnerable to changes in local conditions. Production capabilities should be kept lean and able to shift to meet changing demand.

Environmental Impact

New standards and regulations require electronics manufacturers to consider the environmental impact of a product’s entire life cycle. Every aspect must be considered, from the manufacturing process and the chemicals used, to consumer energy use and disposal of the product.

Managing Service and Warranty

Having good quality control measures in place ensures that only high quality products are produced. However, sometimes things go wrong. Being able to service faulty parts as opposed to replacing products under warranty saves both time and money. It also allows electronics manufacturers to provide a greater level of customer service and increase trust in their brand.

Power Consumption

It’s becoming more and more important for electronics manufacturers to produce smaller products that last longer and consume less power. This can be a challenge for manufacturers without the equipment or technology necessary to create new products. Contract manufacturers stay up-to-date with the latest technology and practices. They help companies produce new products without spending the cost and time involved with training and equipment.

Quality Control

With so many electronics companies competing in the marketplace, it’s more important than ever to produce good quality products. Consumers want electronic products that operate the way they should. Strict quality control measures ensure consistent quality of all products produced.

Means Engineering, Inc. offers electronic manufacturing services to a wide range of industries. We are an ISO 9001, AS 9100 and ISO 13485 certified contract manufacturer. We work directly with you from concept to completion.

Improving Electronic Assembly Processes

September 29, 2017 By meiadmin

Improving Electronic Assembly Processes

The electronics industry is always changing. New technologies become available at an alarming rate. It can be difficult for small to mid-size companies to keep up. Sometimes even larger companies find that they have room for improvement.

While changing your business processes might seem overwhelming at first, the benefits of doing so far outweigh the inconvenience. The following tips can help you improve your electronic assembly processes and make your business more successful.

Never Stop Improving

Many companies become overly comfortable with their processes and believe that their boards and designs are as good as they can get. However, when it comes to electronic assembly, there’s always room for improvement.

It can be extremely beneficial to team up with a respected contract manufacturer. These experienced professionals can look over your plans to locate areas that can be improved. Often times, these improvements will save you money and increase efficiency.

Never Settle For Less Than The Best

In order to stay competitive in the electronics industry, you need to speed up your assembly processes. New equipment and technology can help you reduce time to market without compromising on quality. Unfortunately, many companies don’t have the resources necessary to acquire and manage new equipment.

A good contract manufacturer will be up to date with all of the latest practices, technology and equipment. By working together, you can gain access to these things without having to obtain, store and manage them yourself.

Cut Down On Warranty Replacements

Warranty replacements can end up costing electronics companies a lot of money. It’s a much better idea to partner with a qualified contract manufacturer that is able to troubleshoot and make repairs to your products. Not only will this save you money, it will also increase customer confidence in your brand.

Means Engineering, Inc. provides reliable, high quality contract manufacturing services. We work with a wide range of industries. Our experienced team stays up to date with the latest practices and technology. Our stringent quality control measures ensure consistent quality of all parts produced. We are ISO 9001, AS 9100 and IOS 13485 certified.

Benefits of Residual Gas Analysis

August 25, 2017 By meiadmin

Benefits of Residual Gas Analysis

Residual Gas Analysis (RGA) is used to analyze and document gasses in a vacuum environment. Residual Gas Analyzers have been used in vacuum applications for over 25 years.

Outgassing of materials can negatively affect the assembly and performance of electronic components. RGA is an extremely effective way to monitor a vacuum system for contamination, outgassing and leaks. It also allows for the thorough analysis of gas species inside the vacuum system.

Parts of A Residual Gas Analyzer

An RGA contains an ion source, a mass analyzer and a detector. The ion source converts gas samples into ions. The mass analyzer then sorts the ions by their masses. Next, the detector measures the rate of flow of the charged particles. This process is extremely useful for the detection and quantification of contamination inside a vacuum system.

How A Vacuum System Works

A vacuum pump is used to remove air and other gasses from the vacuum chamber. This creates a low-pressure environment to conduct experiments or test mechanical devices that will be used in outer space. Vacuum chambers have multiple ports to allow for the installation of windows or instruments. These ports are covered with vacuum flanges.

A vacuum system effectively removes microscopic contaminants that might interfere with a process or equipment. A number of applications are commonly applied in a vacuum environment.

RGA As A Production Tool

When used as a production tool, an RGA can effectively increase productivity, throughput and product yield, while reducing costs. RGA is commonly used in research laboratories and manufacturing facilities all over the world.

An RGA is often used to locate contaminants in semiconductor processing systems, search for gasses desorbing off the walls of vacuum chambers and to check for possible leaks in vacuum furnaces.

Improving The Reliability of Electronics

The reliability of electronics is important for a number of industries including medical, aerospace and defense. It’s extremely important that electronic components operate for long periods of time. Unfortunately, these components often fail before they should. The best way to address this issue is with stringent quality control during the manufacturing process.

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.