Manufacturer of advanced passive components AVX has developed a new software product library for use with Agilent's Advanced Design System (ADS).

Leading manufacturer of advanced passive components AVX has developed a new software product library for use with Agilent's Advanced Design System (ADS). This enables customers to perform diagnostics on circuit designs before the manufacturing process, saving time and money. ADS is a powerful electronic design automation software tool that offers complete design integration to designers of RF products such as cellular and portable phones, pagers, wireless networks, and radar and satellite communication systems.

ADS features design links for RF architecture applications to generate complex, high-frequency systems and circuit designs faster.

'This library of AVX parts works in conjunction with Agilent's ADS software to assist design engineers and ultimately simplify and speed up the design process' said Larry Eisenberger, AVX senior field applications engineer.

With a complete set of simulation technologies ranging from frequency- and time-domain circuits to electromagnetic fields, ADS lets designers fully characterize and optimise designs.

The single, integrated design environment provides system and circuit simulators, along with schematic capture, layout, verification capability - eliminating the stops and starts associated with changing design tools mid-cycle.

AVX's ADS library includes 0402 to 1210 Accu-P capacitors, 0402 to 0805 Accu-L capacitors, 0402 and 0603 LGA couplers, 0603 and 0805 surface mount couplers, 0603 and 0805 low pass filters, and 0805 3dB couplers.

Contax has supplied PCB assembly equipment to the Mullard Space Science Laboratory (MSSL), a department of University College London, and the UK's largest university space research group.

Production automation system specialist, Contax , has supplied PCB assembly equipment to the Mullard Space Science Laboratory (MSSL), a department of University College London, and the UK's largest university space research group. MSSL has installed an Essemtec FLX2010V placement machine, Essemtec SP003 stencil printer and McDry humidity cabinet. These will be used in the manufacture of instrumentation for use in space.

Gary Davison, Head of Electronic Construction and Inspection at MSSL explained, 'We had been trying to get funding for this equipment for some time, and when we finally received it, we went to Nepcon to review our options.

'There is a demand for components that are used in space instrumentation to get smaller and lighter, so that the cost of the launch is reduced.

This meant that we needed to upgrade our equipment to meet this demand.

Previously everything was hand soldered, but with the new smaller components, such as the 0805 and 0603, it was getting harder to do this'.

He continued, 'Our equipment is very specialised and it can take up to a couple of weeks to build one board as all the components have to be repeatedly tested, verified and examined under a microscope.

There is no room for error when you are building instruments for use in space.

It is expected that the instrument will be up there for 10 years or more and we can't just go up and replace a component if it goes wrong.

Consequently, each component can cost up to GBP10,000, and we don't keep spares'.

MSSL were therefore looking for a tried and tested system that could offer total accuracy and repeatability.

Vision was an important feature for the placement machine, as MSSL needed to calibrate it to very precise measurements.

The FLX2010V relies on a combination of laser and vision centreing systems, with an integrated feeder management system automatically recognising the feeders and pickup position.

The final criteria was that the machine had a small footprint.

MSSL is based in a converted victorian mansion and space was a critical factor in the selection of their equipment.

'We chose the FLX2010V because it offered everything we needed,' said Gary Davison.

'It has all the functionality and features that we wanted - and room for future proofing,' he added.

In addition, MSSL purchased the Essemtec SP003 stencil printer and McDry humidity cabinet.

'We needed a good, sound system that offers repeatability.

We felt that the Essemtec could provide that and more,' continued Gary.

'And the humidity cabinet ensures that we can store semi-conductor flight components in a safe environment.

They are far too valuable to damage,' he explained.

Summing up, Gary Davison said, 'The equipment is now in use and we have been very happy with it.

Contax sorted out initial teething problems promptly and we would definitely use them again.

Now available from Quadrant is a range of high performance, high temperature silicone cables from German company HEW, a leading manufacturer of cables and wires for high temperature applications.

Now available in the UK from Quadrant is a range of high performance, high temperature silicone cables from German company HEW, one of Europe's leading manufacturers of cables and wires for high temperature applications. HEW carries out its own silicone compounding allowing them to offer a wide range of cables designed to meet specific customer requirements in terms of resistance to high temperatures, notches, tearing, flame, high voltage and hot steam sterilisation. Silicone rubber cables are highly resistant to extremes of temperature; retaining their physical properties over a temperature range of -50C to +180C and for short periods up to 250C.

The HEW range offers single core or stranded conductors manufactured from either bare copper or tin, nickel or silver plated copper.

Screened and unscreened single, multicore and twin-flat versions are available as are armoured, glass fibre versions and halogen free and flame retardant types.

These cables will find application in domestic appliances, lighting, shipbuilding, the automotive industry, mechanical engineering, medical equipment, heating equipment, nuclear power plants and as high voltage and fire security cables.

A new UV/visible light curing adhesive for vehicle lighting assemblies is now available to bond an expanded variety of engineering plastics.

A new UV/visible light curing adhesive for vehicle lighting assemblies is now available to bond an expanded variety of engineering plastics. Intertronics have introduced the DYMAX 3-20469 which features fast cure speeds and the ability to cure through clear, UV blocked plastic and offers advanced features for a variety of vehicle lighting assembly applications. It cures through large gaps and forms excellent bonds and seals on assemblies with unusual shapes and less than perfect fitting joints.

In addition to headlamp assembly, other vehicle lighting applications for which UV cure adhesives have been used successfully include tail lights, fog lights, and side lighting.

DYMAX 3-20469 passes Ford's Headlamp Performance Tests (Ford WSS-M11P28-B2).

Structural adhesion to plastics and other construction materials means that a smaller amount of 3-20469 adhesive may be used than with some other types of adhesives and sealants, such that some manufacturers have reported this allows for a larger reflective area and consequent increased lamp brightness.

3-20469 cures in seconds upon exposure to a high intensity UV/Visible light.

Fast cures, ease of dispensing and in-line quality control capabilities allow for fast parts processing, ease of automation, JIT assembly, reduced work in progress, lowered energy costs and increased throughput, while avoiding off-ratio rejects and reducing the manufacturing footprint.

The one part 'cure on demand' approach to adhesive technology eliminates pot life and hazardous waste concerns.

Also available from Intertronics are adhesives for lens bonding, vent-hole sealing, lead tacking, bulb positioning and fixturing and various associated electronic coating applications.

High temperature grades are offered that withstand the heat generated in close proximity to bulbs for positioning and fixturing applications.

Some of the physical properties of these vehicle lighting adhesives include a wide range of viscosities, elongation from 20 to 300%, excellent thermal and mechanical shock, vibration, and moisture resistance characteristics.

The products have shown superior durability during extensive road testing under harsh environmental conditions.

Switchtec has reported record trading figures.

Switchtec has reported record trading figures for 2006. The specialist distributor of relays, switching and indication components' turnover has increased by 20% compared to the previous year. Sales Director Jeremy Lester said, 2006 has been an excellent year for the company.

In fairness, it started slowly but by mid year the situation had improved greatly.

August is usually a relatively quiet period for us, as a number of our suppliers are based in Italy and historically they shut down during August.

That can create a situation where we are without deliveries, so we have to pre-empt requirements and order in advance, but we can still loose out.

However, one of our overseas European suppliers Telergon, did not close this year, and Euroclamp, a major supplier to us, will not close during 2007.

So August was busier than normal, and order levels in September and October were very good.

November was our best month for five years, more than 25% over target.

Switchtec changed its relay supplier three years ago, deciding to take relays from the mighty Hongfa in China.

Continues Lester, Although we have never been bound to one supplier for relays, basically we had been using our biggest relay supplier for over 15 years.

So although we were very confident in the Hongfa product, taking it to market after a long term relationship with another supplier was a little daunting at first.

We have worked very hard marketing the Hongfa brand in the UK and I'm very pleased that the relationship is now bearing fruit, the range has been well accepted, and as our biggest franchise it is still maturing nicely.

Buyers now ask for the Hongfa product by name, and we have won several new customers in this key product area for Switchtec.

As well as the success of Hongfa relays, other new business areas are contributing to our success such as our own SCL timers and LED indicators.

Those ranges contributing to complete most project packages that our customers may require.

Switchtec has also increased its turnover in certain business areas.

Continues Lester, In particular, we have noticed an increase in orders from panel builders as opposed to straightforward OEM business.