Case Studies
PCB Prototyping
Shippensburg University has been using LPKF laboratory equipment since 2012. The machines for the complete in-house production of printed circuit boards enable both students and scientists to carry out teaching, research and development assignments. Read the user report from the university to learn more.
Slashing Development Cycle Times with LPKF ProConduct
In the SolarCar project at Bochum University, vehicles such as the innovative SunCruiser PowerCore, which is powered solely by solar energy, are being developed. The printed circuit boards for the sophisticated electronic circuits in the car require numerous plated through-holes. LPKF ProConduct enabled the team to use a few large PCBs, instead of numerous small PCBs, and allowed for through-hole plating of all holes in a parallel process within a narrow timeframe.
The application report documents how ProConduct, as an easy-to-use chemical-free process, facilitates rapid in-house prototyping. Because the SolarCar project strives to develop a vehicle approved for road use, the fail-safe signal transmission was another important point in favor of ProConduct.
Download the application report to learn more.
The Department of Mechatronics and Robotics, Faculty of Automation, Computers and Electronics of the University of Craiova, Romania is using an LPKF production line from a ProtoMat to a reflow-oven ProtoFlow for the development and manufacturing of mobile robots. The circuit boards are manufactured much faster than before in their own laboratory.
The application report documents how the production line opened new possibilities in the production of printed circuit board prototypes and how the students learn the development and production of circuit boards in a practice-oriented way.
Download the paper to learn more.
A few years ago, the University of Washington launched a CubeSat project, where undergraduate and graduate students worked on small satellites to explore the moon and asteroids. The challenge of fast RF board production needed for the project was solved by using an LPKF ProtoLaser S for the development of prototypes directly from CAD data to the finished product.
Download the case study to learn more about the typical development steps of PCB prototyping with the laser system LPKF ProtoLaser S for a complex RF application.
ELAB is an electronics laboratory for students of Electrical Engineering at the Technical University of Aachen. In the ELAB, the students have many high-quality measuring devices, tools, a 3D printer and the LPKF ProtoMat E44 circuit board plotter at their disposal.
Recently, the students equipped an old train conductor’s lamp with the latest technology. The ProtoMat E44 has successfully contributed to one of the main components of the revised lamp: The new circuit board.
The original bulb itself was replaced with an LED bulb, and the battery was replaced with a lithium-ion battery that can be charged by either a micro-USB socket or by the solar module mounted on the back.
Download the application report to learn more.
RWTH Aachen welcomes all new university students in an introductory week with a supporting program. For this purpose, students of the Department of Electrical Engineering have developed the game "Schollenspiel" (floe game), in which a player has to memorize a path given by points of light on the playing field and follow it after the points of light have gone out.
The challenge was to develop and produce the game in just three weeks including iteration stages. This challenge could only be mastered by the fast and flexible creation of prototypes and small series by means of an LPKF ProtoMat E44 circuit board plotter.
Download the paper to learn more about the use of the ProtoMat E44 in this project.
The Center of Excellence for Space Sciences and Technology (CNTS-TUM) of the Technical University of Moldova started developing its own satellite. The research and development activities are focused on medium-sized interactive remote sensing projects as well as on satellite formation flights.
Since the satellite project requires a large number of high-precision, complex printed circuit boards, the CNTS-TUM decided to use an LPKF ProtoMat S103 circuit board plotter.
Download the paper to learn more about the microsatellite project.
For many years, the terahertz range was something akin to an episode of The Outer Limits. Directly between the microwave and infrared spectrums lurked this mysterious electromagnetic range that was capable of.
International wind power specialist, Enercon, is one of the largest wind turbine manufacturers in the world. Aside from the tall towers, nacelles, and blades, these structures require a considerable amount of electronics.
To meet the rapidly changing demands in the Formula One racing industry, a leading engine supplier relies on LPKF's circuit prototyping system for instant turnaround of prototypes and breadboards.
Start-up companies understand that faster is usually better when it comes to circuit board design. This is especially true amongst companies whose products enable consumer electronics applicati on.
After recognizing the advantages that could be gained from expanding their custom design offerings, Modco was looking for a way to quickly and cost effectively facilitate custom designs for their customers.
In the world of circuit board design, it's often difficult to strike a balance between quick production times and continued product innovation. Pushing the boundaries of innovation can require multiple design iterations.
The fast-paced world of RF & Microwave Design often requires a certain amount of agility. As projects evolve, the ability to make last-minute design changes without compromising production schedules provides a significant competitive advantage.
Government agencies have long relied on in-house prototyping for circuit board design. Producing prototypes in-house allows organizations to turn projects around quickly and maintain confidentiality. Unfortunately, environmental laws limiting.
