#Types of PCBs: PCBs come in different types

[circuitwala]

The Benefits of Ordering Printed Circuit Boards Online: A Guide to Choosing the Right PCB Manufacturer

In today's rapidly advancing technological landscape, printed circuit boards (PCBs) play a crucial role in various electronic devices, from smartphones to industrial machinery. As demand for these essential components grows, businesses and hobbyists alike seek efficient and cost-effective solutions for obtaining high-quality PCBs. One of the most convenient methods is to order printed circuit boards online. In this article, we will explore the advantages of ordering PCBs online and provide insights into selecting a reputable PCB manufacturer.

Why Order Printed Circuit Boards Online?

Ordering printed circuit boards online offers several benefits, making it an attractive option for many businesses and individuals:

Convenience: The ability to order PCBs from the comfort of your home or office eliminates the need for in-person visits to manufacturers or suppliers. This convenience saves time and effort, allowing you to focus on your projects or business operations.

Wide Range of Options: Online PCB manufacturers offer a variety of options in terms of materials, layer counts, finishes, and more. This flexibility allows you to customize your PCBs according to your specific requirements and budget.

Cost-Effectiveness: Many online PCB manufacturers provide competitive pricing, especially for bulk orders. Additionally, you can easily compare prices and services from different providers, ensuring you get the best value for your money.

Quick Turnaround Times: Online ordering often comes with expedited production and shipping options, allowing you to receive your PCBs faster. This is particularly beneficial for projects with tight deadlines or when you need quick prototypes.

Access to Advanced Technologies: Many online PCB manufacturers offer advanced technologies such as high-frequency PCBs, flexible PCBs, and more. This access to cutting-edge technology ensures your designs are compatible with the latest industry standards.

Choosing the Right PCB Manufacturer

Selecting the right PCB manufacturer is crucial to ensuring the quality and reliability of your printed circuit boards. Here are some key factors to consider when choosing a PCB manufacturer:

Experience and Reputation: Look for a manufacturer with a solid track record and positive reviews from previous customers. Experienced manufacturers are more likely to produce high-quality PCBs and provide reliable service.

Quality Assurance: Ensure the manufacturer follows strict quality control measures, such as ISO certification and regular testing. High-quality PCBs are essential for the proper functioning and longevity of your electronic devices.

Customer Support: Good customer support is vital, especially if you encounter issues during the ordering process or with the final product. Choose a manufacturer that offers responsive and helpful customer service.

Manufacturing Capabilities: Check the manufacturer’s capabilities, including the types of PCBs they can produce, their layer count capacity, and the materials they use. Make sure they can meet your specific design requirements.

Lead Times and Shipping: Consider the manufacturer’s production lead times and shipping options. Quick turnaround times are crucial for meeting project deadlines, so choose a manufacturer that can deliver within your required timeframe.

Pricing and Payment Terms: While cost is an important factor, it should not be the sole consideration. Ensure the manufacturer offers transparent pricing and flexible payment terms that suit your budget.

Conclusion

Ordering printed circuit boards online is a convenient and cost-effective way to obtain high-quality PCBs for your projects. By choosing a reputable PCB manufacturer, you can ensure the reliability and performance of your electronic devices. Whether you are a business looking to streamline your supply chain or a hobbyist working on a personal project, ordering PCBs online provides a seamless and efficient solution.

For those ready to place a printed circuit board order online, consider the factors outlined above to select the right PCB manufacturer for your needs. With the right partner, you can bring your electronic designs to life with precision and quality.

[kingsignal-1225]

Ultimate Guide to PCB Testing Methods: Ensuring Quality and Reliability in Your Circuits

In the electronics sector, Printed Circuit Boards (PCBs) are the life-lines of virtually all gadgets that are in use in the modern society. From humble home appliances to gigantic industrial equipment, PCBs are the skeletal framework of hardware organization and connection of circuit elements. It is vital to guarantee the quality and dependability of these fundamental parts – thus enters PCB testing methods. It is our hope that this extensive hand will help identify the most suitable test strategies for PCB testing, why these techniques matter, and how to maximize your circuits’ functionality.

Introduction

Firstly, an increase in the capability of different electronic devices leads to higher necessary requirements to the PCBs used in their production. Performing tests on the PCBs is an essential step in the manufacturing process done to confirm that a given board performs as a unit to the expected levels. This guide aims at explaining various techniques of PCB testing with a view of having a better understanding on how to achieve quality and reliability on the circuits.

Why PCB Testing is Crucial

PCB Testing When it comes to the potential defects on PCBs, there are shorts, opens, and some component placements. They can cause device failure, decline in performance level, and sometimes also pose safety issues. Through high-quality testing regimes, it becomes easier to address problems before they reach the customer, and thus manufacturers will have reliable and efficient products. Key reasons for PCB testing include:

Detecting Manufacturing Defects: Solder bridges, missing and placed in wrong position components, all can be detected in the initial stages easily.

Ensuring Functionality: Ensuring that the PCB does what is wanted and needed when it is in use, and under several conditions.

Quality Assurance: Ensuring that the business meets industry standards, and what clients require of them.

Cost Efficiency: Decreasing the likelihood of rework and recall by identifying possible defects before they get to the customer.

Types of PCB Testing Methods

These are the types of PCB Testing Methods:

Visual Inspection

Technique one as also referred to as the VI or visual inspection is the simplest and basic type of testing done on PCBs. The technique entails inspecting the board with naked eyes for some of the common faults including solder bridges, missing parts, and misalignment issues.

Automated Optical Inspection (AOI)

AOI employs cameras and software algorithms to check PCBs for defects and performs the inspections singly. This method of inspection is far more efficient than the manual inspection and simultaneously versatile enough to identify numerous problems.

X-ray Inspection

Some functions which include examination of features of BPCs that could not be easily inspected include solder joints under components through x-ray inspection. It is especially effective in inspecting defects in BGA (Ball Grid Array) and other various packages as well.

In-Circuit Testing (ICT)

ICT entails applying different voltage across the PCB to checks on the electrical characteristics of the needy part and connections. The use of this method is highly recommended for the identification of functional problems and verification of the circuit’s goodness.

Functional Testing (FCT)

Functional testing evaluates the effectiveness of the PCB pointing to the fact that it can be tested when placed in use. This method enables the certification of that the PCB works as expected under actual environment.

Flying Probe Testing

In flying probe testing, the probes are moved around to test the electrical properties of the created PCB. Lower to medium volume production runs can be made easily by using this technique; hence it is advantageous in this regard.

Boundary Scan Testing

Boundary scan testing also called as JTAG testing extends test circuitry into all the components for testing the connections between them. Although, this method is very efficient for identifying connection problems and faults.

Burn-In Testing

Burn-in testing puts the PCB in a state of operational stress for a long time to capture early-life failures. This aspect makes the method reliable for the long term since it is likely to identify problems that may occur when the equipment is in use for a long time.

Detailed Analysis of Each Testing Method works

These are the detailed analysis of each testing method works:

Visual Inspection

Pros:

Simple and low-cost

Determined to be a system for the reporting of noticeable defects as soon as they are observed.

Cons:

Time-consuming for complex boards

Limited to visible defects

Automated Optical Inspection (AOI)

Pros:

Fast and accurate

Is capable of detecting various kinds of defects.

Non-destructive

Cons:

High initial setup cost

May need to have better settings optimized for specific boards.

X-ray Inspection

Pros:

Examines hidden features

Ideal for complex packages

Cons:

Expensive equipment

Requires skilled operators

In-Circuit Testing (ICT)

Pros:

Thorough electrical testing

High fault coverage

Cons:

Requires custom fixtures

Not for all the boards or servers that you wish to build.

Functional Testing (FCT)

Pros:

Ensures real-world performance

Detects system-level issues

Cons:

Time-consuming

The mathematical test object can involve complex arrangements of test configurations.

Flying Probe Testing

Pros:

Flexible and adaptable

Cost-effective for small batches

Cons:

Slower than ICT for big volumes

Applicable only when the board is specially designed

Boundary Scan Testing

Pros:

Interconnections have high fault coverage.

Said; No need to have physical access to the test points

Cons:

Requires boundary scan-enabled components

Complex setup

Burn-In Testing

Pros:

Identifies early-life failures

Ensures long-term reliability

Cons:

Time-consuming and costly

Perhaps stressful to the board

Choosing the Right Testing Method

The choice of the appropriate method of PCB testing can be influenced by several factors such as the level of complexity of the PCB and the numbers of boards to be tested as well as the actual costs of the testing process and other features. Consider the following when choosing a testing method:

Board Complexity: Great board densities or component placement can be a determinant as to whether one needs AOI or X-ray inspection.

Production Volume: Applications that are characterized by high volumes can be easily facilitated by ICT while the low to medium volume applications may require flying probe testing.

Budget: Both manual inspection and AOI are favorable for various production volumes, while X-ray and ICT are more expensive at the beginning.

Specific Requirements: There are two types of the test, namely Functional Test and Burn-In Test that should be made so as to attain the long term reliability in applications that are critical.

Best Practices for PCB Testing

Using the best techniques in testing PCBs increases the quality and reliability of the circuits that you are working on. Here are some key practices to follow:

Early Testing: It is recommended to carry out the tests when the product is still in its design and manufacturing phase so that problems can be noted earlier before they reach a very catastrophic level.

Automate Where Possible: Use method such as automation to reduce the time and improve on the quality of the testing.

Regular Calibration: It is necessary to check if all the testing equipment used for calibration are accurate.

Comprehensive Coverage: This way, you will be able to ensure that there are no defects that are not tested as the best testing approach combines all types of testing methods.

Document Everything: Ensure that you keep records of the tests performed, the results obtained, as well as any measures taken to correct the breaches.

Common Challenges and How to Overcome Them

These are the common challenges and how to overcome them:

False Positives/Negatives

Automated testing methods maybe good some times, they give you the results that are either positive or negative and this will lead to unnecessary rework or more alarming leaving critical defects unfound. In order to avoid this, make sure that testing algorithms and testing equipment are updated and fine-tuned from time to time.

Component Access

Some of the testing techniques involve handling parts of the circuit and with high density board this can be very difficult. Some of the ways in which testbench implementation can be avoided are as follows Boundary scan testing and X-ray inspection.

High Costs

Some form of testing such as X-ray and ICT testing is often very costly. The effectiveness must come with reasonable prices; try to combine some of the mentioned approaches to cover all the aspects without spending too much money.

Future Trends in PCB Testing

About the future, it can be stated that its trends will be in fact linked to the tendencies in technologies and expectations towards ever higher quality and quantity of tested PCBs. Key trends to watch include:

AI and Machine Learning: Using of intelligence algorithms and machine learning in testing algorithms to enhance the efficiency and the minimization of false negative or false positives.

IoT and Smart Manufacturing: Higher testing flexibility and opportunities for the continuous test process supervision.

Advanced Imaging Techniques: The need for better techniques that would enhance the detection of defects within a printed circuit.

Environmental Stress Testing: More focus in the testing of PCBs under different environmental pressures in order to improve on its longevity.

Conclusion

Quality and reliability of packaged circuits have to be maintained to contribute positively in any electronic equipment. This paper seeks to explain the common testing techniques for PCB so that PCB manufacturers are able to test and see if they are free from defects and if they are functional. This ultimate guide will give you a full insight on the available options in PCB testing that will enable you make the best decision that will give you perfect circuits.

The aim is to help you understand how to attain the best quality of PCBs, what methods are worth following, and what trends drive future improvements, thus contributing to the quality of the final electronic products and, consequently, consumer satisfaction.

[sneakyscarab]

its that time again! my touhou posting continues. this is the most important one though, so you definitely wanna read this one. trust me :P

nina's thoughts on Touhou 8 - Imperishable Night

Imperishable Night is the best game ever made it has Wriggle Nightbug in it and she's the coolest touhou so this game is the bestest of all of them 100% perfect game!!!

jk. kinda. 

Imperishable Night takes a big step forward in a lot of places, expanding on what worked well in PCB and making changes to what didn't, with a handful of really cool features unique to this game. 

for starters, the playable character roster has exploded from three characters to EIGHT characters, split into four teams of two each with a human and a youkai. unfortunately none of the teams have any alternate movesets so theres technically only 4 choices, but the characters in each pair have different enough shots that you basically have 8 different weapon types to utilize. Reimu returns partnered with Yukari, Marisa is joined by Alice, Sakuya is back again with her mistress Remilia, and Youmu and Yuyuko join in as a duo of newbies. i tried out all four pairs and cleared stage 6A with each (although i admit to using continues for most of those runs) but MariAli was my fav so i went with them to get the true clear with a 1cc-6B. i love how theres a technique for Marisa and Alice where you can make use of Alice's laser taking a half second to disappear and instantly reappearing on swap, swapping with a good rhythm to keep full uptime on Alice's laser while also shooting out bullets as Marisa to get really high damage output. not only is it a fun maneuver to pull off, but it has an amazing name given by the fandom: the MALICE BEAM! 

on the topic of swapping, what you do when playing as either human or youkai affects certain mechanics in IN, most notably the Time system. when you first start a run off IN the time starts at 11pm and if you reach 5am your run ends. using a continue takes a half hour, and clearing a stage typically takes an hour off of your total, but you can make a stage only take half an hour instead if you collect enough time points. the main source of time points comes from the human/youkai meter. when you do things as your human or youkai partner the meter moves in their respective direction; when its maxed on humanity you gain time points through shooting enemies, and when its maxed on youkai-ness you gain time points for grazing bullets. a couple other mechanics also work based on your human/youkai status, like enemy summons that dont damage youkai but also can't be hurt by their bullets. the time system is a bit tough to understand, but its theoretically optional since if you 1cc you won't really run out of time anyways, and it allows for wiggle room later in runs if you managed to clear earlier stages within the half-hour, and the game doesn't punish you with a bad end for continuing like others do.

for new characaters, all i have to say is WRIGGLE NIGHTBUG!! LETS GO BABY!! WRIGGLE SWEEP!!!! Wriggle is probably my fav character in touhou just in general, let alone from this game. is she just a first stage boss with very little to do? yes. does she basically never show up again outside this game? also yes. do i care? no! Wriggle is an adorable firefly lady and the self-titled queen of insects, she can talk to and command bugs to do her bidding, and she frequently hangs out with other characters i like such as Rumia and Cirno and the next character i talk about from this game. this is absolutely a biased take because i love bugs but i dont care, Wriggle is the best. (plus shes totally trans-coded, definitely not me projecting :P) Nightbug aside, the other characters in IN are pretty solid too! Mystia is great, although that one is also probably a bit biased because her izakaya fangame is incredibly good and does a great job endearing you to her. gotta respect the grind of a bird youkai opening a fried food stand but selling eels instead of the expected chicken cause she doesn't wanna feed birds to people. also the fact that she scams people by afflicting them with night-blindness without their knowledge and then selling her fried eels as a cure is so funny. Mokou is an all around solid character, i love the concept of this immortal phoenix lady who hates the immortal moon princess so much, and neither one can die so they just beat the shit out of each other all the time (and maybe kiss? classic enemies to lovers) and her design is really sick, the detail of having a bunch of fire-warding charms plastered all over so she doesn't light her outfit on fire is hilarious lol.

does Imperishable Night have flaws? yeah for sure. needing to unlock stage 6b is kinda lame, and stuff like the last spells are weird mechanics that don't really do anything. however, WRIGGLE NIGHTBUG IS IN THE GAME LETS GO BABY WRIGGLE NIGHTBUG BEST TOUHOU EVER WOOOOOOOOOOO-

[amy-hitechpcb]

Circuit Board, PCB assembly & electronics manufacturing service provider from China (hitechcircuits.com)

What is a prototype PCB assembly?

 PCB prototyping is the experimentation pilot stage of the product which is to be mass produced at a later stage. This is more of an experiment which is done after the initial discussions and the design. This offers a pre-production analysis of the boards that are to be manufactured, reducing the possible number of errors in the PCB design. PCB prototypes help the manufacturer analyze the strengths as well as weak areas of their proposed circuit boards. Prototypes also serve as a reference point for future versions of the same product. At Hitechpcba, we handle PCB prototype assembly in quantities from one to hundred printed circuit boards.

We have acquired capabilities that enable us to serve our clients better. All these years, we have worked on many complex prototype PCB assembly projects, and we believe the following capabilities have helped us serve our clients better.

Prototype PCB Assembly Services: We specialize in the following prototype printed circuit board assembly services.

SMT: We can provide single-sided and double-sided surface mount PCB assemblies in different specifications.

Plated Through Hole: We offer plated through hole assembly with selective soldering.

Mixed Assemblies: We often work on projects involving mixed assemblies – through-hole and SMT and electromechanical assemblies.

PCBA Testing: All the PCBA functional testing is performed in-house. Over the years, we have invested in various test fixtures and equipment, which helps us ensure the quality of PCBA. Currently, we provide the following types of PCBA testing services:

Flying probe testing for PCB

Functional testing including system and board-level testing

General PCB Assembly Capabilities: Our general PCB assembly capabilities are not limited to these:

RoHS, leaded or lead free, clean and no chemistries

PCB components including various types of QFNs, BGAs, 0105, 0201, 0804, and press fit components in small quantities.

What are the benefits of a prototype PCB assembly?

Prototype PCB assembly comes with several advantages. These benefits play a major role in the facilitation of your PCB manufacturing. Some of these benefits include:

Detection of Flaws Early

With prototype PCB, you will easily detect whatever flaws are present during the product’s development stages. This will allow you to solve the issues thereby saving you some money if you had gone ahead to make the production having the flaws in them.

If you go ahead to make changes during the production, there may be a need for more technicalities, and this may be expensive.

Testing of Each Component

With a prototype, you will be able to test all your system’s elements individually before you go ahead to set it up. You should do this because it is important especially for very complex projects composed of several parts that are PCB based.

When you validate each of these components, you will be able to identify those areas having issues that you should look into. This is the only way the project can function the right way.

Reduction in Total Costs

Utilizing the prototype bare PCB for any of your projects could go a long way in reducing what you’ll have spent in total for the project. With prototyping, you will be able to notice those errors in your project and then make corrections before you start the real production.

As soon as these flaws have been checked and rectified, then you may continue with the manufacturing of your Printed circuit boards in large quantities, thereby saving you unnecessary costs.

High-Quality PCBs

Why prototyping your PCB is important is to help you test if your project will function effectively. When we talk of testing, it involves the identification of errors present and then rectifying and making corrections to them.

Therefore, the eventual PCB after the prototyping will be of high quality that surely meets standards set internationally.

Less Turnaround Time

With prototype PCB assembly, you will be able to reduce the total time used in producing your printed circuit board. While making use of prototype printed circuit boards, you’ll be able to see the errors and then make corrections before you start the actual production.

Therefore, the eventual prototype will be free of defects. This implies that your PCBs will be produced quickly by your manufacturer.

What are the different types of prototype PCB assembly services you offer?

With years of market presence and experience, we specializes in the following prototype PCB assembly services.

Plated through-hole (PTH): We can provide the through-hole assembly with selective soldering.

Surface mount technology (SMT): We offer single-sided as well as double-sided SMT board assemblies in varied specifications.

Mixed Assemblies: Our experts often work on projects involving both PTH and SMT assemblies.

What are the types of testing Hitechpcba use for prototype PCB assembly?

Automated Optical Inspection (AOI): This is performed before and after the soldering to identify the component placement, presence, and solder quality.

X-ray Testing: In this type of testing, the operator relies on the X-ray images of the PCB to check the solder joints and lead-less components such as Quad Flat Packs and ball grid arrays, which are generally not visible to naked eyes.

In-Circuit Testing (ICT): This method is used to detect manufacturing defects by testing the electrical properties in the SMT Assembly.

These techniques help us ensure the reliability and accuracy of the circuit boards. In addition to this, it ensures a long operational life of equipment, minimal production losses, streamlined processes, and much more.

What are the capabilities Hitechpcba offer for prototype PCB assemblies?

We specialize in offering IPC compliant, and quick turn PCB assemblies. We are very particular about our scheduled deliveries and timelines, and we deliver without compromising the quality. Our PCBA capabilities are not limited to these. Here are some capabilities we offer through prototype PCB assemblies.

RoHS compliance

Stringent testing procedures

Device encapsulation

Full turnkey, partial turnkey, and kitted/consigned services

Assemblies using Surface Mount (SMT), Thru-hole, Mixed Technology (SMT/Thru-hole), Single and double-sided SMT/PTH, Large parts on both sides, BGA on both sides.

Do you perform a component analysis for prototype PCB assemblies?

Yes, we check the quality and performance of components before mounting them on the circuit boards. This is because a malfunctioning component can affect the performance of the entire circuit board assembly and also pose risks.

What is your standard turnaround time for a prototype PCB assembly?

Our turnaround time for standard applications is two weeks. This timeframe varies depending on the complexity of the applications. However, we are committed to offering quick turnaround times without compromising on quality, functionality, and accuracy, which offers our client a competitive advantage and reduced time to market. You can also request any emergency assistance or queries related to any type of PCB assembly. Our experts will assist you in all possible ways.

How is the cost of prototype PCB assembly estimated?

PCBA costing varies based on the different factors, such as PCBA parts, type of materials to be used, order quantity, and much more. We can also offer quotes and customization options once you share the detailed requirement with us.

We focus on quality and customer satisfaction over anything else. This has helped us build a long list of happy and satisfied customers. So, if you wish to partner with a manufacturer of prototype PCB assembly in China, then don’t hesitate to reach us. Our experts will assist you through all the phases of the prototype PCB assembly process. We look forward to making your experience with us better and memorable.

How to choose prototype pcb assembly manufacturer?

Our pcb prototype assembly service includes the sourcing of components. This allows you to concentrate on what you do best: layout design. We have a dedicated sourcing staff that coordinates with multiple suppliers and distributors to purchase electronic parts as per client requirements, and our staff completes these purchasing particulars in a most efficient manner. We have advanced processes for optimal selection of packaging (cut tape, tube, bulk, etc.) to reduce the total cost. Furthermore, we are capable of cross-referencing parts and even locating hard-to-find and obsolete parts. Customers can be rest assured that when Hitech Circuits substitutes components that they are high quality: we only use the electronic component numbers and manufacturers specified in the BOM. We will not modify your original layout design. Part substitutions take place only with your permission.

The final pcb prototype assembly service cost includes assembly labor charges, bare circuit board rates, and part costs. We understand the importance of prompt delivery. The sooner the components are sourced, the sooner we can begin circuit board fabrication. We thoroughly evaluate engineering inquiries and concerns related to the related parts with our clients before commencing circuit board assembly. The average time taken for pcb manufacturing assembly is about two weeks, which can be further reduced if there are no hard-to-locate components or documentation mistakes.

We have specialized experts to deliver fast turnarounds for prototype circuit board assembly with surface-mount (SMT), through-hole (THT) and mixed-technology components.

Anyone interested in electronics and electronic circuit boards needs to understand the various stages of developing and producing a printed circuit board. It can come in handy when you are seeking a top prototype smt assembly provider. The various production stages of printed circuit boards entail design, prototyping (prototype PCB development and rapid prototyping pcb assembly), and PCB high volume production. Different entities will always seek part of the whole production process depending on their electronic circuit board needs.

However, this article seeks to help you understand everything about prototype PCB assembly, a fundamental aspect of the PCB production process.

Rapid prototyping pcb assembly represents a fundamental phase of the printed circuit production process. It is also inferred as PCBA prototype assembly, SMT or surface-mount technology PCB prototype, PCB sample assembly, etc. From these alternative names, the meaning of prototype assembly regarding printed circuit boards becomes apparent. So what is assembly prototype?

PCB prototype assembly service is a fast prototype printed circuit board assembly primarily used to test fresh or new electronic designs. Consequently, it assists with checking and ensuring quality assurance of the PCB. For instance, it verifies that no bug exists in the test PCB, updates the design, and finds bugs. In most instances, prototype assembly of an electronic project will require two or three iterations to ensure everything is perfect.

Why Choose Hitech Circuits PCB Assembly for Your Prototype PCB Assembly Projects?

There are several PCB manufacturers specializing in prototype PCB assembly services. However, Hitech Circuits stands out owing to the following:

1.Strong Supply Chain: Over the years, we have built strong supply chain relationships in the industry, which helps us fulfill the requirements of turnkey prototype assembly services easily.

2.Fastest Turnaround Times: Our engineering expertise coupled with our understanding of industry requirements and a well-equipped facility enables us to assure the fastest turnaround times of 24-48 hours.

3.Reliability: All the printed circuit boards that we produce are IPC compliant, which helps us assure reliability.

4.Competitive Pricing and Quick Quote: Our supply chain relationships enable us to assure competitive prices. The cost of the PCB prototype assembly will be made available within 24-48 hours.

[lilyblackdrawside]

Game balance is a pretty common topic and I think about it too sometimes. In the context of single-player games, specifically.

long post.

When it comes to multi-player versus games, things should remain balanced. They won't be, that's how we always end up with all the possible options a player can pick in different tiers, but there should be some striving towards not creating gross disparities.

However, in games where we don't have 2+ humans facing off against each other, I think it's absolutely fine to pretty much throw it out the window. There's really no harm in it and it opens up pathways for creativity to flow. Some things can be very difficult to bring in line with other options, so if a dev is afraid of having an unbalanced option, they might end up discarding something that could've been really interesting.

To stop with vague words, I'll go to my go-to series: Touhou.

In the Touhou games there is hardly a game where you don't have one or two character or shot options that stand out as being noticeably stronger or weaker than the rest.

Sanae in Ten Desires just sucks. Her shot deals no damage and is awkward to get the most out of in boss fights.

Meanwhile Marisa B in Double Dealing Character might just be the most powerful shottype in the series.

There are many such cases, I could keep listing them. Marisa in UFO is kinda terrible overall: A-type has a bad bomb for that game (Master Spark kills your movement and instantly annihilates UFOs, making it ill-suited for playing into the game's gimmick) while B-type has the worst shot (nice idea, but deals negative damage) but a good bomb. She just can't win in that game.

To stick with UFO for a moment longer, Sanae A's homing snakes have a tendency to miss if you make them travel too far. (They still do that even in later games, but only in very specific situations. In UFO it happens kind of a lot.)

Subterranean Animism is also full of off-beat shots. They're all on Marisa, too. Marisa A(lice) has a focused shot when unfocused and a spread shot when focused. Naturally, this is deliberate and I like it, but it is undeniably awkward to use. She's also the only one who loses more Power on death when full than she drops, because Alice gives her 8 Options instead of 4, but only increases Power gains by half or two thirds, I don't exactly remember, so you're always in the hole so to speak. Marisa B(atchouli) has like two useful formations - Fire and Water. Wood is a super-spreadshot that has a 90° dead zone in the front, Metal shoots to the right and left and Earth shoots behind you.

Marisa C(appa) has good damage but no spread (pretty normal for Marisa), but it has a bomb that deals 1 damage. It can't kill any enemy. C sucks for the main game and is godlike in Extra.

On that note, all of Marisa's bombs just suck ass in some way. Alice's and Patchouli's need you to go into melee range. Alice's does have long-range damage, but it's not much and Patchouli's is just a melee blast. Nitori's is a barrier. Barriers are nice, we know that from PCB, but between that and a narrow forward shot, Marisa C struggles to generate initiative during stage portions. You don't have a button that just handles things.

However, what do all of these wonky, sometimes underpowered shottypes in common? They're fun to use. I love messing around with Marisa B's formations, finding the optimal spots to use them. Can you clear the whole game with just Fire and Water formations, treating them as your Focus and NoFocus shots? Yes. But there is room to master it.

While I don't love to play UFO, I think Marisa B might be my favourite shot-type because it's so bad. It feels good to make it work.

Now on the other end of the spectrum there's DDC's Marisa B who is incredibly plain and breaks the game in two. It's just Missile Marisa and her bomb is some dinky circle that slowly travels upwards, deals mediocre damage and has invincibility time that's less than half of its total duration.

It also converts any bullets it erases into P-items. You can generate more resources with this bomb than it uses. It gets stronger the higher you set the difficulty. Marisa B scales with the difficulty. There is no other shottype in the series that does this. Okay, SA Reimu B also does this, but her bomb just converts enemy bullets into friend bullets so it's not anywhere near game breaking.

So what am I getting at here? The games would be worse if every shottype was "balanced", however nebulous the idea of that may be.

If every shot-type had to not suck, we wouldn't have gotten SA Marisa C, which is pretty annoying to use for 90% of the main game. We probably wouldn't have gotten a third of Mountain of Faith's shot-types or TD Sanae either. (nobody seriously plays MoF Reimu C for some notion of that being the most powerful shot-type in that game. It's a close-range type attack that you have to be insane to get the most out of. Just pick Marisa C like everyone else who's too cool to play normal shots.)

I like the wacky stuff. I want more Touhou games with weird shots like we had in MoF, SA, UFO and DDC. I want another Cold Inferno, I want Marisa's piercing lasers back, I want another SA Marisa A who has a focused unfocused shot for really no reason at all. Give me jank. Give me another shot-type that wasn't thought through to the end and accidentally breaks the game in the best way possible. Or just another MoF Marisa B.

Honestly, Mountain of Faith's Marisa B is a great example of where imbalance can hit a peak, because due to a glitch it deals so much damage that until like Stage 6 it clears all spellcards and nonspells so fast that bullets won't even reach you. There's no sense in it at all, but it is funny. It's funny! You can avoid this glitch from triggering; Its activation is somewhat specific. It's not something I want all the time, because that one just ruins the game, but is there any harm in it? No! Nobody is harmed by it. I get to laugh at the glitchy laser and have a good time.

Similarly nobody is harmed by someone having an easier time clearing DDC because they picked Marisa B and I'm not harmed from struggling through UFO on that Marisa B.

The bottomline here is that people shouldn't worry about whether or not a game is "balanced", so long as there's no element where players can abuse imbalanced elements against other players directly. And even then, fighting games have always and still have joke characters that are way weaker than the rest of the cast and it's fine. People love the challenge these things bring with them. They love to pick some crusty guy in a fighting game who has no movement, no options, bad frames or whatever and get the most out of it. It feels good to prevail from a disadvantaged position.

[jonphaedrus]

epomaker mini cat 64 build talk

ok i guess a couple people said theyd be interested so let's talk to most recent custom i did, for my friend @jowritesfantasy, of an epomaker mini cat 64.

the final build is an epomaker mini cat 64, with kailh box white v2 switches, and a great wave off of kanagawa (dark) cherry profile keycap set. total cost for what is essentially a full (budget) custom build is about $150USD without tax (off of bezoshell).

note: i am a vision-impaired hobbyist with shitty, shaky hands. i am by far not an expert. this is literally just "all the crap i've had to figure out from the ground up as a basic guide". there are more comprehensive references out there, and build guide videos for most custom kits, and do more research, not less, before building. nothing here is gospel and many people do it differently.

anyway, let's talk turkey.

BASIC GLOSSARY:

keyboard: the whole shebang. case, pcb, switch, caps, everything. the thing you type on.

case: the acrylic/aluminium/ceramic/whatever body that the pcb, switches, and keys live in.

pcb: the brain of the keyboard. you can have one where the switches must be soldered in, or you can have one where the switches can be hot swapped, which means you can change them out without any need to use a soldering iron. pcbs can be bought separately from cases.

group buy: when a bunch of people buy in to get a custom keyboard made by pooling resources up front.

switch: the mechanical switch that you solder or hot swap into a pcb to make the button press. there are thre (standard) types: linear, tactile, and clicky. switches work just fine without lubing. this is optional.

stabilizers/stabs: the support stabilizers for your wider keys that help keep them steady and don't let them wobble. there are two standard types—pcb mounted (screw-in, usually) and plate-mounted (click-in). please lube your stabs. krytox 205g0 is good. otherwise trust me, they will rattle. oh, god, will they fucking rattle.

keycaps: the thingy that goes on top of the switch that you actually press. they come in about a million profiles and in every possible permutation or color you can think of. if they're cherry/mx stem, they'll be compatible with most modern mechanical keyboard switches on the market.

QMK/VIA: software that lets you change what buttons on your keyboard do what.

keyboard %/keyboard #: how many keys are on the keyboard. the 64 mini cat has...64 keys. a 78ish key is the full f-row and most standard laptop keyboards. TKL is tenkeyless, or no numpad. 100%/180 is the entire keyboard, numpad and all. 40% is babymode aka "you like layers? i'll give you layers". each board has its use, everyone has their preferences.

ergo: a keyboard designed to be more ergonomic. ergo boards have different layouts and spacing and height. some are split, some aren't, these days one of the more standard ergo layouts is the alice/arisu. it's nice. i recommend it. (my custom is an alice)

custom: you build it, you decide everything you want on it, you buy all that shit, and you put it together.

prebuilt: open box, plug and play.

from the getgo, while epomaker does offer this for sale ready to plug and play, i knew we would not be buying this premade (both because i wanted to build it, the whole point was i wanted to build it and jo wanted it) and also, epomaker didn't offer clicky switches. jo's previous board had cherry/gateron (not clear which? one or the other) blues, which are the "standard" clicky switch: they're 65g actuation, they click, and there are better options. (note: this blog is a cherry mx hatezone. sorry.) i also knew that i was going to have to get a bit creative with VIA layers because jo works on spreadsheets and this is a 64 key board—no numpad. you kinda need a numpad for spreadsheets.

i didn't know much about clicky keys before this (i personally have sad shitty little goobaby hands that can barely even handle 43g linear switches and most people i know use tactiles), so i had to do a bit of research. you can hear (cherry only) sound profiles and comparison here, and this gives you a pretty standard idea of what mechanical switches sound like.

linear keys tend to be the lightest actuation, since they're for gaming most of the time; tactiles are all over the place and have the most options since theyre the most popular; clicky tend to be a little heavier overall. the "actuation" force in grams is how much pressure it takes to make a keypress go through, the "bottom out" is how much it takes to make the key hit the bottom of its arc. tactiles and clicky keys both make sounds/have texture bumps when the actuation of the key happens; linears you just push.

a short list selection:

cherry mx blue (the "standard" click): 60g actuation, 60g bottom out.

gateron blues (the original clone of the standard): 55g actuation.

cherry mx green/gateron green: 80g actuation, 90g bottom out

kailh box white v2: 45g actuation, 55g bottom out. (note: this is the same actuation/bottom out as the v1; the v2 has increased stability and stronger springs)

we ended up picking the kailh box white v2s because of comparative sound testing, the revision being even sturdier than the original box whites, they were on sale when we bought them and came in a closer to 64 switch pack, and they're about 65¢ a switch. not bad, all things considered. they're lighter than the standard mx blue, have a brighter, springier sound (even unlubed) and the "box" around the stem of the switch makes the connection between switch and keycap more reliable, which is a problem that happened to jo's old keyboard (the stem housing of the keycap broke; there's basically no way to get a replacement without shelling out a good bit of cash for an entire set, the box should help prevent that in the future).

the next thing was keycaps—you can do research about keycap profiles until the cows come home, but there's basically two types. "flat" keycaps are interchangeable per row (so work great if you aren't using a qwerty layout or you don't have a standard layout keyboard), "differentiated" have different heights per row (so work great if you have a hard time finding the right keys or are using a condensed keyboard model where you might get lost in the sauce if everything is the same).

the most common profile is cherry—if you want to find something super fun keycaps-wise, cherry is probably what you'll end up with. every keycap profile presents a slightly different sound because of how the plastic housing handles the noise of the switch (sa has more hollow thock; xda has a little more rumble because it's flat; cherry is a little snappier). frankly, imo, the texture/shape of the key is more the question to keep in mind (as well as the type of plastic they're made with—pbt is much, much more reliable). jo wanted dark wave with whale, we found dark wave with whale, it was cherry profile. success.

(note: knockoff keycaps can be a mixed bag—they use different fonts, the stems can be less reliable, even if they are doubleshot (two different kinds of plastic, layered on top of each other for more stability) and pbt. however, they're a lot more affordable. i like having more keycaps. im also cheap. that said, groupbuy or direct from source keycaps are also rad as hell. it's your call)

the epomaker mini cat is a hot-swap board, which means all that the switches had to do was to be popped into their housing. when popping switches into hotswap, always test the pcb beforehand. always. if you fuck up the pcb during switch installation, that is what it is, and you want to know if there's a problem before that happens. (shit can get weird. trust me. my custom pcb is currently getting replaced because of a freak usb-c daughterboard soldering incident that basically cannot be fixed, and everything worked fine in testing... but it's uncommon).

to build this board, i took it in a series of steps:

1: disassemble the entire board, flip the pcb (the "brain" of the keyboard) over, and manually test all the keys with a keyboard tester website and a paperclip. to test the diodes, you want to put your paperclip/tweezers/whatever into the outsides of the diode, not directly into the slot where your switch pins will go

you shouldn't need to shove. just set them there. your key tester should click, light up, or, if you're me, say "josh"

2: once i knew the pcb was good, it was time to disassembe the plate and the stabs. the stabs that came with the mini-cat 64 were plate-mounted and came unlubed, so i clicked them out with my tiny screwdriver, took them apart, and lubed them. if i had a buck for every stabilizer build and lube guide that actually refused to show the parts of a stabilizer, i'd have a lot of bucks, so here's some photos from me. these are akko transparent pink pcb-mounted, screw-in stabilizers. my hands are shaky as fuck so i apologize for any blurriness.

there are three basic components to the stabilizer—the bar, and the two-part housing. when you take a stabilizer apart, whether or not it's screw-in or clip-in, the bar clips and unclips, and the housing works the same.

less lube is always better (you can always add more): when lubing stabs, you want to lube the inside of the larger housing on the two wider portions and the back, where the smaller portion is levered up and down and will hit the plastic, and the part of the bar that goes into it. this is all the stuff that will click and clack if it touches each other.

sorry this is a transparent stab so it's kind of hard to see, but when reassembling your stabilizers, the smaller piece will have one side with two holes, and one side with one hole. two holes goes in the front. business in the front, party in the back, whatever. you can see here where the clicky space thing that you click the stabilizer bar into.

i apologize for my shaky ass hands. sorry. the realy nice thing about transparent stabs, otoh, is you can see where the actual bar goes—it goes into the bottom of the two holes, so that the interior part of the housing is lifted up and down when the bar moves. that's it! click it in once it's in the right hole, you're done.

3: it is time to Insert the Switch. most switches tend to be plate-mounted. the "plate" is the part of the case that goes above the pcb, and is what aligns (and holds in) the switches, so that they land in the right spot. here's an example of a pcb and a plate

the plate fits on over the stabs, and then you have your "alignment" for your switches in place. now you know where your switches go, it's time to stick them in. the smaller, metal holes on each switch location are where the pins go—this is a "south facing" rgb pcb, meaning the pins go in up top, with the smd led (the little per-switch light) facing toward, not away from, the user. north-facing switches are more common. (for anyone curious, this is a mechloving adelais en ciel rv3 pcb, akko transparent pink screw-in stabs, and a switchcouture aluminium plate)

take your switch, align your pins, push in the side with the pins first to be sure they go into their sockets straight, and then push them the rest of the way in to click. hot swap sockets can be finnicky and a little fragile, so when installing switches into a hot swap pcb, you want to push straight down into something below—i.e., take the back off of the case and put the pcb flat on a soft, but sturdy, surface, like a deskmat. then click them in.

and now you've got a keyboard! time for the fun part. put those keycaps on and give it a test.

well, now you have a working keyboard. except for one small issue... the person using this keyboard needs a numpad! okay, so that means that you need to get CREATIVE.

all our keyboards have some level of "layer mapping"—shift + a = A. that's a layer, becuse it changes the key input. on my keyboard, because i use a mac with the extended international keyboard, alt + a = ¯. that's another layer. most people are more familiar with fn + 1 = f1. that's a layer.

for this keyboard, since jo needed a numpad, the way to do that is to make use of it being via compatible and to build that in as a layer. via is a great program (wish it worked with firefox!) in that it's as close to plug and play as you can really get for something like this. it's all overlay, you just click what you need. i am stupidbad at tech, and i can figure it out. let's take a look at the layers that are mapped into this keyboard:

here we have layer 0 (the "home" layer, what the keyboard's base state is), layer 1 (the "modifier" layer), and layer 2 (the "spreadsheet") layer. i made a few changes after i took these screenshots pgup/dwn/home/end are on the modifier layer now and not just the spreadhseet layer), but this is pretty much the final version. in via, the upside-down triangle means that the button naturally defers down to the layer below it. this means, on all layers, the red circle is always the fn/modifier button. if you're on the spreadsheet layer and press fn+1, it will be f1, because that button is always fn.

the "modifier" layer came baked into the keyboard, since that's the way that the function row buttons/the keyboard light adjustment works. all i added was the blue "toggle" layer button, which, when pressed with the fn button, turns the spreadsheet layer on.

even more simply, if you push fn+ralt, it makes the keyboard be for spreadsheets.

on the spreadsheet layer, the right-hand side of the keyboard becomes a numpad, the arrows automatically work as up/down/home/end, and, most importantly, a/s/z/x/c/v are all macros. what those look like, in the via programming, is {KC_LCTL,KC_C} (that's "ctrl+c" as one button press), with the KC_[] changed out for the key you're swapping in as a shortcut. when on the spreadsheet layer, pressing "z" is the same as "ctrl/cmd+z" normally is—only now you only have to hit the button once. that's true for that entire set of macros. so, if you need to save? hit s. if you need to select all? hit a. if you need to cut? hit x. paste? hit v. there's no need to push ctrl at the same time—that's baked into the keys.

you can do this with any keyboard that is qmk/via compatible, by the way. it's fucking amazing. if you work on spreadsheets all the time? awesome. now you can numberpunch one-handed, and copy/paste/undo with the other, no need to use multiple keys.

the macro building and layering on via for this keyboard was waaaay better than what i did on my wife 1.0 (sorry, wife 1.0) and i'll be using the same setup on wife 2.0 (whenver wife 2.0 gets here). overall, this is honestly a really affordable custom board with a lot of adjustment options built in. it was a ton of fun to build, really simple and straightforward in terms of setup, and it's got bongocat on it.

also honestly if i had to get clickies, i'd do the box whites. they're really nice and dont make my fingers feel like they're about to break when typing.

[meetmeatthezenith]

Flexible customization for cheap

One of the joys of working from home is you can personalize, get into the finer details of your work environment and make them as comfortable and pleasant to all senses as possible. To achieve that sweet ASMR experience.

That said, I just got into enthusiast mechanical keyboards. I'm so happy with my recent keyboard purchase I've been using for almost a month now. It's a pre-built enthusiast mechanical keyboard. It checks all my boxes and it doesn't cost as much compared to the GMMK pro.

Three things I look for in a keyboard: First, it has to be in a 75% layout because I don't want to get rid of the function keys or have to press a combination of buttons to access them as in the case of 65% keyboard layouts. 

Second, it has to have a solid, dense, non-hollow knob. The less obvious the gap between the knob and the keyboard outer shell the better. And the knob has to appear to be placed cleanly on top of the shell and not thru it (just my weird personal preference).

Third, it should be decent enough in stock form.

It can connect to three different devices and switch on the fly between them via Bluetooth. Compatible across different operating systems Windows/Mac/Linux which I've personally tried and tested.

The one thing I've overlooked and only found out later after some browsing is that I wouldn't be able to use shine thru key caps with it if I ever decide to.

Since most keyboard PCB LED placements tend to be north facing, most if not all backlit key caps are made to have top legends.

Although south facing LEDs are much preferred due to not having the problem with interference when paired with Cherry key caps, the downside is it doesn’t work well with backlit key caps.

At least I'll still get to have the option to use illuminated side printed key caps. Those are pretty neat too.

It comes in two colorways, black and white which makes it flexible enough to match with any type of key caps suited for dark or light colored keyboard outer shell / frame.

What's interesting about this affordable model is that it is just one of the number of clone models offered by the different brands that get their products made by the same original equipment manufacturer. Something that could work to my advantage, which I’ll get into later.

Epomaker TH80, Lychee G80, Keydous NJ80, Mathew Tech MK80, Tech Veil 80 and Feker IK75 Pro (not the V3) are all the same albeit with varying configuration, brand and packaging.

I got mine from Mathew Tech brand which I’ve chosen because they offer different options for the plate (brass/steel), foam (Poron/EVA) and switches. And theirs' have dual stage flip up risers. Yes, these materials affect how thocky, clicky or clacky sounding the keyboard would be. I personally prefer the thocky setup.

The advantages of it being a clone are if I ever decide to go with a different outer shell color I have the option to buy only the shell from Keydous which other brands don't provide you the option to. Then I can spray paint any choice of color over it.

I can also buy different knob colors from whichever clone brand since they offer different colors for their respective clones. Feker also has theirs different from the rest since they are the only ones who have their LEDs north facing. This crosses another checkbox with customization (Hello shine thru key caps).

You can buy the Feker brand just for the north facing PCBs in a different shell color from the one you already have then have the shell or PCB mix and match to your liking.

Edit: I later realized Ik75 isn't a clone (the exploded arrows and 4 right side keys give it away) but it's a nice alternative nonetheless since it ticks the first two check boxes (75% layout w/ a solid knob) I look for in a keyboard.

With Akko brand not getting their inventory restocked for some reason (the wireless units) this is not a bad alternative at all.

Not to say that I have the time nor the luxury to splurge for the time being but it's the variety of options down the line that gets me excited.

While I don't plan on owning a lot of keyboards like the hobbyists do, I do like the customizability from just owning two.

This could be a very good therapeutic occasional hobby.

 Here is how it looks like with the backlight turned off.

This stock construction themed key caps meet the retro tinkerer look that I'm going for. This key cap theme will serve me for now until I get my ergonomic chair that I'm saving up for which is what I'll be reviewing next (maybe). After which I'll modify this to get it to look like this Akko keyboard soon. 

[rickyhansel]

Mechanical keyboard craze

You guys probably have heard about keyboard, no not the one that produces music, but the one that you use to type on your computer screen, and do you know that there are a group of people that willing to spend and take their time to buy, build, and customize their own keyboard up to their liking. Let me introduce you to the world of custom mechanical keyboard, you probably heard the word mechanical keyboard and its usually relates to those gamer and very loud and clicky keyboard.

This niche hobby started and documented on Geekhack.com, a place where people with keyboards and similar interest on keyboard gather and discuss and continue to grow bigger and bigger until today with lots of layout, colorful keycaps and keyboard with various age and variants, availability and many different custom mechanical keyboard forum appear in the wild such as Reddit thread, Facebook groups and Discord Communities.

This niche hobby of building a keyboard took a blast back when Nathan “ Taeha-types” Kim built a keyboard for a professional Fortnite player name Tfue, that cost a whopping 3500 USD which translates roughly to around 55 Million IDR today and gather around 8 Million views on his youtube channel, and after that video released, COVID-19 happens and all people were forced to work from home, and people still doesn’t know when will this pandemic going to end, so many people decide to revamp their work setup to make it as comfortable as they want, and some of them were fallen into this niche hobby and one of the discussion forum on reddit that commonly known as r/mk or r/Mechanical Keyboards, as for today the forum got 1.1 Million members with top 1% ranking on the entire reddit community.

After the whole brief history of the hobby, let’s get into what you need and how to make a custom keyboard for yourself. There are 6 main components that were required to make a keyboard.

Case: It’s the shell to keep your keyboard together, you usually come by a case that were made out of wood, plastic and aluminium,

Printed Circuit Board or PCB: This is the heart of the keyboards, where you put all your components together, the feature on a keyboards were determine by the PCB you use, maybe your PCB supports Bluetooth connectivity or your PCB got the RGB lighting and other stuff.

Plate: a plate functions as an alignment tool so your switches sit straight right on top of your PCB, plate material can be found in a plastic, brass, carbon fibre, and aluminium.

Switches: this is the part that makes every keys you press register a keystroke, switches comes in many colour and many flavours, the most commonly seen were Blue for clicky and tactile feeling on your switches, Red for linear type of switches without any feedback on the feel, and Browns for the soft tactile feedback every time you press on the switches.

Stabilizers or “stabs”: Stabs were used to help support the longer keys such as spacebar, enter, backspace and shift, this comes in various different sizes such as 2u that commonly used on shift, enter and backspace, and there is 7u and 6.25u that used on the spacebar.

Keycaps: the keys with letters and symbols on it with different colours and different shapes.

You might be wondering, why do I need to go through this many process just to build a keyboard, meanwhile I can buy a Logitech keyboard of from computer store for less money. Building or buying a custom keyboard really is a big game changer, you can choose the size of the keyboard, if you need numpad and function rows, you can go with something bigger, but if you don’t need those, you can go with something with a small form factor, or do you have a specific typing method, you can go with something more ergonomic, are you a loud typist or a silent typist, do you want it to be very heavy or portable, you can customize everything from the outside to the inside of the keyboard and from the sound to the feel of the keyboard.

[semcoinfratechworld]

Revolutionizing Battery Pack Manufacturing: Paving the Way for a Sustainable Future

In today’s era of focus on energy efficiency and sustainability, battery packs play a vital role in various applications like power tools, electric vehicles, and uninterrupted power systems. This article will explore battery pack classification, production, series and parallel connections, structural features, and the importance of Printed Circuit Boards (PCBs) in these systems.

I. PACK Product Classification

Due to their size and difference in power, Battery PACKS are used in various applications. Here are some of them mentioned.

1.1 Power Tools

Power tools cover a range of uses like electric bikes, motorbikes, drills, and others. These power packs are available in standard models like 24V, 36V, 48V, 60V, 110V, and 220V, designed for various power tools. This reflects the advancements in battery pack manufacturing as power tools become more reliant on efficient energy solutions.

1.2 UPS

Uninterruptible Power Systems (UPS) are crucial for maintaining a steady power supply. UPS products typically stay below 100V100Ah and are classified as single units or combinations. Single units can be coated or have leads, while combinations come in 3.2V, 12V, 48V, and 72V, with capacities from 5Ah to 100Ah, catering to different needs like communication base stations and home energy storage. This highlights sustainable energy storage solutions designed for various industries.

1.3 Car Line

Car lines refer to battery packs utilized in electric or hybrid vehicles. These battery packs come in different types and sizes, such as Wuzhoulong 540V600Ah, Nanjing Jinlong 350V130Ah, Zhuhai Yinlong 537.6V220Ah, 180Ah, Dongfeng Xiaokang 144V180Ah, Jiulong 384V160Ah, and Tang Jun 540V140Ah, and more. The ongoing revolution in battery technology for the automotive industry continues to improve sustainability and performance.

II. PACK Production Process (Cylindrical)

2.1 Power Tools and UPS

The production process of power tools and UPS battery packs is a complex operation that requires precision engineering. Detailed insights into these processes are essential for creating reliable, high-quality battery packs. Eco-friendly battery pack production methods are becoming a priority as manufacturers aim to lower their environmental impact.

3.2 Battery Series Characteristics

Battery series configurations come with distinctive properties, including total voltage, total capacity, total energy, and total internal resistance. Knowing how these variables interact is essential for proper pack design, contributing to energy-efficient battery manufacturing.

3.3 Battery Parallel Features

Battery parallel configurations also have unique properties, such as total voltage, total capacity, total energy, and total internal resistance. Understanding these characteristics is vital when designing parallel battery packs that meet sustainable battery production methods.

IV. Structural Characteristics of PACK Technology

Battery packs must be built to withstand the rigors of real-world applications. They should exhibit robustness, shock resistance, excellent conductivity, and effective heat dissipation. These characteristics are critical for ensuring the longevity and reliability of battery packs, while green battery manufacturing technologies emphasize these features for sustainability.

V. PCB as a Type of Connection

Printed Circuit Boards (PCBs) play a vital role in ensuring the reliability and safety of battery packs. The article discusses different generations of PCB structures and their functions in battery pack designs. PCBs are integral in advancing battery technology for sustainability, contributing to safer, more efficient packs.

VI. Introduction of PCB

The third-generation PCB structure is explained in detail, showcasing its unique functions, including longitudinal overcurrent and horizontal protection. This advanced PCB technology significantly enhances battery pack safety and performance, further supporting sustainable battery materials for future innovations.

VII. Uniform Design of the Thermal Field of the Battery Box

Maintaining consistent temperature levels within a battery pack is crucial for optimizing performance and preventing adverse effects. The article highlights strategies for achieving uniform heat distribution and circulation in battery boxes, ensuring battery pack manufacturing for a sustainable future.

VIII. Current Field Design

The article explores the advantages of the total positive and negative diagonal connection design. This innovation helps reduce the current skin effect, preventing battery counterattacks and extending battery life. It is a design trend gaining prominence in sustainable energy solutions with battery packs.

Conclusion

In summary, battery packs play a crucial role in driving a more environmentally friendly and efficient future. It's essential to grasp their classification, production methods, and the pivotal role of PCBs and thermal management in developing dependable and sustainable energy storage solutions. These advancements not only safeguard the reliability of energy storage systems but also promote a cleaner and more sustainable energy outlook. The future of battery pack manufacturing lies in reducing the environmental impact, reducing the carbon footprint in battery production, and enhancing sustainable energy storage solutions for the betterment of society.

[buysellram]

Asking ChatGPT Questions on GPU Graphics Card

What is ChatGPT? Before jumping to our topic, we can look at how ChatGPT introduces itself: “ChatGPT is a large language model that was trained by OpenAI. It is designed to be able to generate human-like text in response to prompts given to it, and it is capable of doing so in a variety of different styles and formats. It is based on the GPT-3 (Generative Pretrained Transformer 3) architecture, which is a type of machine learning model that uses deep learning algorithms to generate text. ChatGPT is designed to be able to generate conversational text that is similar to what a human might say in response to a given prompt, making it well-suited for applications such as chatbots and natural language processing tasks.”

What do you think? This sounds like a natural conversation. In fact, ChatGPT is a new AI-driven chatbot that can answer some questions and even write a paragraph of essays. When we search on Google for an answer, the search engine tries to retrieve webpages with higher matching scores to the questions. We need to check each webpage for a satisfactory answer. As humans write the content of webpages, the answer can be a good candidate. Unlike Google search, ChatGPT is trained with all webpage contents crawled from the internet. It learns the style of answering a question. Meanwhile, we can consider the content of an answer as the summarization of the major answers online. Hence, sometimes the answer can be wrong even though it reads like someone confidently answers a question. It is still too early to say it can answer questions with strong logic.

​As we are a computer hardware company, let us start to “interview” ChatGPT with questions on GPU graphics cards. From the answers, we believe in the future, we can have a smart chatbot online to do customer service since most answers sound reasonable.

Question: Is it a good idea to buy a used GPU?

ChatGPT: It can be a good idea to buy a used GPU, but it’s important to be cautious and do your research. Here are a few things to consider when buying a used GPU:

Condition: Make sure the GPU is in good working condition. Check for any visible damage, such as bent pins or cracks in the PCB.

Compatibility: Make sure the GPU is compatible with your computer’s motherboard and power supply. Check the manufacturer’s website for the minimum requirements for the GPU.

Performance: Check the specs of the used GPU and compare it to a new one. You may be able to find a used GPU that performs just as well as a new one, but at a lower price.

Warranty: Consider whether the used GPU comes with a warranty or return policy. Some sellers may offer a limited warranty or return policy, which can give you some peace of mind.

Overall, it’s important to do your research and be cautious when buying a used GPU. It can be a good way to save money, but it’s important to make sure you’re getting a quality product.

Q: What kinds of GPUs are good for 4K PC gaming, and what kinds of GPUs are good for AI computing?

ChatGPT: For 4K PC gaming, you’ll want a GPU with a high amount of memory and a fast clock speed. Some examples of GPUs that are good for 4K gaming include the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080, the AMD Radeon RX 6800 XT, and the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3090. These GPUs offer a high level of performance and can handle the demands of 4K gaming.

For AI computing, you’ll want a GPU with a high amount of memory and a fast clock speed, as well as support for parallel processing. Some examples of GPUs that are good for AI computing include the NVIDIA Tesla V100, the NVIDIA Quadro GV100, and the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 8000. These GPUs are specifically designed for AI and machine learning applications, and offer a high level of performance for these types of tasks.

It’s worth noting that the specific GPU you choose will depend on your specific needs and budget. There are many other factors to consider, such as the amount of memory, the number of CUDA cores, and the memory bandwidth. It’s important to do your research and choose the GPU that best meets your needs.

Question: Please recommend some good GPUs for 4K PC gaming in the year 2022

ChatGPT: In 2022, some good GPUs for 4K PC gaming are likely to include:

NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080: This GPU offers excellent performance and is capable of running most games at 4K resolution with high graphics settings. It features 10GB of memory and 8704 CUDA cores.

AMD Radeon RX 6800 XT: This GPU also offers excellent performance and is capable of running most games at 4K resolution with high graphics settings. It features 16GB of memory and 4608 stream processors.

NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3090: This is the most powerful GPU currently available, and is ideal for 4K gaming. It features 24GB of memory and 10496 CUDA cores, making it capable of running even the most demanding games at 4K resolution with high graphics settings.

It’s worth noting that the specific GPU you choose will depend on your budget and specific needs. There are many other factors to consider, such as the amount of memory, the number of CUDA cores, and the memory bandwidth. It’s important to do your research and choose the GPU that best meets your needs.

Question: How about the year of 2023?

ChatGPT: It’s difficult to predict exactly what the best GPUs for 4K PC gaming in 2023 will be, as new products are constantly being released and technology is constantly improving. However, some factors that are likely to influence the performance of GPUs in 2023 include the number of CUDA cores, the amount of memory, and the clock speed.

In general, you’ll want to look for a GPU with a high number of CUDA cores, a large amount of memory, and a fast clock speed in order to get the best performance for 4K gaming. It’s also a good idea to keep an eye on the latest GPU releases from companies like NVIDIA and AMD, as they often release new products that offer improved performance and features.

Ultimately, the best GPU for 4K gaming in 2023 will depend on your budget and specific needs. It’s important to do your research and choose the GPU that best meets your needs.

Questions: How many GPUs have been employed to train ChatGPT?

ChatGPT: I’m sorry, but I don’t have information about the specific hardware used to train ChatGPT. ChatGPT is a large language model developed by OpenAI, and it’s likely that it was trained using a combination of CPU and GPU hardware. Training large language models like ChatGPT typically requires a lot of computational resources, including a large number of CPUs and GPUs. However, I don’t have specific details about the hardware used to train ChatGPT.

Conclusion: ChatGPT will deeply affect many areas, such as all QA websites, HowTo websites, and even online search and programming. Some people have demonstrated that ChatGPT can generate some basic AI framework to finish a simple AI task. It will change education in the future too. Students are not trained to memory knowledge, but how to ask the right questions, which is a very important capability. ChatGPT can also help small businesses. It can be employed as an online chatbot to answer questions from customers. For example, as an ITAD company, BuySellRam.com receives customer queries daily, so we may leverage an AI chatbot to help customers to get a quote or to solve common computer problems.

Originally published at https://www.buysellram.com on December 18, 2022.

[pcb-manufacturers-blog]

Printed Circuit Board (PCB): The Backbone of Modern Electronics

A Printed Circuit Board (PCB) is an essential component in nearly all electronic devices. These boards are designed to mechanically support and electrically connect various electronic components using conductive pathways. The significance of PCBs in today’s technological landscape cannot be overstated, as they form the foundation upon which most modern electronics are built. Whether it's a smartphone, computer, or even complex industrial equipment, the PCB plays a crucial role in their functionality.

Structure and Components of a PCB

At its core, a PCB is made up of a non-conductive substrate material, typically fiberglass or composite epoxy, with conductive copper traces embedded on it. These traces form electrical circuits that allow components such as resistors, capacitors, transistors, and integrated circuits to communicate and work together. The components are mounted onto the board through a process called soldering, where a metallic substance binds them to the copper pads, ensuring strong electrical connections.

There are several layers in a typical PCB:

1. Substrate Layer: The base material, often fiberglass, provides rigidity and insulation.

2. Copper Layer: A thin copper foil is laminated onto the substrate, forming the conductive pathways.

3. Solder Mask Layer: This is a protective layer that covers the copper traces, preventing short circuits and oxidation.

4. Silkscreen Layer: Used for printing labels and markings, this layer helps technicians and engineers identify components on the board.

PCBs can range from simple single-layer boards to more complex multi-layer boards. In advanced applications, multi-layer boards are used, where multiple copper layers are sandwiched together with insulating layers between them. This allows for higher component density and more complex circuitry in a compact form factor.

Types of Printed Circuit Boards

PCBs come in several different types based on the complexity of the design and the needs of the application:

1. Single-Sided PCB: The simplest form, with components and copper traces on one side of the substrate.

2. Double-Sided PCB: These boards have components and copper traces on both sides of the substrate, offering more flexibility for routing electrical connections.

3. Multi-Layer PCB: As the name suggests, these boards have multiple layers of copper traces, making them ideal for complex and high-performance applications.

4. Rigid PCB: These are made from solid, inflexible materials, commonly used in devices where the board must maintain a specific shape.

5. Flexible PCB: These boards are made from flexible materials and can bend, fold, or twist. They are often used in compact devices where space is limited.

6. Rigid-Flex PCB: A hybrid of rigid and flexible PCBs, these are used in complex devices that require both flexibility and stability in specific areas.

Manufacturing Process

The manufacturing of a PCB involves several precise steps to ensure quality and reliability:

1. Design: The process begins with creating a design using PCB design software. This includes defining the layout, trace routing, and component placement.

2. Printing the Design: Once the design is finalized, it is printed onto the copper-clad substrate using a photomask or a direct laser printing method.

3. Etching: Any excess copper is removed from the board, leaving only the desired copper traces.

4. Drilling and Plating: Holes are drilled where components will be placed, and conductive materials are plated inside these holes to establish connections between layers in multi-layer boards.

5. Solder Mask Application: A solder mask is applied to protect the copper traces and prevent short circuits.

6. Silkscreen Printing: Component labels and identification markers are printed onto the board.

7. Testing and Quality Control: The finished PCB undergoes rigorous testing to ensure there are no defects in the circuitry or connections.

Applications of PCBs

PCBs are found in a vast array of electronic devices and systems. Some of the key application areas include:

Consumer Electronics: Smartphones, tablets, computers, and home appliances rely heavily on PCBs for their operation.

Automotive Industry: Modern vehicles contain numerous electronic systems, from engine control units to infotainment systems, all powered by PCBs.

 Medical Devices: Precision medical equipment like diagnostic machines and wearable health devices depend on reliable PCBs for accurate functionality.

Telecommunications: Communication devices, including routers, switches, and mobile towers, are equipped with PCBs that handle data processing and signal transmission.

Aerospace and Defense: In high-stakes industries like aerospace and defense, robust PCBs are required for mission-critical systems, including avionics and radar equipment.

Future Trends in PCB Technology

As technology continues to evolve, so too does the development of PCBs. Advances in materials science, miniaturization, and automation are paving the way for even smaller and more powerful PCBs. Innovations such as flexible hybrid electronics (FHE), 3D-printed circuits, and high-speed PCB designs are expected to revolutionize industries by enabling more compact, lightweight, and efficient electronic devices.

Moreover, with the rise of the Internet of Things (IoT) and 5G technology, the demand for high-performance PCBs capable of handling greater data transmission speeds and power efficiency is surging. This trend will likely lead to more widespread use of multi-layer and flexible PCBs in upcoming technological advancements.

Conclusion

The printed circuit board is undeniably one of the most vital components in modern electronics. Its evolution has allowed for remarkable advancements in technology, from the devices we use daily to the complex systems that run industries. As innovations in materials and design continue, PCBs will remain at the forefront of the ever-expanding world of electronics, enabling new possibilities and driving the next wave of technological breakthroughs.

[techtired]

How to Choose the Best PCB Design Tool for Your Project

Printed Circuit Board (PCB) design tools are crucial for electronic engineers and designers. They facilitate the creation, modification, and validation of circuit boards, making the design process efficient and error-free. However, selecting the right PCB design tools is challenging, given the wide variety of options available in the market. This article will guide you through the factors to consider when choosing the best PCB design tool for your project, ensuring you make an informed decision that meets your needs. Choosing The Best PCB Design Tool for Your Project Understand Your Project Requirements The first step in selecting a PCB design tool is to evaluate the specific needs of your project. Not all tools offer the same features, so understanding your project's demands is crucial. - Complexity: Is your design simple with a single-layer PCB, or does it involve multiple layers with complex circuits? - Type of Components: Are you working with analogue, digital, or mixed-signal designs? Some tools specialize in one or the other. - Size of the Project: How many components are involved, and how large will your PCB be? If you are working on large-scale projects, you’ll need software that supports complex designs. Ease of Use The learning curve of PCB design software can vary significantly. If you are a beginner, look for user-friendly tools with intuitive interfaces. On the other hand, if you are an experienced engineer, more advanced features might be a priority, even if they come with a steeper learning curve. - Interface Design: A well-designed interface with easy-to-navigate menus, drag-and-drop functionality, and visual aids like real-time 3D previews can significantly improve your workflow. - Tutorials and Documentation: Ensure that the software you choose offers comprehensive tutorials, user guides, and forums to help you understand the tool’s functionality. This is particularly important if you are new to PCB design. Key Features to Look For Modern PCB design tools come with a variety of features. Here's what you should prioritize: - Schematic Capture: A good PCB design tool should have an efficient schematic capture feature, allowing you to create and modify circuit diagrams before starting the actual PCB layout. - Layout Editor: Look for software that includes a powerful layout editor. Features like routing automation, design rule checking (DRC), and constraint management are essential. - Component Library: An extensive, customizable component library is vital for streamlining the design process. Some tools allow you to import new components, saving time and effort. - 3D Visualization: Many modern PCB design tools offer 3D views of your design, enabling you to inspect the layout from different angles and catch potential errors early in the process. - DRC and ERC (Electrical Rule Check): Design Rule Checking ensures that your PCB adheres to manufacturing requirements, while Electrical Rule Checking ensures that your circuits are functional and error-free. Both features are must-haves for any severe PCB designer. - Auto-Routing: This feature automatically connects all your components based on the schematic. While manual routing offers more control, auto-routing can save significant time on less critical areas of the design. Compatibility and Integration When selecting a PCB design tool, consider how well it integrates with other software and hardware you are using: - File Format Compatibility: Ensure the software supports standard formats like Gerber, DXF, or ODB++. This ensures that you can easily export and share your designs with manufacturers. - Integration with Simulation Tools: If you are working with circuit simulations (e.g., SPICE), check if the design tool supports simulation integration. This allows you to simulate the behaviour of your circuits before committing to a final design. - Collaboration Features: If your project involves teamwork, look for tools that offer collaboration features, such as version control, shared libraries, and cloud-based storage. Cost and Licensing Options Budget is another critical factor to consider when choosing a PCB design tool. Both free and paid options are available, and the cost typically reflects the functionality and complexity of the tool. - Free Tools: If you're working on a small project or learning PCB design, free tools like KiCAD, EasyEDA, and Fritzing may be sufficient. However, these may lack advanced features like multi-layer design, auto-routing, and extensive component libraries. - Paid Tools: For professional projects, consider investing in paid software like Altium Designer, OrCAD, or Eagle. While these tools come with higher price tags, they offer advanced features, better support, and regular updates. - Subscription vs. One-Time Purchase: Some PCB design tools operate on a subscription model, while others require a one-time purchase. Evaluate which model makes sense for your project and your long-term needs. Platform Compatibility Ensure that the software you choose is compatible with your operating system. Most PCB design tools are compatible with Windows, but not all support macOS or Linux. Check if the software has a web-based version, which could offer cross-platform flexibility without installation. Community and Support Access to an active user community and technical support can make a significant difference, especially when facing a complex design problem. - User Forums and Online Communities: Active forums or user groups can be a goldmine for troubleshooting, sharing design tips, and exploring advanced features. - Technical Support: Look for software providers that offer robust customer support, including live chat, email support, or even personalized training sessions. This is particularly important for professional projects where deadlines matter. Manufacturer Compatibility Before finalizing a PCB design tool, consider the manufacturer's compatibility. Some PCB design tools have built-in integrations with specific manufacturers, allowing you to upload your designs for prototyping and production directly. This feature can save you time and reduce the chances of errors during manufacturing. Future Scalability While your current project may be small or mid-sized, it's worth considering whether your chosen tool can scale with your future needs. If you plan to work on more complex, high-layer, or multi-board designs, you’ll want software that can handle the additional complexity without requiring you to switch platforms. Top PCB Design Tools to Consider Here’s a quick overview of some of the top PCB design tools based on the factors discussed above: - Altium Designer - Best For Professionals working on complex, multi-layer designs. - Key Features: Advanced schematic capture, PCB layout, 3D visualization, and collaboration features. - Price: Paid, premium option. - Eagle (by Autodesk) - Best For Small to medium-sized projects with a focus on flexibility. - Key Features: Schematic editor, auto-routing, comprehensive component library. - Price: A free version is available, but paid plans offer more features. - KiCAD - Best For: Open-source enthusiasts or those working on small projects. - Key Features: Multi-layer design, extensive component libraries, schematic capture. - Price: Free. - OrCAD - Best For: Large, enterprise-level projects. - Key Features: Advanced simulation, schematic capture, high-speed PCB design. - Price: Paid, with a focus on enterprise users. - EasyEDA - Best For: Beginners and hobbyists. - Key Features: Web-based tool with integrated PCB manufacturing options. - Price: Free with paid manufacturing options. Conclusion Choosing the best PCB design tool for your project depends on several factors, including complexity, ease of use, features, and budget. By carefully evaluating your requirements and the features of available tools, you can find the one that best fits your needs and ensures a smooth and efficient design process. Whether you’re a hobbyist or a professional, the right PCB design software will significantly affect your workflow and the quality of your final product. Read the full article

[sneakyscarab]

touhou 19 time! this game was literally not even released when i started this, so this is really fresh! this post is probably the closest i will ever be to a real games journalist lol.

nina's thoughts on Touhou 19 - Unfinished Dream of All Living Ghost

the most recent touhou, coming out just a few weeks ago, so this review is hot off the presses! UDoALG (wild abbreviation by the way, this name is so long) is a pretty neat game, being a direct sequel to Wily Beast and Weakest Creature story-wise, and a sequel to Phantasmagoria of Flower View gameplay-wise.

UDoALG is another in the competitive-danmaku type gameplay, similar to PoFV but with a number of evolutions to make the gameplay more balanced and easier to control. i won't go over every little change, since theres quite a lot, but ill point out some interesting changes, mostly in relation to story mode. for starters, Ability Cards are back again from UM, although with a much smaller role. each character has 2 cards themed to them, and whenever you beat an opponent in story mode you're randomly given one of their two cards. the three animal spirits are added, but they work completely differently to WBaWC, now being stronger variants of the generic spirit enemies from PoFV. a change that i think is only in story mode is that a new win condition is added, where if you defeat your opponent's boss summon an amount of times then your opponent loses. this is also pretty much the only wincon in story mode, since the AI has insane dodging skills. i literally only saw them lose a life one (1) time across 19 characters' stories (if you're curious, it was in Chiyari's stage 1).

one really interesting aspect of this game is the storytelling. i usually don't bring up the story in these posts outside of how certain characters relate to it, the story usually is a fairly simple affair that just gives the characters a reason to fight, but UDoALG has a much more complex story, which im kinda mixed on. i'll start with the cool part: the story actually progresses as you play through and unlock various characters in story mode, every set of character unlocks represents a later time period of the story, so you don't get the full story and resolution until you play through it all. this is a super cool idea, and gives good incentive to keep playing different routes and see how it all plays out. its a cool idea that uniquely plays off of the large character roster and unlocking method of these competitive vs games.

unfortunately, in order to make this happen and make every character be relevant, the plot is needlessly convuluted, especially in the first couple campaigns. there are so many factions at play, all with their own motives and double-agents and subterfuge. by the end of the 19 story scenarios you will be absolutely sick of the phrase "this is exactly as i had planned", and yet i still dont fully understand What the "main villain"s plan was. i commend ZUN for trying something new with the narrative, both in doing a direct sequel with most of the same characters as a former game, as well as this way of unfolding the story over time through different character routes, but i can't say it was Good. maybe im just biased since it mostly revolves around the WBaWC cast, and that game already had pretty rough plot and characterization, but i dunno. i will say i liked the story more at the end than i did after doing the first couple routes, but some of that early confusion never really goes away, and characters like Ran and Tsukasa dont really get their stories resolved.

time to talk about the characters! UDoALG is furry city, pretty much every character besides the human incident resolvers is some kind of animal-person, plus a few Onis. for returning characters we have Reimu, Marisa, Sanae, Ran (from PCB), Aunn (HSiFS), Nazrin (UFO), Seiran (LoLK), Rin (SA), Tsukasa (UM), Mamizou (TD), Yachie (WBaWC), Saki (WBaWC), Yuuma (the 3rd Animal Realm leader, coming from a fighting game i think?), and Suika (also a fighting game, and SA). for the new characters, we have 3 new youkai who have each joined one of the animal realm families respectively, plus the 'main villain' Zanmu and her assistant Hisami. since theres only 5 new guys, ill just give them each a quick review.

Son Biten is a monkey youkai, based on Son Wukong, recruited to Yachie's Kiketsu family. she's pretty goofy, and has a really neat musical theme. i dont have much to say about her, besides that she has a cool inspiration, and some of her interactions are pretty funny.

Enoko is a dog-type youkai, loosely based on the idea of Cerberus, who was recruited to Saki's Keiga family. instead of literally having 3 heads, she has bear traps on her wrists that act as analogues to the jaws of two additional heads, which is a really neat interpretation of a cerberus concept, as well as having tons of comedic potential. i love all the jokes people make about her offering up a Totally Normal Handshake, dont worry about it. she apparently lived in the Forest of Magic as a dog before awakening as a youkai, so she joins the crew of Marisa's funny forest friends.

the third new Youkai is Chiyari, who is NOT a chupacabra, despite what everyone says. she's based on a Tenkajin, which is apparently an obscure youkai that sucks blood, obscure enough that i could only find a single source for it online, being a Japanese blog post written by who i assume is a youkai enthusiast. Anyways, nobody in Gensokyo knows what a tenkajin is either, so everyone calls her a chupacabra instead since its another bloodsucking creature who is 'pretty popular right now'. most of her interactions are her being annoyed by being called a chupacabra, and eventually coming to terms with it. poor tenkajin gets no respect. shes very funny, and also apparently completely broken in pvp. great character.

Hisami is a 'guide of Hell', who is also inexplicably based on grapes for some reason (or eggplants, depending on who you ask, but im in grapes camp.) she pretty much just finds people in hell and helps them find their destination, although 'their destination' is up to Hisami's interpretation, and multiple times in the story she leads characters somewhere else. apparently she does her job wrong because she wants Zanmu to notice her, and it doesn't work cause apparently that was part of Zanmu's plan all along, so she doesn't care. Zanmu is too busy playing 4d chess to give her suboordinate some attention, so sad.

speaking of, Zanmu is an Oni, and the 'main villain' of the game. i say that with quotes because, despite being the final boss in most routes, and being the chessmaster supposedly laying out the big plans and manipulating everyone, she also is simultaneously resolving the incident, kinda?? its a bit hard to understand her motivations. well i guess her motivations make sense, but its hard to understand how exactly she plans to get what she wants from this plan. like her plan involves getting beat up by Reimu multiple times? hello?? not a fan, and she doesn't even have a cool design inspiration to make up for it, shes just another oni.

alright, lets wrap this one up. i was surprised to see another VS type game come out, and it seems to deliver a lot more balanced and interesting combat than the first one (granted, story mode plays pretty differently from what i can tell). the story is weird though, and the roster doesn't really have many characters i'm excited to play as compared to PoFV, and the characters i do like are pretty bad. (Sanae in particular is really weak in this format, her homing snakes are a huge disadvantage against bosses since they turn as soon as they see an enemy, meaning they wont hit the boss unless every random spirit or fairy is dead first). complaints aside though, at the base level its still pretty fun, and im glad that this type of gameplay is being given another chance.

i said it in my PoFV review, and ill say it again here: if any of you reading this have UDoALG, and are interested in playing the PvP with me, hit me up! itd be fun to try playing this with another person (although i heard the online is rough so i dunno…)

thank you so much for reading, especially those of you that have stuck with me through each post! this is the end of the mainline series, but there's still a lot out there i havent done. im not sure where this will go from here, especially since my college semester just started so i'll have a lot less free time, but ive had a lot of fun working on this project, and i hope that youve had fun reading it! if i do keep going, i might do the PC-98 quintilogy next, or maybe talk about cool fangames like Luna Nights or Mystia's Izakaya, i dunno. whatever comes next though, i hope to see you again! consider this the end of 'volume 1' of my grimoire. farewell!

[laweta12]

Standoffs Wholesale: Unlocking Cost-Effective Solutions for Large-Scale Projects

When it comes to assembling and manufacturing electronics, industrial equipment, or even DIY projects, standoffs are indispensable components. These small yet crucial spacers are used to maintain a specified distance between two objects, often circuit boards or panels, ensuring proper insulation, airflow, and stability. For businesses that require large quantities of these components, sourcing standoffs wholesale offers an efficient and cost-effective solution. In this blog post, we’ll explore the benefits of purchasing standoffs wholesale, the different types available, and how to select the best wholesale supplier for your needs.

Why Buy Standoffs Wholesale?

Purchasing standoffs wholesale comes with several significant advantages:

Cost Savings

One of the primary reasons to buy standoffs wholesale is the cost savings. When buying in bulk, suppliers often offer discounts that can significantly reduce the per-unit price. This is particularly beneficial for companies that use standoffs in large quantities, such as electronics manufacturers, where small savings on individual components can lead to substantial reductions in overall production costs.

Consistent Supply

For manufacturers and assembly operations, having a consistent supply of standoffs is crucial to maintaining production schedules. Buying wholesale ensures that you have enough inventory on hand to meet demand, reducing the risk of production delays due to out-of-stock components.

Streamlined Procurement

Purchasing standoffs wholesale simplifies the procurement process. Instead of placing frequent small orders, you can buy in bulk, reducing the time and administrative effort spent on ordering, invoicing, and logistics. This streamlining can lead to more efficient operations and better resource allocation.

Customization Opportunities

Many wholesale suppliers offer the option to customize standoffs to meet specific requirements. Whether you need a particular size, material, or finish, working with a wholesale supplier can give you the flexibility to order components that are tailored to your unique needs. Bulk orders also make customization more economical, as setup and production costs are spread over a larger quantity of items.

Types of Standoffs Available Wholesale

Standoffs come in various materials, sizes, and configurations to suit different applications. Here are some common types you might consider when purchasing standoffs wholesale:

Material Options

Metal Standoffs: Typically made from aluminum, brass, stainless steel, or other alloys, metal standoffs offer superior strength and durability. They are commonly used in applications where mechanical stability is critical, such as in industrial equipment or aerospace components.

Plastic Standoffs: Made from materials like nylon or polycarbonate, plastic standoffs are lightweight, non-conductive, and corrosion-resistant. These are ideal for applications where electrical insulation is required, such as in electronic devices or PCB assemblies.

Threaded vs. Unthreaded

Threaded Standoffs: These have internal threads and are used with screws or bolts. They provide a secure connection and are often used in applications where the standoff needs to be attached to both surfaces firmly.

Unthreaded Standoffs: These are smooth and do not have internal threads. They are typically used as spacers or in applications where a simple separation is needed without the need for secure attachment.

Male-Female and Female-Female Standoffs

Male-Female Standoffs: These have a threaded stud on one end and an internal thread on the other, allowing them to connect two components with different attachment methods.

Female-Female Standoffs: These have internal threads on both ends, making them versatile for connecting components with screws or bolts.

Choosing the Right Wholesale Standoff Supplier

Selecting the right wholesale supplier is critical to ensure you receive high-quality standoffs at competitive prices. Here are some factors to consider when choosing a standoffs wholesale supplier:

Product Range

A good wholesale supplier should offer a wide range of standoffs in various materials, sizes, and configurations. Whether you need standard off-the-shelf products or custom-designed standoffs, the supplier should be able to meet your specific requirements. A diverse product range also indicates the supplier’s ability to serve different industries and applications.

Quality Assurance

Quality is paramount when purchasing standoffs, especially in bulk. Ensure that your supplier follows strict quality control processes and adheres to industry standards. Certifications such as ISO 9001 are good indicators of a supplier’s commitment to quality. Additionally, ask about their inspection and testing procedures to ensure that the standoffs meet your specifications consistently.

Customization Capabilities

If your project requires custom standoffs, look for a wholesale supplier that offers customization services. This includes the ability to specify dimensions, materials, and finishes according to your needs. A supplier with strong customization capabilities can help you achieve the exact specifications required for your application, which is especially important for specialized or high-precision projects.

Lead Times and Reliability

In manufacturing, timely delivery is crucial. Choose a supplier known for reliable lead times and the ability to fulfill large orders without delays. Consistent supply is essential for keeping your production line running smoothly, so ensure your supplier has a proven track record of meeting deadlines.

Pricing and Terms

While cost savings are a primary reason for buying wholesale, it’s important to consider the overall value. Compare pricing from different suppliers, but also take into account the quality of the products, the reliability of the supplier, and the terms of the contract, including payment terms, minimum order quantities, and delivery conditions.

Customer Service and Support

Good customer service can make a big difference, especially when dealing with large orders. Choose a supplier that is responsive, communicative, and easy to work with. They should be able to provide you with timely updates on your orders, assist with any issues that arise, and offer technical support if needed.

Purchasing standoffs wholesale is a smart choice for businesses that require large quantities of these essential components. The benefits of cost savings, consistent supply, and streamlined procurement make wholesale purchasing an attractive option for manufacturers, assemblers, and even DIY enthusiasts working on large projects.

When choosing a standoff wholesale supplier, consider factors such as product range, quality assurance, customization capabilities, lead times, pricing, and customer service. By selecting the right supplier, you can ensure that you receive high-quality standoffs that meet your exact specifications, helping you achieve success in your projects while keeping costs under control.

[elitegascarelondon]

Top Boiler Brands and Their Common Repair Needs

When it comes to ensuring the warmth and comfort of your home, choosing a reliable boiler brand is essential. However, even the best boilers can encounter issues over time. Understanding the common repair needs of top boiler brands can help you better maintain your heating system and know what to expect. In this blog post, we'll explore some of the leading boiler brands and the typical problems they may face.

1. Worcester Bosch

About the Brand

Worcester Bosch is one of the most well-known and respected boiler brands in the UK. Known for their reliability and efficiency, Worcester Bosch boilers are a popular choice for many homeowners.

Common Repair Needs

Leaking: Over time, seals and joints can deteriorate, leading to water leaks. Regular maintenance can help identify and fix these issues early.

Low Pressure: Issues with the pressure relief valve or expansion vessel can cause low boiler pressure, affecting performance.

No Heat or Hot Water: Faulty motorized valves, broken diaphragms, or issues with the thermostat can result in no heat or hot water.

2. Vaillant

About the Brand

Vaillant is another leading boiler brand, known for their innovative technology and energy-efficient products. They offer a range of boilers suited for different home sizes and heating needs.

Common Repair Needs

Faulty Ignition: Problems with the ignition can prevent the boiler from starting. This is often due to issues with the ignition electrode or gas supply.

Error Codes: Vaillant boilers display error codes when something goes wrong. Common issues include sensor faults, fan problems, and pressure issues.

Frozen Condensate Pipe: In cold weather, the condensate pipe can freeze, causing the boiler to shut down.

3. Ideal Boilers

About the Brand

Ideal Boilers have been manufacturing boilers for over a century, offering reliable and cost-effective heating solutions. They are a popular choice for both residential and commercial properties.

Common Repair Needs

Kettling: This is a common issue where limescale builds up on the heat exchanger, causing a boiling sound. It can reduce efficiency and lead to overheating.

Thermostat Issues: Faulty thermostats can cause the boiler to switch on and off frequently, leading to inconsistent heating.

No Pilot Light: Problems with the gas supply or ignition can result in the pilot light going out, preventing the boiler from working.

4. Baxi

About the Brand

Baxi boilers are known for their reliability and ease of use. They offer a wide range of models suitable for different types of homes and heating requirements.

Common Repair Needs

Heating Control Problems: Issues with the boiler's control panel or timer can cause heating problems. These may require professional diagnosis and repair.

Radiator Not Heating: Often due to airlocks or sludge build-up in the system. Regular system flushing can help prevent this.

Strange Noises: Banging, whistling, or gurgling noises can indicate issues with the pump, airlocks, or limescale build-up.

5. Glow-worm

About the Brand

Glow-worm offers affordable and reliable boilers, making them a popular choice for budget-conscious homeowners. They provide a range of combi, system, and regular boilers.

Common Repair Needs

Pressure Fluctuations: Issues with the pressure sensor or expansion vessel can cause the boiler pressure to fluctuate.

Fan Problems: A faulty fan can prevent the boiler from venting gases properly, causing it to shut down.

Electrical Faults: Problems with the wiring or PCB (printed circuit board) can lead to various operational issues.

Keeping Your Boiler in Top Condition

Regular maintenance is key to keeping your boiler running smoothly and efficiently. Here are a few tips to help you maintain your boiler:

Annual Servicing: Schedule a professional boiler service annually to check for any issues and ensure everything is working correctly.

Bleed Radiators: Regularly bleed your radiators to remove any trapped air and improve heating efficiency.

Check Pressure: Keep an eye on your boiler pressure and top it up if necessary to maintain optimal performance.

Clean Condensate Pipe: In cold weather, ensure the condensate pipe is clear and insulated to prevent freezing.

Understanding the common repair needs of your boiler brand can help you anticipate and address issues promptly, ensuring your home stays warm and comfortable. If you experience any boiler problems, don't hesitate to contact Elite Gas Care East London for expert boiler repair services. Our experienced technicians are ready to help you with all your heating needs.

Ensure your home stays warm and your boiler runs efficiently with expert boiler repair in East London from Elite Gas Care East London. Our experienced technicians are ready to tackle any boiler issue, providing prompt and reliable service to get your heating system back on track. Don't let boiler problems disrupt your comfort. Contact Elite Gas Care East London today for professional boiler repair services. Call us now or visit our website to book your appointment!

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PCB cleaning chemicals

Enhance Your PCB Assembly Process with Advanced Solutions

Efficient PCB Cleaning Machines: A Necessity for Quality Assurance

In the world of electronics manufacturing, maintaining the highest standards of cleanliness is crucial for ensuring the performance and longevity of printed circuit boards (PCBs). PCB cleaning machines play a pivotal role in this process. These machines are designed to remove contaminants such as flux residues, dust, and other impurities that can compromise the functionality of the boards. By investing in advanced PCB cleaning machines, manufacturers can significantly improve the quality and reliability of their products.

For those operating in India's capital, finding PCB cleaners in Delhi is essential for maintaining a smooth production line. Delhi is home to numerous suppliers and service providers who specialize in PCB cleaning solutions, offering state-of-the-art machines and expert maintenance services. Whether you're a small-scale manufacturer or a large enterprise, having access to reliable PCB cleaners in Delhi can make a significant difference in your operational efficiency.

The Importance of Conformal Coatings: Acrylic and PU Options

Conformal coatings are essential for protecting PCBs from environmental factors such as moisture, dust, and chemicals. Among the various types of coatings available, Acrylic conformal coating is highly regarded for its excellent dielectric properties and ease of application. This type of coating provides a transparent protective layer that can be easily inspected and repaired if necessary. Acrylic conformal coating is ideal for applications where flexibility and ease of removal are important.

Advanced Dispensing Solutions: Adhesive and Fluid Dispensing Systems

In the realm of electronics assembly, precise dispensing of adhesives and other fluids is critical for achieving optimal results. Adhesive dispensing systems are designed to accurately apply adhesives, sealants, and other materials to specific areas of the PCB. These systems ensure consistent application, reducing waste and improving the overall quality of the assembly process.

One of the most innovative solutions in this field is the robotic dispenser. These automated machines offer unparalleled precision and speed, making them ideal for high-volume production environments. Robotic dispensing machines can handle a wide range of materials and are programmable to meet the specific requirements of different applications. By incorporating robotic dispensers into your assembly line, you can achieve greater efficiency and accuracy in your dispensing processes.

In addition to adhesive dispensing, fluid dispensing systems are essential for applying various liquids, such as solder paste and lubricants, in a controlled manner. These systems include a variety of components, such as dispensing caps, which ensure that the fluid is delivered precisely where it's needed. By utilizing advanced fluid dispensing systems, manufacturers can improve the consistency and quality of their products, reducing the risk of defects and ensuring better performance.

Choosing the Best Electric Screwdrivers for Your Assembly Line

When it comes to assembling electronic components, the choice of tools can significantly impact productivity and quality. Best electric screwdrivers are essential for ensuring that screws are fastened securely and accurately. These tools are designed to provide consistent torque, reducing the risk of over-tightening or under-tightening screws, which can lead to damage or poor connections.

Investing in the best electric screwdriver can streamline your assembly process and improve the overall quality of your products. Look for features such as adjustable torque settings, ergonomic design, and long battery life to ensure that your electric screwdriver meets the demands of your production environment. By choosing high-quality electric screwdrivers, you can enhance the efficiency and reliability of your assembly operations, leading to better outcomes and higher customer satisfaction.

Conclusion

Incorporating advanced solutions such as PCB cleaning machines, Acrylic conformal coatings, PU conformal coatings, adhesive dispensing systems, robotic dispensers, and the best electric screwdrivers into your electronics assembly process can significantly improve the quality and reliability of your products. By staying ahead of the curve and investing in the latest technologies, you can ensure that your manufacturing operations remain efficient, precise, and competitive in the ever-evolving electronics industry. Whether you're sourcing PCB cleaners in Delhi or upgrading your dispensing systems, these advancements will help you achieve superior results and maintain a high standard of excellence. Visit here - https://mectronics.in/