Gardien Podcast

Knowing your cost of quality is a prerequisite when deciding if Outsourcing is for you. Join Todd Kolmodin and Rick Meraw as they discuss outsourcing.  Knowing your costs, meaningful investigation and plausible deliverables are all part of the decision-making process. You’ll come away with a better understanding of the outsourcing process and how to make that important decision.

Today the challenge is to stay ahead. Period. Micro/Nanoelectronics are the wave of the future. Join Rick and Todd as they discuss the arena of Microelectronics. What are the challenges, and some solutions will be discussed. North America and Europe Manufacturing must evolve to compete. Both in technology and mindset.  History of Electronics            Macroelectronics – Analog components, standar...

Understanding the differences between Insulation Resistance (IR) Testing, HiPot and High Voltage Testing can be confusing. In this Podcast, we discuss the differences. With a little commentary from AI Guy, we break down the mystery of these tests. We also provide solutions and options for you when it comes to testing to these different criteria. Go Gardien!

Take a new look at Ohm’s Law and how it applies to everyday life along with explaining Buried Passive components, how to test them and testing solutions available right now.  Resistors, Capacitors, and Inductors are discussed and how they can interact with one another.  www.gardien.com

If you are looking for automation solutions for routine product handling to free up your employees for more important tasks, we have answers. Join Todd Kolmodin and Holger Kern as they discuss handling automation solutions from Waxco. Interleafing, flipping and diverting are just a few options discussed in this Podcast. Answers are just a click away. 

Losing archived or obsoleted Photo Tools can be a challenge for legacy PCB designs. Fear not! Advances in technology allow the recovery of those lost data sets.  Join Todd Kolmodin as he discusses Reverse Engineering using scanning and destructive recovery methods.  www.gardien.com

Knowing your cost of quality is a prerequisite when deciding if Outsourcing is for you. Join Todd Kolmodin as he discusses outsourcing.  Knowing your costs, meaningful investigation and plausible deliverables are all part of the decision-making process. You’ll come away with a better understanding of the outsourcing process and how to make that important decision.

In this episode, join our hosts Rick and Todd as they discuss Inductance.  Learn about coils, transformers and how they can be used in Printed Circuits. With today’s advancing technology, coils and transformers are being integrated into Printed Circuits where historically these were active components added during assembly.  Gardien provides solutions for testing Inductors without the need for offl...

Welcome to episode 15 in the Gardien Podcast Series.  Join hosts Todd Kolmodin and Rick Meraw as they discuss High and Low volumes in Electrical Test.  PCB volumes are categorized differently in the North Americas vs Asia.  Rick and Todd discuss options to compete in these challenging markets.

In this episode, join our hosts Rick and Todd as they dive into fixturing, specifically Leaning Pin (Universal) and Dedicated (Wired) technology.  Whether you are using Universal Grid with headed or featureless pins, this is the Podcast for you. Depending on pitch and/or density of your PCB Rick and Todd discuss the advantages and disadvantages to both technologies.  Jump on in and have a listen.

Welcome to episode 13 in the Gardien Podcast Series. Join host Todd Kolmodin and special guest Steven Reidman of the Gardien Colorado facility as they discuss Gardien’s approach to Functional Fixture s and Hybrid fixtures . We talk about fixtures used above the basic bare board opens and shorts tests. Functional Fixtures, as well as switching HiPot applications, will be discussed. 

Welcome to episode 12 in the Gardien Podcast Series. Join hosts Todd Kolmodin and Rick Meraw as they discuss Sequential Lamination as it applies to Electrical Test . Sub-Parts, Sub-Assemblies, and Child parts are just a few of the names used to describe sequential laminated parts prior to the final product. Learn why we should test sub-parts. Also, pick up some knowledge around AOI and AVI process...

Welcome to episode 11 in the Gardien Podcast Series. Today, join Rick and Todd as they discuss the history of 4-Wire Kelvin and how it is used today. Barrel testing and critical circuits are just a couple of topics covered. Understand programming, evaluating and report generation are all covered in this episode. So, sit back and relax as we take you known the road of 4-Wire Kelvin. 

In Episode 10 of the Gardien Podcast series, Todd Kolmodin welcomes guest speakers Holger Kern and Jason Posey to discuss the Kaima line of Fixture Testers and AVI (Automated Visual Inspection) equipment that is offered by Gardien. Holger discusses the entry-level and larger Fixture Testers including automation that are available. We also discuss the AVI options now available. Todd, Jason, and Hol...

Join Todd Kolmodin and Rick Meraw for episode 9  in the Gardien Podcast Series.  Today’s discussion involves Hipot (Dielectric) testing , Insulation Testing , and standard High Voltage Testing. Rick and Todd will discuss terminology such as Ramp and Dwell times along with voltage requirements for different Hipot tests.  Insulation Testing using a resistive threshold will also be explained.  Also,...

Join Todd Kolmodin and Rick Meraw in episode 4 of the Gardien Podcast Series which explores the understanding of IPC-9252 Testing of Unpopulated Printed Wiring Boards or PCBs. In this Podcast you will leave understanding Performance Classes, Optimization Methods, Adjacency Testing vs Direct Testing, dealing with long copper nets, and more.  Learn the terminology and the requirements outlined in th...

Gardien’s episode 5 of their Podcast Series explores the foundation of how test points are assigned when testing unpopulated printed circuits (PCBs.) Join Rick and Todd as they discuss exactly what a test point is, what are mid-points are, how does Solder Mask affect assigning test points and how does the IPC-9252 specification drive optimization and test methods.  Also discussed will be how test...

 | Join Rick Meraw and special guest Holger Kern of Gardien Europe as Holger discusses the Flying Probe line of Flying Probe Testers manufactured by Gardien. From the low-end entry-level machines through the high-end, high-density capable machines Holger discusses all.  Rick and Holger will discuss the options available for the machines with automation included in the discussion. 

Join Todd Kolmodin and Rick Meraw once again in episode 7 of the Gardien Podcast Series.  This time Rick and Todd will talk about the differences between the overall Process vs Work Instructions. Whether you are building a bird house or designing a wet process line, the overall concepts are the same.  We take a look from high altitude and then down to the trench to identify the differences between...

Back once again for episode 8, Rick and Todd pick up from episode 7 and go into more detail on process building.  From the overall design view for space, HVAC, and other facilities, down to the individual space development, ergonomics, tools, and movements.  Join us in learning steps to develop robust processes including statical gathering and KPI development for process monitoring. 

In episode 3 of the Gardien Podcast Series, Rick and Todd are joined by Jason Posey to discuss the options available for testing Printed Circuits from Gardien. Jason discusses PCB testing equipment options covering Flying Probe, Fixture Testers, and AOI/AVI. Along with that, Jason discusses the North American markets and how Gardien partners with their customer base to provide strong solutions to...

Welcome to the Gardien Podcast Series. In our flagship episode, Todd Kolmodin and Rick Meraw welcome Greg Pegram to talk about Flex Testing.  Greg will give us insights on the “how-to” when it comes to Flex and Rigid-Flex products.  Setup, Test Methodology along with some tips and tricks will be covered. Whether single image or panel test, Greg has the answers.

Join Rick and Todd once again for episode 2 of the Gardien Podcast Series. In this episode, we talk about “ What is Electrical Test? ”  Introduction as to what is a PCB (Printed Circuit Board), what is a net, Ohm’s Law, and definitions of opens and shorts along with how they are detected.