The Engineering Projects

JLCPCB’s first raw materials testing video

What raw materials that your PCB is comprised of?When you cannot answer this question clearly, please continue reading. When you are interested in PCB raw material testing, you better keep reading. When you are in doubt about the quality of the JLCPCB board material, you must continue reading. All corporations that value products and services paramount importance. The raw material is life for a product. This is especially true for PCB production. How JLCPCB controls the level of raw materials quality? The testing videos tell the truth.

JLCPCB never take undue advantage of Non-A grade board

Global PCB raw material costs are rising, JLCPCB never takes undue advantage of Non-A grade board. Last year the whole PCB manufacturing industry faced raw material shortage issues. Many PCB companies sent internal letters to their customers stating that copper prices have risen by more than 50%, copper foil processing costs have risen by more than 20%, and demand continues to increase, resulting in a surge in copper foil prices. The current copper foil prices Compared with the third quarter of last year, it has increased by about 50%

Nanya company issued a notice about growing price, saying that the prices of CCL-related raw materials including LME copper, copper foil processing fees, epoxy resin, and fiberglass cloth continued to increase in price, coupled with tight supply and demand, in order to ease Due to cost pressure, it is planned to increase the price by about 15%-20% of the total transaction amount, which will take effect from April 1st this year."

This kind of shortage caused a battle for grabbing raw materials. But JLCPCB never takes undue advantage of the Non-A grade board. The raw material cost growth situation seems to slow down in June 2021. JLCPCB's single, double boards and small-volume board overseas prices have been lowered from June 5th, 2021 as long as the price of the core raw materials of the circuit board decreases. Cost increment for raw material is a daunting matter. The sheet material is the core and main raw material of PCB, accounting for about 6% of the cost. Using a piece of A-grade raw material and using a piece of non-A-grade material is a great temptation for PCB manufacturers to make profits. If you want to save the cost of raw materials, it is also the most costly raw material.

JLCPCB real grade A1 material

A1 grade base material

• Application for general automotive boards and household appliances PCBs.
• Applicable circuit: the hole diameter is greater than 0:25mm

A3 grade base material

• Application for: toy boards, ordinary CTI household appliances classes, and P4-LED light boards, requiring low voltage and low current
• Applicable circuit: plug-in hole diameter greater than 0:4mm

JLCPCB real grade A1 material

• 1.6mm sheet thickness
• 8 sheets of cloth
• flame retardant
• full copper (17.5um)

Other PCB company A3 grade material

• 6 sheets of cloth
• non-flame retardant
• copper thickness 12-15um

The price difference between the two is as high as $10/?. It is PCB suppliers' duty to use international standard materials, however, too many non-standard materials appear in the global market. The supply of downstream products is scarce, leading to rising raw materials. Therefore, in order to protect their interests, some companies use A3-grade materials in private. Some companies even show customers that they use A1-grade raw materials. What problems caused when customers use A3 grade raw boards for ordinary home appliances, industrial, and automotive electronic boards? Take the LED light board as an example, LED will be short-circuited, and the light will be faulty. PCB is the carrier of electronic components and is an indispensable part of various electronic products. It is easy to distinguish that A1 grade materials are better than non-A grade materials just by considering different materials from the perspective of functional properties.

JLCPCB’s first raw materials testing video

Method 1

Preparation tools:

• ? One PCB with 1.6 thickness from any PCB manufacturers
• ? A utility knife
• ? A pair of tweezers
• ? One hot air gun

Method 2

It requires a small tin furnace, but it is easier to detect. Preparation tools:

• ? A PCB with 1.6 thickness from any PCB manufacturers
• ? One small tin stove

Enough PCB DIY videos? why not a PCB material testing video?

Just curious will you join in PCB raw board testing video event? People who are interested in this, please send your testing video to rebecca@jlcpcb.com. It is a hobby activity, may no bonus here. However, if there are a lot of videos received, we will make this activity big. Thanks to people who are interested and send us the video!

Workforce Management Principles: Guides on Applying The Best Practices

There is no other area in the construction industry that needs a change more than resource management. Resource management is how you manage, plan, and allocate your workforce. Effective construction workforce management can help you understand aspects like:

• Which construction project needs more hands?
• Identify over and under-allocated staff.
• Track experience and skills with project history.

Simply put, effective workforce management helps contractors coordinate work and people, ensuring that everyone has the details or information required to do their jobs. However, in order to maintain a productive workforce, contractors have to put in plenty of time and hard work.

Visit https://gobridgit.com/construction-field-workforce-management/ to learn more about the importance of workforce management in construction.

There is no doubt that employees are the business’s most valuable asset. However, they are the most expensive as well. This is the reason why maximizing workforce efficiency and productivity should be your top priority.  When efficiency and productivity peak, the workforce quickly pays for itself.

To achieve this, there are certain workforce management principles and best practices that you need to apply.

Keep on reading as we list some important workforce management principles to know if you are a contractor.

#1 Standardize Key Processes

First things first, you need to create transparency and consistency by standardizing key processes in your construction work like swapping shifts, distributing leave, calculating pay, tracking hours, and so on. Contractors who are able to define these processes make an even playing field for the entire workforce, which creates a mutually beneficial culture of understanding and fairness. This is what the construction industry demands the most. For example, if a worker is not able to take up a shift that you have assigned due to personal reasons, he/she may apply for leave. However, if the process is unclear, things can be left until the last minute, stressing out the worker and leaving you in the lurch. Having an established leave request process in place can easily avoid this situation.

#2 Flexible Communication 

If communication lines are inflexible, even the most robust construction workforce management strategy can fail without a doubt. The role of communication is not widely understood in the construction industry yet. But those who have streamlined conversations between workers and contractors by empowering them with platforms that support continuous communication and connectivity have experienced good results. For example, if one of your workers who is working for a week at a construction site is now needed on a different site can get easily confused about the work and roles. With flexible communication, things can be easily conveyed. This is not just about making phone calls. Not everything needs phone calls. Things can be easily communicated via SMS and email as well. Contractors need to enforce this aspect in their workforce management system in order to streamline the communication process among the staff, workers, and subcontractors.

#3 Automate Number Crunching 

From HR to administration and operations, manually managing the workers’ pay rates and shift times can give you a serious headache. By automating pay, time, and leave calculations, contractors can improve data accuracy and free up time for administrative and HR personnel, allowing them to focus on more complex tasks. It is already understood that workers are paid on an hourly basis in the construction industry. Therefore, managing payrolls can be really daunting because even small errors can distress the workforce, and they may have to wait to get paid until you resolve the issue. Automating these processes can minimize payroll errors, which can result in higher worker satisfaction. Most importantly, you will experience reduced labor costs in the form of improved and robust time-tracking.

#4 Streamline Attendance, Time, and Payroll 

From the perspective of your workforce performance, streamlining attendance, time, and payroll is a proven way to heighten engagement and boost satisfaction. Contractors with automated time and attendance solutions can make things highly engaged for their workers and staff. This is because there will be less stress about tracking employee attendance. And employees know that they are responsible for their own attendance. With biometric systems, keeping track of employee attendance, time, and payroll is a piece of cake. The best part is that these can be integrated with most of the workforce management systems available out there. So, as a contractor, things can get smooth for you.

#5 Integrate and Unlock Insight 

You need to understand that the data collected from your construction workforce management system is worth so much more than holiday leave racked up, pay earned, and hours clocked. Contractors can integrate workforce management processes with core administrative and HR functions that can help them unlock a goldmine of workforce data regarding worker absence, performance, labor, and time. “Datafying”  or “datafication” of the entire process can not only streamline things in the payroll department but can also prove beneficial in optimizing performance, refining budgets, and developing strategic schedules. This way, you can focus more on your construction business and less on internal matters.

#6 Invest in a Quality Integrated Construction Workforce Management System 

Today, there are workforce management systems available in the market that are specifically designed for the construction industry. These systems can help you in optimizing your construction workforce planning. From creating operational efficiencies to mitigating risks and improving your bottom line, all can be achieved using easy-to-use resource planner software. The best part about using such systems is that you can enhance your construction workforce planning with complete employee oversight. That is, from future and current projects to overlapping workload issues, all can be tamed without any hassle. Most importantly, with a quality integrated workforce management system like Bridgit Solutions, you can identify over and under-allocated staff and solve problems before they even have an impact.

Conclusion 

These are some of the best practices that contractors should follow in order to streamline their workforce management. Things take time to get in place, and if you are just starting out, implementing these principles will enable you to focus more on your projects.

The LendInvest Loan Engine – What is it and How Does it Work

LendInvest makes property finance simpler. Bridging loans, development finance, and buy-to-let mortgages for intermediaries, landlords, and developers made it easier. LendInvest provides loans that you can trust. They provide fast and flexible funding to help the property professionals create housing that is funded by an international capital base. LendInvest’s international capital base of £2 billion supports projects of wide variety and they are backed by some of the world’s largest financial institutions and the most successful individuals. Some institutions include HSBC, J.P. Morgan, Citi, and NAB. Be updated in banking news to learn more.

How do they simplify property finance? They use technology-enabled lending and they are relationship focused. Technology-enabled lending means using online tools to make property lending experiences better. The technology they designed is built around the needs of the user. This relates to their relationship focused philosophy. They are experts dedicated to fulfill a high quality service for the users. They want to ensure that the loan for your next project is hassle free to get.

LendInvest is reliable and trustworthy because of its decades of experience. They are also a multi award winning company that is proudly profitable. They certainly get the job done because of their ambitious and professional team. From their engineers or mortgage advisor to their underwriters are all very talented and specialists in their own fields.

Lendinvest has been awarded by the REFI European awards as the winner of Alternative Fund of the Year in 2020. They are also awarded the Financial Times as one of Europe’s Fastest Growing Companies in 2021. LendInvest has received multiple notable awards.

LendInvest allows important information to be readily available to a wide selection of teams across the business. They have a unique business model that is responsible for their rapid growth over the last ten years.

LendInvest serves as a mortgage marketplace platform for both investors and borrowers!

For investors, it is a place for

• Investment Funds
• Online Platform
• Financial Partnerships
• Retail Bonds
• RMBS

For borrowers, it is a place for

• Bridging loans
• Development loans
• Buy-to-let mortgages

Start your next project as an intermediary or a borrower with LendInvest!

• For intermediaries here are loans and mortgages rates:

	Rates from	Max LTV	Loans up to
Auction	0.55%	75%	£15 million
Bridge-to-let	0.55%	75%	£750,000
Buy-to-let	2.99%	80%	£3 million
Commercial Bridging	0.79%	75%	£15 million
Development	7.98%	65%	£5 million
Development Exit	0.55%	70%	£15 million
Regulated Bridging	0.55%	70%	£3 million
Residential Bridging	0.55%	75%	£15 million

• For borrowers here are the bridging and development loans

	Rates from	Max LTV	Loans up to
Auction	0.55%	75%	£15 million
Bridge-to-let	0.55%	75%	£750,000
Commercial Bridging	0.79%	75%	£15 million
Development Exit	0.55%	70%	£15 million
Development Finance	7.98	65%	£5 million
Residential bridging	0.55%	75%	£15 million

You can contact LenderIvest by calling them or through email. Expect an efficient and fast responses from the team!

• How does LendInvest work?

They tackle problems that are being faced in property finance such as:

1. Enabling various teams across the business to track which loans each funding source is funding source is funding in real time.
2. Recording and analyzing financial data to make better decisions.
3. Ensuring that they are funding loans in the most efficient way possible.

They found a solution for these problems by providing an efficient interconnected process of loan funding and management, accounting, reporting, and data warehousing.

• Tracking loans in real time

The Loan Engine provides a live viewing for the state of the entire loan book. You can view the funding source of each loan and their balances. You can also view the data history.

• Efficient internal workflow

The Loan Engine is a tool that helps all the dedicated and talented finance and treasury teams. It made the reporting and reconciling transaction of loans easier.

• Accurate capital allocations

They differentiate the use of their funds by knowing which loans should be in which funding source and when they should be drawing capital from those sources. These are the factors that affect it

• Funding source costs are complicated, and change over time
• Each funding source has strict rules on the composition of its portfolio – both on an individual loan basis as well as the whole portfolio
• Non-utilisation fees
• When and how much capital we should request from our funding sources
• Regulatory and fair treatment requirements
• Pipelines of loans about to be lent and about to be paid back

All of these details contribute into making LendInvest a reliable and trustworthy business. They are constantly improving their ways to ensure that they are doing the most to help those who work with them. Loans and funding is a complex thing that is hard to handle by just a single person. A dedicated team that specializes in what they do can make it easier. LendInvest constantly innovates and develops.

Valuable Tips for How to Ace Your Engineering Interview

Hello friends, I hope you all are fine. In today's tutorial, we will discuss few Valuable Tips for How to Ace Your Engineering Interview. Students have excellent technical knowledge and skills but conveying it properly during the interview, is quite difficult.

Whether you are applying for your first engineering job, moving to a higher position, or seeking employment in a different company, it is essential that you place your best foot forward, especially during your job interview. First impressions matter, and you must show your potential employer that you could be an asset to their company. Here are some key points to guide you during your engineering job interview.

Preparing for the interview

For many, job interviews can be stressful and can cause anxiety, especially to first-time applicants. Being prepared can help you control and manage unnecessary stress. Research your potential employer and try to learn the name of your interviewer. Review their website, and try to read recent articles and press releases about them. Check their social media platforms, especially their LinkedIn account, for any company updates. Their chief operating officer may have changed, or they may have recently won an award, so try to learn as much as you can so that you can use these as talking points during your interview. Know their strengths and challenges in the engineering industry and envision how you can address some of these challenges.

Research frequently asked engineering interview questions and plan your answers accordingly. Practice answering them out loud so that you can work on your communication skills. Remember that most of the questions may not necessarily have a correct answer, and your interviewer simply wants to know how you can effectively communicate your solution.

During the interview

Make sure to arrive on time and greet your interviewer politely. Shake their hands if possible and establish eye contact. Try to place yourself in their shoes and avoid being intimidated regardless of how strong they might look. Dress professionally; wear a suit if you can. Some companies might not be strict when it comes to what you wear, but many still expect you to dress appropriately. When answering questions, make sure to pause and collect your thoughts. If you did not understand the question, do not hesitate to ask your interviewer to repeat it but avoid doing this repeatedly as they might think that you are not listening attentively.

Moreover, if you do not know the answer, it is okay to say so. Never attempt to fake your answers, as seasoned hiring managers will immediately know your intention. As previously mentioned, these interviewers just want to see how you can craft your technical knowledge into a logical answer. Avoid talking too much, and be conscious of your non-verbal actions.

Refine your Resume

Your resume plays an integral role in your interview, so you need to make sure that it stands out. Thoroughly review your resume and make sure that it highlights your strengths and recent accomplishments. Focus on your engineering experience and quantify your achievements. Remember that the format might be different for every industry, so try to create the best resume for an electrical engineer. Your goal is to make your resume as compelling and straightforward as possible. Ensure that you know every detail included on your resume and be prepared to discuss every bullet point. Prepare a list of your updated references and remember to notify them in advance.

The demand for engineers has increased throughout the years. Engineering job applicants should know how they can efficiently handle their job interviews so that they can secure a position in this dynamic industry.

What Are Cyber Threats And How Can You Stay Protected?

Hello friends, I hope you all are fine. In today's tutorial, we are going to have a look at What Are Cyber Threats And How Can You Stay Protected? If you have any questions/queries, please ask in the comments.

Cybersecurity is a rising concern for many people and businesses in this techno-savvy 21st-century world. However, not many people realize cyber threats don't discriminate and believe that it's for fortune five companies and wealthy personalities. To demystify the ideas regarding cyber threats, it's important to define what they're, identify them, and explore some ways to protect themselves.

What Is A Cyber Threat?

The word cyber originally referred to cybernetics. This is the science of how machines and animals work. Later on, cyber came to mean computerized. In the 90s, the term cyberspace was introduced to mean physical space that exists behind the activities of digital devices. Currently, cyber is involved with information security.

A cyber-attack is an attack against digital devices executed through cyberspace. It involves an attacker whose intent is to cause harm. Cyber-attacks have the potential to cause costly inconveniences and threaten human lives.

Why Should You Protect Yourself From A Cyber Threat?

Cyber-attacks can result in a breach of national security threats, malfunctioning of military equipment, and electrical blackouts. These attacks can also end in the theft of private data such as patient medical records. Cyber-attacks also disable phone and computer networks and corrupt data.

Cybersecurity risks can affect any organization. In many cases, the IT department isn't able to handle cyber threats. According to the White House’s Office of Management and Budget, a high percentage of federal agencies are at a high risk of being targeted by cybercriminals.

The U.S. government has experienced its fair share of crippling data breaches. For example, the popular theft of naval codes and the Federal Office of Personnel Management breach, which have both been linked to Chinese intelligence institutions.

Types Of Cybersecurity Threats

The impact of a cybersecurity risk will depend on its type and mode of execution. There are many different types of cybersecurity threats. The most common are as follows:

1. Malware

These are the most common cyberattacks. The average cost of a malware attack is estimated to be $2.6 million. Malware is malicious software such as a virus, worm, ransomware, or spyware. The software is installed on your digital device when you click on an email or website link. When the software gets into your system, it prevents access to the network, steals private information, and can also damage your device.

2. Phishing

Phishing is similar to malware. It involves the use of malicious emails to gain access to the target’s credit card details and other private information. More than 80% of cyber incidents involve phishing attacks. Spear phishing is a type of phishing attack that focuses on specific users. For instance, the attack may target executives and system administrators.

3. Man In The Middle Attack

Man in the Middle is when a hacker intercepts communication between two people. The hacker steals sensitive data that is transmitted during the communication and returns a false response to the user. A study by Netcraft found that 95% of HTTPS servers are susceptible to “Man in the Middle Attacks.”

4. Distributed Denial Of Service (DDoS) Attack

The DDoS attack floods networks, systems, and servers with huge traffic preventing the system from executing legitimate requests. The attacks can use a few infected devices to overwhelm a targeted system. In 2019, there were reports of up to 8.4 million DDoS attacks.

5. SQL Injection

An SQL injection, also known as a Structured Query Language attack, arises when a hacker tries to penetrate into your database by loading malicious SQL scripts. After breaching the security controls, the malicious actor will corrupt the information in the database. 65% of all web application cyber-attacks are in the form of SQL injections.

6. Zero-Day Exploits

This attack arises when an organization’s hardware and software are vulnerable to security breaches. The hacker will exploit this vulnerability by launching an attack before the IT department finds a solution.

7. Advanced Persistent Threats (APT)

This threat arises when a hacker accesses a system and is undetected for a long time. These attacks are dangerous because data may be stolen or corrupted without your knowledge. 45% of businesses believe they're potential targets of an APT.

8. Ransomware

This is a malware attack where the attacker prevents access to a person’s data. The hacker will demand payment to allow access to the data. Otherwise, they may threaten to leak the data to the public. Studies estimate the global cost of ransomware attacks to be $ 20 billion by 2021.

9. DNS Attack

In a DNS attack, hackers exploit the vulnerabilities in your Domain Name System (DNS). The hackers direct site visitors to malicious sites. This is also known as DNS hijacking. The hacker will ex-filtrate information from the targeted systems, a process known as DNS tunneling.

How To Address Cyber Threats

The first step towards protecting yourself from cyber risk is identifying your vulnerabilities. This helps you highlight areas where you should take action. It's also important to prioritize. You should identify risks that need the most attention.

A risk management plan involves determining which task management, workflow, and mitigation strategies will work for you. Risk management is a continuous process. Therefore, it's important to brace yourself for more advanced attacks. This is why you should determine whether your risk posture is up to date.

Lastly, you should compare yourself with your competitors. Determine how they're dealing with similar risks and how well you're faring compared to them.

Best Practices For Businesses

The best practices for protecting yourself from cyberattacks include countermeasures such as patching systems. For example, when a tech vendor realizes a security flaw, they'll write code or patches to fix the problem. For instance, if Microsoft realizes a cyber-criminal can access Windows servers by using a code vulnerability, the company will provide a patch to all those who have a Windows Server license. If all IT departments were to apply these patches on time, many potential attacks would not succeed. Microsoft, like many other companies, sends out these patches at least once a month.

There are many new technologies that have made it easier for organizations to defend themselves from cyberattacks. These services include continual attack simulation tools, outsourced security services, point solutions for secure browsing and anti-phishing, and systems that allow collaboration between security team members.

Best Practices For Individuals

For individuals, there are security measures that can help keep information safe. These include password hygiene, anti-virus software, and measures against phishing attacks. It's easy for hackers to guess passwords like “1234.” Password hygiene can protect consumers against cyber threats. The other way to protect yourself is by using anti-virus software and ensuring it's up to date. You should schedule automated scheduled scans.

Lastly, you should be wary of phishing attacks. Avoid opening file attachments. Pay attention to phishing and spear-phishing emails. For instance, you may receive an email with an attachment. Verify the sender’s email and do not open the attachment unless you're certain it is from someone or an organization you know.

In Conclusion

Many organizations and individuals tend to take cyber threats lightly because they have never encountered them. However, these threats are real. Instead of waiting to experience their devastating effects, you should familiarize yourself with them and adopt measures to mitigate them if you are affected. Cybercriminals target both small and large organizations and also individuals. Therefore, one of the best defenses against these threats is prevention.

Why Connected Gadgets Are a Bad Fit for Municipal Applications

These days, it seems everything is a part of the internet of things (IoT). There is hardly a category of consumer gadget that doesn’t have an IP address or that connects to the internet in some way. One of the most venerable and respected authorities in tech news had good reason to wonder if many internet of things devices should even exist. We all need to be more careful about our salt intake. But does that somehow justify the existence of a salt dispenser with an internet connection? The internet is not going to be much help when cooking toast. Yet you can get a toaster with that feature. It is important we don’t overreact to the obvious abuses of technology. There will always be opportunists to take advantage of a new technology trend and leave a bad taste in the mouths of potential consumers. On the whole, connected devices are a good thing and can provide an extra measure of utility and security. As with everything, one just has to be discerning enough to know the difference between items that are genuinely helpful and ridiculously wasteful.

Safety

A city or township could deploy powered exoskeletons for the part of the workforce that literally does the heavy lifting, The wearer of the suit is the sole operator of the suit. No part of the operation is subject to an iffy connection with a network. The wearer controls the suit at all times. The reason exoskeleton suits are so safe is that they are always under the complete control of the wearer. Each element of the suit is activated by the operator’s initiative. If the operator wishes to lift something heavy and awkward, she uses familiar grappling and lifting motions and the exoskeleton responds. This arrangement enhances the ability of a single lifter to move objects that might otherwise require multiple people. It is always safer when a person can lift with less strain and reduce the tendency to drop items that could cause injury if mishandled. When it comes to heavy lifting, the only thing you want your equipment connected to is a skilled human who knows how to use it.

Security

Police departments, emergency responders, and hospitals cannot afford to be hacked. One thing we have learned about the internet of things is that security is seldom the highest priority. When it comes to purveyors of these goods. They often come with basic passwords that don’t have to be changed before being deployed. Your security cameras should never activate until you have a secure password. These companies are also not especially vigilant when it comes to providing the best hardware and software encryption. Their priority is selling and not security. We have already seen the consequences of hospitals being held hostage by ransomware attacks. We have seen hackers get into public utilities such as the water supply. Every connection to the internet is a vector of attack. The last thing you want is for every light bulb in the sheriff’s office to be an easy target for hackers. If security is your priority, stay away from connected devices to the extent possible.

Savings

Municipalities don’t have money to burn. They have to operate on a strict budget. They can ill-afford $60 light bulbs. Connected devices tend to cost more because they have added components and unnecessary complexity. That also means they are less likely to last as long as a simpler device. One of the reasons is that connected devices have a software component. What happens when that software needs an update or becomes obsolete? In far too many cases, the device becomes useless. Sooner than you want, your internet of things will be transformed into a basement of bricks. That said, IoT has a lot of promise when deployed well. But the technology is not a good fit for municipal deployment due to legitimate concerns about safety, security, and spending.

Solar Power Careers For Engineers

Solar power is now generating the cheapest electricity in history, a new report by the International Energy Agency reveals. Harnessing energy from the sun via solar panels is key to reducing greenhouse gas emissions and creating a sustainable world. Heavy investment in solar infrastructure will also play a much-needed role in this transition. In turn, solar energy is creating a diverse range of careers for engineers, including industrial engineering, mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, and material science and chemistry.

Industrial Engineering

In recent years, solar panels have become increasingly efficient and affordable. As such, commercial install projects are becoming more and more in demand. Commercial solar panels can help businesses successfully decrease operating costs, reduce tax liability through government credits, and boost profits by differentiating from competitors. Industrial engineers are largely responsible for these recent improvements in solar panel technology; their job is to optimize the technologies and production methods used to manufacture solar components. Specifically, industrial engineers devise and test various mathematical models with the aim of minimizing waste. They may have a degree in industrial engineering, electrical engineering, or mechanical engineering. Fortunately, the professional growth outlook for industrial engineers remains strong with a 10% expansion in total employment expected by 2016-2026 (which is much greater on average than other engineering professions). The salary is also impressive: it’s around $87,000 per year on average.

Mechanical Engineering

Demand for solar panels is undoubtedly increasing at a rapid rate. Mechanical engineers play a vital role in ensuring the supply process keeps up with the demand by keeping it extremely smooth and streamlined, as well as looking for ways to improve both the product and the system. They may work in either a laboratory, production plant, or engineering firm. Essentially, mechanical engineers deal with the machinery and equipment used to automate the manufacturing process. For example, they’ll spend time researching, creating, and testing key industrial equipment, such as the machines used to cut silicon wafers. These wafers will then be formed into solar cells and used to form a functioning solar panel. Moreover, mechanical engineers may also supervise the creation of electric generators, along with other vital equipment used in solar power plants. Some mechanical engineers oversee the design phase, which involves utilizing computer-aided design (CAD) software to map out and develop design ideas. This process is followed up with research, developing prototypes, and testing. Just like industrial engineers, mechanical engineers can look forward to a strong employment growth outlook of 9% from 2016-2026 with a similar average salary of $87,370 annually.

Electrical Engineering

An inverter is one of the most important components in the generation of solar power; it converts direct current (DC) electricity (generated by solar panels) into alternating current (AC) electricity that’s used by the electrical grid. Where do electrical engineers fit in? Well, they have the essential job of designing, testing, and refining inverters and other pieces of equipment in order for the sun to be converted into electricity. The future growth outlook for this profession is strong — 7% between 2016-2026. Moreover, electrical engineers can also enjoy a higher salary than both industrial engineers and mechanical engineers ($99,070 a year on average).

Material Scientists and Chemists

Material scientists and chemists are similar career paths both responsible for developing the granular components that comprise solar panels. Material scientists, in particular, work with and analyze various materials in order to determine the most efficient for use. Space limitations and aesthetic considerations surrounding specific solar projects are also taken into account. In most cases, solar panels are currently able to transform between 15%-22% of solar energy into usable energy (this also depends on a host of factors including weather conditions, orientation, and placement). Material scientists are tasked with the responsibility of improving this figure. Chemists, on the other hand, have a similar job: they focus on researching and testing innovative solar cell design concepts, largely drawing upon their extensive knowledge of semiconductors and organic materials (solar cells are usually made from materials like organometallic compounds, crystalline silicon, and cadmium telluride). Similar to the other solar engineering careers, chemists and material scientists can also look forward to a 7% growth in these professions from 2016 to 2026 (which is an average rate of growth compared to all other occupations). You can also enjoy a lucrative salary as either a solar material scientist or chemist; the pay is just over $78,000 per year on average. Solar energy is fast becoming the world’s most valued power source. Whether it’s in the realms of industrial, mechanical, electrical, material science or chemistry, engineers can enjoy a range of meaningful and fulfilling careers that support this important transition and help create a more sustainable world for future generations to enjoy.

Factors To Consider When Choosing The Ideal Material For Sheet Metal Fabrication

The sheet metal utilized in fabrication comprises an extensive list of possible materials. Making an ideal choice for your products means deciding about things like the sort of the metal, its width, and its shape. What you select should be in accordance with your overall outlook, desired final product, and suggestions from your sheet metal manufacturer. Sheet metal is produced from a diversity of metals with unique properties, and each of them offers certain benefits. Sheet metal is among the most significant building materials within the manufacturing sector. It’s usually fabricated from metals like aluminum, nickel, steel, tin, brass, titanium, and copper. When it comes to product design, manufacturers have to choose the most suitable metal choice to use for their specific requirements.

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The landscape of materials within the manufacturing industry is immense, and sometimes it might be intimidating to select the proper material for your sheet metal fabrication project. With sheet metal fabrication experiencing diverse technological advances and innovations, you must also adapt to the latest trends by making an investment in the proper material to serve your needs. To better understand why the material choice plays a significant role, you should be aware of specific factors before selecting a material. Once you go through these factors, you can link them to your goal and product to decide which material will be the best option for your sheet metal prototypes. This article guides you through the most significant factors you must bear in mind when choosing the sheet metal material for your prototype. Therefore, if you’re interested in learning how to select your materials for sheet metal fabrication, continue reading ahead.

Consider The Material’s Hardness

Hardness relates to the metal’s capability to withstand deformation in case of impact, load, or abrasion. Hardness can be measured based on its resistance to indentations, scratches, and bounces. Besides, certain issues with hardness are possible to overcome through a hardening process. Hardness is crucial for load-bearing constructions because hard metals are better at withstanding abrasion and load. Metals with high levels of hardness are titanium, bronze, hot rolled steel, spring steel, stainless steel, brass, and cast iron. On the contrary, metals with low hardness are copper, aluminum, and lead.

Purpose And End Use

You need to always begin with having clear objectives and views on how your product will be used. Once you get a new point of view and re-envision your metal products, you may even enhance your product’s lifetime. Furthermore, think about the other components your parts will interact with,  and the conditions your sheet metal prototypes will be placed under for use.

Shape And Geometry

With all the technological advances in the manufacturing sector, various materials are easily adjustable. So, think if your prototype will require basic bends or complex linear forms. Examine and learn the qualities and characteristics of varied materials such as aluminum, steel, stainless steel, brass, copper, lead, and brass.

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Discover which material and procedure go well together in order to achieve your expected results. Some types of sheet metal are easier for bending over others. For example, the majority of aluminum grades are very pliant. The advantage of a material that’s easily pliable is that it gives you the possibility to combine separate parts. In fact, you may replace screwing or welding. It will reduce piece count and ease assemblage.

Corrosion Resistance

When choosing a material, you should consider the conditions it’ll be exposed to once placed. Some metals react better than others to oxidation, water, or other elements. For example, metals such as stainless steel won’t erode, but they may develop an oxide layer. You should also take into consideration that galvanic corrosion may happen when different metals are in contact together. Metals that are less corrosion resistant are cold-rolled carbon steel, copper, aluminum, stainless steel, titanium, nickel, and tin.

Requirement & Run Length

You have to think of the impact of the preliminary cash flow management and the long-term ROI (return on investment) offered by the material you choose. Make the necessary calculations and look into the approximate yearly units you will need, and if the material you pick will balance the return on investment. Tooling expense amortization can provide you the best investment return. Consequently, take into account that aspect likewise prior to zeroing in on materials.

Size of The Prototype

Depending on the size of the prototype you want to fabricate, know that each technique can fabricate a specific amount of metal length. For instance, roll-forming enables you to fabricate pieces as far as 16 meters in length. So, examine the size of your sheet metal prototypes, particularly the length of the part. Afterward, according to that criteria, select the proper material and the technique as well.

Think about the Cost for the Material Beforehand

Cost generally isn't the most significant factor when choosing a sheet metal for fabricating a prototype. It’s crucial to make the best selection based on the factors we’ve listed above. However, if there is a valid alternative with a lower cost, it’s always worth considering. Still, bear in mind that many times lower cost materials need additional processing, which can result in you not, in fact, saving a lot, so you could have used the higher cost material in the first place. High price metal is stainless steel, and low price metals hot rolled steel, low carbon steel, and tin.

Why Material Choice is Important

These factors we mentioned above will enable you to exclude other material options while making your selection and choose the material which suits the most for your products or parts. The material choice is significant because metals behave differently to different surroundings and conditions. That involves actions like, for instance, cooling, heating, cooling, molding, and melting. For that reason, most of all, the choice of material matters in sheet metal fabrication projects. Selecting the best material for your parts will provide you with a competitive advantage by improving factors like quality, mechanical properties, endurance, function, and performance. The chosen material needs to be able to sustain its strength and physical features during the process of manufacturing. If you don’t select the proper metal, your product will probably fail during the manufacturing procedure.

Final Words

Selecting the right material for your sheet metal prototypes will provide your product many benefits and improve its overall quality, function, and performance. If you overlook choosing the right material, the chances of prototype failure during the manufacturing process are high. Therefore, evaluate our guide before you begin with your sheet metal fabrication project because the factors we listed above can help any manufacturer select the correct metal.

15+ BEST Video Compressor in 2021

If you are a full-time video editor, then you will always need a set of tools that will help you to edit and create your videos. Video compressors are one of them. There are too many different kinds of such tools available on the internet. That is why it can get confusing to choose the best video compressor. If you don't know how to compress a video, then it is essential that you use a good-quality compressor. It will help you to save space, send files faster and also maintain the same quality and resolution. To help you choose the best video compressor in the market, we have brought you a list of all the best products that we have found out. These are some of the software that will genuinely help you to compress a video on both Windows and Mac OS. So, without further ado, let's check out the top software.

1. VideoProc Ad

At first, you would think this to be only a basic video compressor app, but as you explore the app, you will find that there are several other features that make it a full editing software. You can process your videos like a pro with this. The software has more than 180 million downloads and can compress videos up to 90% of their original quality. You can even cut, crop, or edit different parts of it.

2. Handbrake

One of the most reliable and efficient video compressors in the market, Handbrake is available for both Windows and Mac OS. This is an open-source program that allows everyone to use the software for free. Handbrake can edit your videos to at least 90% of the original size and still maintain the original quality without a miss. It has MP3, Flac, AC3, AAC / HE-AAC or Vorbis support.

3. Final Cut Pro X Compressor

Final Cut Pro is the favorite video compressor for Mac users. It is a widely used default editing tool in Apple devices. The powerful features of the software are of the industry standard. It can easily help you compress even the highest quality videos without affecting the overall quality. You can choose to compress formats like 4K and 360°.

4. Movavi Video Converter

A well-known and easy-to-use video compressor, Movavi offers its users lightning-fast conversion without any significant loss in the video quality. You can now compress more than one file together using the Batch Processing feature. Just drag and drop the video in the particular area in the software and start the compression. It can quickly compress 4K quality videos also.

5. Wondershare UniConverter

Software that can be used on both Mac and Windows, Wondershare has a host of video editing tools that include this wonderful compressor as well. You also get some basic editing tools along with the compressor, and you can render them at super quick speed without loss of quality. It can support all the known standard formats.

6. InVideo Editor

One of the best video editing tools on this list, InVideo can help you do a lot of things with their software. The editor is packed with professional features and options, which helps you enjoy editing your videos in different formats. InVideo can process super-fast rendering speeds, and that saves you a lot of time. Maintain the same quality when compressing the videos and share the video directly from the software easily.

7. Any Video Converter

AVC is a tool that is specifically made to compress videos only. It can allow you to choose your own preferred parameters for compressing the videos and launch them. It also helps you to download videos from YouTube, Netflix, and many other popular websites. The software comes with NVIDIA NVENC accelerated encoding for a flawless 4K video downloading experience.

8. Filmora Video Converter

One of the most powerful video compressors on the list, this software is developed by Filmora, and it supports both Windows and Mac OS. You can access twelve different formats to compress the videos. This is more than enough for most of the editors in the market these days. There are twenty output formats present on it as well. The simple and intuitive UI makes it easy for anyone who is trying to compress a video.

9. BlazeMedia Pro

The software may look a bit old school and dated, but its performance is better than a lot of modern-day software. Yes! BalzeMedia Pro is one of the best video compressors available in 2021. Convert videos of any quality and video format within mins. The software does what it promises to do, and you can easily convert a wide range of videos without losing the bit of the original quality.

10. YouCompress

For anyone who is looking to convert videos that support AVI, MP4, and MOV format, then this is the best software for them. This product is also available online. That means you don't have to download and install it. You can access it directly from the website. This online compressor is best for those who are looking to resize different videos at a faster rate. The platform is very friendly, and you can learn more about it easily with the help of the tutorials that are provided.

11. Panda Video Compressor

This software is available for both desktop and mobile devices. Panda Video Compressor can compress your videos quickly without any hassles. You can choose to resize them and not affect the quality at all. The tool also allows you to share your favorite videos via email and on different social platforms directly from the software. This excellent compressor also supports a plethora of video formats.

12. Adobe Premiere Pro

Last but barely least, this is one of the most popular software used by newbies as well as the media industry. This software's tools and plug-ins will give you a feel-good mind state when you learn it. It is fun to use and highly professional at the same time. You will adore its interface once you start using it and can add an edge to your content!

 The Bottom Line

Video compressors are one of the most useful and important tools that editors need. All of them can help you compress your video in the best possible manner. In addition, they can help you save space, share your work easily, and even resize your videos without any hassles. So, grab one of them and start compressing your videos from now!

The consolidation of JLCPCB & EasyEDA

The core reason for Co-branding is to better serve the coming future of electronic products and the tech world. JLCPCB is known as a multilayer PCBs integrated circuits manufacturer, which owns 5 independent factories and an order-friendly global PCB company. EasyEDA is known as the world's first web-based EDA tool and cloud-based EDAtool. EasyEDA’s tech stability and maturity and JLCPCB’s great production scale are the strongest assets for the consolidation. The deep link of two integrates technical resources, computing resources, and operating resources for future challenges of mobile phone hotspots, free WIFI, and 5G, etc. The EasyEDA tech sector’s like-mindedness is a software tool to serve engineers, not driven by software tools. So Cloud-based features allow electronic engineers to browse the PCB design everywhere, during the nap of a business trip, when the nap of a vacation journey, when the way back home, anywhere, anytime to access your files easily. JLCPCB constantly pursues growth and progress. In the current technology world, people need to think big, then make big. Creativity and practice are what JLCPCB keeps doing. The supply of low-cost and high-quality PCBs allows JLCPCB to gain 800000+customers worldwide, so they assembled to face challenges together. EDA used to be the most profitable of the IC industry, and the practitioners are also the most knowledgeable and intelligent group. However,  with the low threshold for entrepreneurship, more and more people are joining the competition and finally, it becomes seriously competitive, but this urges EDA practitioners' skills to be refined. After decades of competition and annexation, a few EDA companies have now become dominant. The combination of EasyEDA and JLCPCB conforms to the trend, brings healthy competition to the industry, and provides stable financial and human resources for R&D. However, in-depth technology R&D can't be achieved via any quickness. Therefore, JLCPCB & EasyEDA has a consensus: they have to stably develop technology,  long and profoundly when some stakeholders pursue rapid tech development. This also makes EasyEDA and JLCPCB choose to be more closely integrated.

Division & Cooperation in the Technological World

The upgraded network technology foundation, the upgraded demands. Global division and collaboration is already the trend of product completion, which are carried out on the basis of internet-based products. internet-based products refer to tangible products or intangible services that use the Internet as a tool to meet customer’s needs and help to achieve commercial value. We can see Internet-based product logic from the two. Free and easy to use is the value of EasyEDA. JLCPCB's winning points are low price and convenience. Their multilayer PCBs manufacturing service accepts 1-6 layer boards which only cost $2(starting price). When customers need a powerful PCB layout and simulation capability with massive libraries of schematic components in order to push forward PCB mass production; When customers need comprehensive system solutions, which provides manufacturing processes Technology,  hi-tech intellectual property licenses, emerging technology knowledge, etc they are more appreciated. The consolidation of JLCPCB and EasyEDA become valuable. The final electronic products come from the global labor division, when the American engineer has finished his Gerber design on EasyEDA, one clicks to upload his file on the JLCPCB page, then waits for the local DHL staff to deliver the PCB to his door. Task division of design, production, and delivery links all. When the production link between countries no longer occurs after the final production but occurs at every stage of product research and development, manufacturing, marketing, and operation management, the whole production networks have shared the good result of high-tech industries, like the links between clients and JLCPCB & EasyEDA. Back to the PCB industry, there are three major characteristics of PCB and EDA industries, including industrial innovation, high demand for professionals, and prosperous M&A activities. M & A activity is the key to expanding market share and deepening the level of technology. Take Synopsys as an example. It was established in 1986. According to industry statistics, since the late 1990s, it has successively acquired more than 40 small EDA companies and silicon intellectual property companies. Now of course M&A activities get more common for this industry.1+1 may be greater than 2, and the same is true for customer groups and integrated technical resources. Now JLCPCB has 800,000 + customers, with EasyEDA tens of thousands of users every day, the combination of the two can bring convenience to clients, and can also make the development of the two profitable, tap non-overlapping customers, and experience new of each other's services. This is a manifestation of the progress of software and hardware cooperation and a symbol of the division and cooperation of technical products.

Cloud-based EDA, unlimited effort

EasyEDA was established in June 2010, 60 years after the first EDA. It is based on the web, with schematic capture, spice circuit simulation, and PCB layout tool for electronics engineers. The developers of EasyEDA, Dillon He, set out to create a PCB design software tool that provides comprehensive data and collaboration tools to help engineers and designers move from idea to product more easily and quickly, so EasyEDA was born. EDA is a process of transforming hardware principles into real objects,  it is more like a carrier to show the mindset. It is divided into two major branches: microelectronics and hardware boards. EasyEDA serves hardboard circuits, which are used for electronic watches, mobile phones, switchboards in the computer room, they all contain hardware boards. It insisted on cloud-based tools from the start and never changed. The concept of EasyEDA cannot be accepted by some people, who don’t trust their designs on the alien servers, or so-kind web-based services. The founder, Mr. He said: “ Perhaps EasyEDA needs to wait, wait for free WIFI widespread, wait for the speedy Internet, wait for everyone's copyright awareness, wait for everyone to accept the new model, and wait for the change of user habits.”  For the distrust of cloud file storage security, EasyEDA has promised if the tool is shut down they would open-source their code and provide adequate time to download files. “Therefore we can only serve those who have the same value.” He also pointed out. Engineers are always so cool! Mr. He sometimes is tender. “A loyal EasyEDA user expressed that he is a loyal user of cloud products. He will give priority to products that can be cloud-based. He firmly believes that the comprehensive advantages of cloud products are greater than the desktop stand-alone version. He trusts JLC’s professional team to protect my data. However, he needs a sense of security, and he needs to know that one day he will be able to open his design locally. Maybe this day will never come for me, but you'd better provide this function, although I may not use it."Therefore he decided to provide the function. When downloading the client-side, offline version and the online version offered. Project data for the offline version will not be sent to the EasyEDA’s server and kept by themselves; for the online version, while the files are saved to the EasyEDA server, it will also be saved to a personal computer with double insurance. The offline version is expected to serve just a few users among tens of thousands of users each day. They made such an endeavor to meet the needs of a sense of security.

Higher quality PCB, higher trust

JLCPCB is a global company that owns 5 independent factories, not in the shared factory. Since PCB manufacturing activities become more open, sharing, collaborative, and flexible, shared factories are used by some PCB companies who don’t have enough manufacturing capabilities or just play a middle role between PCB customers and PCB factories. It means when you order a PCB from a company that uses a shared factory, the PCB is produced in an unknown fab. Of course, we have to admit this new mode meets some consumer's needs when people don’t care where and how the PCB is produced. However, the board's reliability is very important to the end products, especially for electronic hardware products. The trust builds on the product quality when you upload your Gerber file on JLCPCB. They produce it in their own 5 big plants. Quality is the life of PCB, choosing trusted merchants and trusted merchants' factories is vital for the end product. How to perfectly cater to the needs of consumers and ensure the quality of service while also continuously improving, so that more people around the world can benefit? They keep an open and accepting attitude, listen to the needs of consumers: besides the PCB prototype, improving SMT services is also becoming more and more important for PCB consumers. JLCPCB just published the news of the JLCPCB SMT Road Map, they will support 80% of components assemble in LCSC in 2021, now is just 20%; they will support double sides assembly, now is just single side; they will support more quantity SMT assembly in the near future. 2021, is also a great year for JLCPCB SMT. The news gains a lot of good feedback on Twitter. Actually many people know JLCPCBfrom some famous makers, like GreatScott, AlexGyver, HacksmithIndustries, when they are using JLCPCB, what keeps you waiting?

Connect with the world

JLCPCB&EasyEDA is in line with international standards for in-depth research and development for software technology and hardware technology. The entire process needs electronic engineers’ participation, suggestions, modification, and re-research. They believe technology serves engineers or creators. Therefore, JLCPCB&EasyEDA reorganizes and integrates resources and starts anew to make greater progress, striving to meet the habits and preferences of more users, non-stop unique experience, Only then can their existence be valuable. JLCPCB&EasyEDA trust in long and stable joint effort can achieve in-depth technology, then you can believe in them. It is so-called Design, Make, Then trust”. JLCB&EasyEDA co&branding event. Get coupon & Join JLC&EDA Group