Q2 of 2008,

Prime salutes another vibrant player in the test market, Antares Advanced Test Technologies.  Antares is a packaging of companies that includes DCI, DB Design and Wells/CTI, all well-known in the industry.  Product offering includes:  High Performance Test Sockets, Burn-In Sockets, Thermal Solutions, High Performance Boards, Change Kits, Docking Systems and Receptacles.  For thirty-five years, Prime has been known as a niche distributor, supplying sockets to the specialized world of IC Test.  We hope you take a few moments to click on the Antares feature, on our Home Page.

Using the right tool to perform a task quickly and efficiently seems like a no-brainer.  If you regard Prime to be your tool to identify the best source for your test project, then we hope that would be a no-brainer also.  If you multiplied the minutes you spent searching by dollar value, you probably spend 5-10 times more than you would if you just called Prime in the first place.  We're not the technical experts - the folks at the factory are the technical experts.  Tell us what you want; we'll look and find the best we can.  We put the two of you together and everybody wins.

From Carole Booth, Pres. and all the people at Prime who make us strong…

INTERCONNECTS & CONNECTORS

Antares Advanced Test Technologies is responding to industry demands by offering a line of semi-custom test sockets that are delivered within 5 days after receipt of order.

The semiconductor market continues to move and evolve at an alarming rate. Product time-to-market is critical for all semiconductor companies, and products are being developed at rates never before seen in the industry. Test hardware engineers no longer have the luxury of time in product development cycles to procure consumables as they did before. In response to these industry demands Antares Advanced Test Technologies offers customers the opportunity to procure test sockets and drawings that will expedite the consumables procurement process.

Learn more about Antares' Quick Turn Test Sockets here.

790 Series Open Top QFN Socket

Features:

• 0.4mm and 0.5mm pitch
• Low cost design using stamped cantilever contact.
• Staggered, through hole tail design for BIB design consideration.
• ACTIVE ALIGNMENT: Active IC guide feature improving on package alignment accuracy.
• Optional thermal contact for package e-pad.

Click here to learn more about the 790 Series QFN Socket.

Need a Quote?  CLICK HERE!

For more product news, read Antares' Q1/08 Newsletter.

Prime has been a long-time distributor for Yamaichi's Test & Burn-In Sockets, and now Prime has been appointed Franchised Dealer for the full line of sockets and connectors. It's an ideal compliment to Prime leading socket lines and a real benefit to customers searching for one source for interconnect applications.

www.yamaichi.com

New IC149-Series - A footprint compatible QFP socket and emulation adapter.

Yamaichi's IC149-Series is available in more than 43 different formats, from 44 pins to 272 pins. It is designed to fit most of the common semiconductors from various manufacturers.

The PC-Board-Layout for this SMT-Socket Series virtually corresponds to that of the semiconductor. Since the space required for this socket is the same as the semiconductor itself, there is no need to change the PC-Board-Layout after finishing the experimental stage.

Once the socket is no longer required for trials or testing, it can be removed without the necessity to redesign the PC-Board-Layout.

Click here to learn more about Yamaichi's IC149-Series.

Our best selling test & burn-in socket!

Yamaichi's new line of QFN socket series solutions for you to stay competitive and maintain your high standards.

Click here to learn more about the NP404 QFN Series sockets.

Yamaichi would like to introduce a new "Fiber Pitch Contact" technology for Test and Burn-in sockets to utilize current stamping and etched contacts to achieve cost effectiveness and manufacturability. The evolution of IC manufacturing technology has to led to a decrease in package size. This necessitated a simultaneous decrease in the distance of the individual contact pads (pitch), decreasing from a moderate 0.5mm to the current CSP 0.4mm, and below 0.2mm in the near furture. The current solutions are the use of spring probes and other basic technology. Howerver, it is very difficult to control contact force, cost effectiveness and manufacturability. With this solution, we will continue to be a trend leader in the Test and Burn-in socket market for a long period.

Fiber Pitch Contact Specifications:

• Contact Shape: Buckling Beam
• Application Pitches: 80-100um (50um minimum)
• Contact Position Tolerance X,Y: <+/-10um Target (Component Tolerance +/-5um, Mounting Tolerance +/-5um)

Other Features:

• Wide Freedom on PWB Lay Out
• Module (Block) Form Mounting
• Low Cost Contact Pin Used
• Optimum Wiping Distance Achievable

Need a Visit?  Pricing & Availability Info?  CLICK HERE!

Prime is the leading distributor for Ironwood in the U.S.

High Performance Socket for 0.5mm Pitch SOIC IC

New (2008) GHz sockets for SOIC chips are ZIF sockets and provide excellent signal integrity. The sockets are compact and can be mounted on the small footprint. The socket needs only about 2.5mm extra space around the chip more than the actual chip size. The signal path is short (0.5mm or 0.75mm).

Two mounting options are available. The socket can be mounted using hardware and needs holes for screws and for positioning on the target board. If the holes can not be drilled on the target board, epoxy mount sockets are the other option. Epoxy mount sockets use epoxy to mount the socket on the target board.

Click here to learn more about Ironwood Electronics' High Performance Socket for 0.5mm Pitch SOIC IC.

PRODUCTION SUPPLIES & STATIC CONTROL

World's first compact portable field microscope, available anytime, anywhere.

You can now carry a portable field microscope and a digital camera in your pocket with ease. Three objective lenses are available to meet a variety of different applications. Using the optical and digital zoom range of the camera the following magnification ranges are produced:

With the 10x objective lens: 10x to 60x

With the 20x objective lens: 20x to 100x

With the 30x objective lens: 30x to 150x

Click here to learn more about the iLoupe field microscope.

Prime salutes American Hakko.

Did you know that Hakko offers FREE "How-To" Videos?

Click here to get excellent "How-To" Instructions from Hakko.

FM-2022 SPECIAL APPLICATION VIDEO

Using the FM-2022 Parallel Remover, Andy Mitchell demonstrates how to remove large, gold connector pins from a PCB with ease.

Released 12/1/2006  --  Watch now

BGA TECHNICAL APPLICATION VIDEO

With the proper tools and techniques, adhesive-bonded BGAs can be removed safely and effortlessly.

Released 12/1/2006  --  Watch now

FM-202 SOLDERING SYSTEM INSTRUCTION VIDEO

An instruction video for the FM-202 soldering system, including bonus footage featuring its unique accessories. Short, sweet and to the point. Not designed nor intended to replace the operator's manual.

Released 12/1/2006  --  Watch now

FM-2024 DESOLDERING TOOL INSTRUCTION VIDEO

See how easy it is to desolder Lead-Free alloys with the FM-2024 desoldering tool. Safe and easy-to-remove disposable filter. For the FM-202 and FP-102.

Released 12/1/2006  --  Watch now

TIN-LEAD & LEAD-FREE ALLOYS INSTRUCTION VIDEO

Learn basic differences between tin-lead and lead-free alloys. This video gives you a good, general overview of what you can expect with Lead-Free solders.

Released 12/1/2006  --  Watch now

INDUSTRIAL STORAGE & SAFETY

At Prime, we were influenced by Nick Bohun, Mfg. Rep., for R&R Lotion, manufacturers of Industrial Sunscreen. He urged us to make this product available to any and all customers with staff who work outdoors. Protection from exposure to UVA rays is extremely important and we hope you'll be influenced to protect them as well as yourself and those you hold dear.

About Industrial Sunscreen

Industrial Sunscreen is a subsidiary of our parent company R&R Lotion, Inc. and was formed out of the need of a high quality "Industrial Strength Sunscreen" in the market place. OSHA is now recommending that workers exposed to sunlight be given some suggestions to safeguard them from the harmful ultraviolet (UV) radiation.

Sunlight is the main source of UV radiation, which can cause eye damage, premature aging of the skin, and skin cancers, such as melanoma. Skin Cancers and deaths resulting from melanoma are increasing rapidly in the U.S. even though we have seen a decline in other cancers.

Unprotected employees working in sunlight risk exposure to UV radiation. Outdoor workers with fail skin and hair, freckles, or numerous irregular moles are especially susceptible to Sun damage. Even a few serious Sun burns can increase the risk of skin cancer.

OSHA offers a pocket card on harmful Sun exposure. It states that workers should use a Sunscreen with an SPF of 15 or higher, and that Sunscreen should be applied frequently throughout the day.

Even though OSHA is now recommending employers provide information and protection, it seems inevitable that in the very near future it will become more than just a recommendation.

Sunscreen checklist:

• Check Ingredients: Look for Sunscreens containing Zinc Oxide which deflects almost all UVA-UVB rays.
• Use SPF 30+ which will filter 97 percent of the UVA-UVB rays.
• About 80 percent of the UVB rays get through clouds.
• Even the shade is not safe: Up to 85 percent of rays are reflected off Sand, Water, Concrete, and Snow.
• Even moderate exposure to full sun increases a construction workers risk of eye damage, premature skin aging and Skin Cancers from UVA/UVB radiation.

Click here to view all our sunscreen products.