Challenge:

　　Staying Agile in a Fast -Paced Industry

　　The fast-paced world of RF & Microwave Design often requires a certain amount of agility. As projects evolve, the ability to make last-minute design changes without compromising production schedules provides a signifi-cant competitive advantage. However, lengthy board house turn-around times can make practicing such agility easier said than done.

　　The Microwave and RF components division of Trilithic, Inc. is familiar with this dynamic. A leading provider of filter and filter subsystem designs for com-munications networks, Trilithic depends on its ability to make late-breaking board adjustments for its custom-ers.

　　Solution: LPKF Rapid PCB Prototyping

　　To maintain flexibility and agility for its customers, Trilithic relies on in-house rapid printed circuit board (PCB) prototyping equipment from LPKF®. LPKF’s state-of-the art PCB milling technology produces fully functional board prototypes in just a few hours, making it much easier to accommodate last-minute design changes.

　　Results: In-house Equipment Keeps Projects on Course

　　Thanks to its rapid prototyping capabilities, LPKF equipment has become essential to Trilthics production process. The company regularly uses its LPKF equip-ment to do prototype runs for its customers. Trilithic engineer Rob Nowosielski describes his teams LPKF equipment as an “extremely effective tool to shave a couple of hundred dollars and a couple of days off prototype runs and make changes on the fly.”

　　For instance, Nowosielski recalls a case where Trilithic started out working on a lumped element filter design that would not function properly. At the last minute, the team solved the problem by switching to a planar de-sign. Using LPKF equipment, Trilithic was able to make those design changes and complete the project without delaying their production schedule.

　　As Nowosielski puts it, “If we hadn’t had the LPKF m achine we wouldn’t have been able to turn around the project and complete the order within our custom-ers timeframe.”

　　In fact, according to Nowosielski LPKF equip-ment has “saved” customer orders for Trilithic on more than one occasion.

　　LPKF Laser & Electronics AG manufactures ma-chines and laser systems used in electronics fabri-cation, the automotive sector, and the production of solar cells. Around 20 percent of the workforce is engaged in research and development.