The D-Code Podcast

Rev 2.28 - Brent from Johnson SMT @SMTAI

When running a PCBA Consulting agency, you run into everything. Or so Brent Johnson imagines. He may have just recently started his agency, but he has years of process engineering experience, and has already worked with a popular guest on the podcast, Jordan Danko! Let the roasting begin...
No, this was a great conversation, and it just felt like the right time to bring back "a lack of board supports on the second side" from one of the hosts you see here... He was asking for it though, because he was really trying to pry all the info he could out of Brent for free.

Rev 2.27 - Viktoria Rawinsky @SMTAI

Viktoria Rawinsky Solves (PCB) Crime For a Living!
How fun does that sound, really? Viktoria gets to spend her time studying, imaging, and finding the root cause of various failure types, often in combination. It takes serious detective chops to not just find one culprit involved in a defective board, but to find and overlay all the "fingerprints" when multiple causes of failure work together to obfuscate the issue.
When COVID hit and many were scrambling or holding on tight with fear, Viktoria went out and bought top-of-the-line imaging equipment at bargain prices and re-invested in her own future. Learn more from "The Dendrite Queen" through the following chapters:
00:00 Producer Paul's Pick00:35 Viktoria Rawinsky of LinkedIn Fame02:36 Incomplete Solder Mask Crosslinking05:56 Sean Stream of Consciousness Monologue09:44 Anyone Can Measure - Interpretation Is The Key12:44 NDAs Don't Cover Detective Stories16:22 Mic Drop Moment

Rev 2.26 - Justin from ROCKA @SMTAI

Justin has a lot of media experience, and is used to having the camera and mic with him, asking questions of others and giving them a chance to shine. We were therefore stoked to have a conversation that was equal parts Personal Marketing, SMTA Involvement, but also really interesting technical conversation as he got into discussing ROCKA not just as a company, but as a leader in modern stencil roll development.
Speaking of marketing, we are going to need to get some kind of credit for helping launch the new campaign slogan for the special polyester blend of stencil roll that performs so well, "Where You Spray, It Will Stay".

Rev 2.25 - Sutharshan from SMT Elite @SMTAI

We knew Sutharshan just got elected to the SMTA Board of Directors (Congratulations!), but we didn't know his full background with the SMTA. It's been 18 Years since the first time Sutharshan expressed interest in learning more about the SMTA! Safe to say he has made the most of his time participating in various ways in that time.
SMT Elite is a newer venture for Sutharshan, but with experience in process engineering, DFM reviews, constant knowledge absorption via regularly scheduled webinars and training opportunities... He's more than up to the task.

Rev 2.24 - Rob Bugoski from Datest @SMTAI

This is an excellent blend of technical conversation and personal experiences of the connections formed in this community, especially via SMTA activity. Robert Boguski is entertaining and humorous while discussing his company's background and role, and there are plenty of laughs in the first half while generally keeping to industry topics.
But for those of you who like to learn more about:the personal lives of our hosts and guests... the experiences behind the scenes and outside of primary employment that help shape who we are at work...the support you can receive from participation in organizations such as the SMTA...
this one is a treat. Learn how the real quality connections made initially for networking turn into lifesavers and genuine supports in times of need. Thank you Robert for one of our longest and most dynamic conversations at SMTAI.
From Producer Paul: It was because of my involvement in the podcast and all of those who have encouraged us and supported us along the way that I was there with Daniel at the SMTA STAR High Reliability Conference when we got the news about Dad passing. We were fortunate enough to be together, and to be there with some amazing humans who helped us through. Thanks to the Podfather aka Mike Konrad, the Bosom Buddies, all of our awesome GUESTS, fans, supporters, sponsors, mentors, and especially the friends who go well beyond simple industry connections. -PP

Rev 2.23 - Gary from ABW @SMTAI

Gary Bales, President and CEO of Aurora Boardworks, stops by the set to discuss Daniel's employee personnel file! We kid, but we did have a great conversation about ABW's storied history, and their recent investments in new automation and production capabilities.
Thank you to Gary and ABW for their continued support of The D-Code Podcast!

Rev 2.21 - Frank from Essemtec @SMTAI

What does naturally adaptive mean to you?
To @Essemtec it means the ability to dispense solder paste, pick and place components, easy programming, intuitive software, reworking on demand, and more!
The first time we talked to the good people at Essemtec they were already boasting dispensing speeds of 720,000 dots per hour. Now, they are up to 1.1 million dots per hour!
As Sean Kincaid said- Mind blowing! 🤯🤯🤯
Underfill, potting, glue dispensing, flux jetting, reballing BGAs, into cavities or step ups, inline or on an island, what else do you need?
Flexibility in a high-mix/low to medium volume environment is critical. If you are changing setups daily, you are always looking for ways to reduce the downtime of product changeovers. Frank Hart did a great job explaining to us how they provide bespoke solutions for their customers.
Essemtec is redefining what is possible in the SMT world!

Rev 2.22 - Chelsea from KYZEN @SMTAI

We at The D-Code love ‪@KYZEN-Corporation‬. From connecting at events to becoming great friends, we keep trying to find someone from KYZEN we don't like and so far, no dice. This holds true for Chelsea Jewell as well, who was already a great friend of Daniel and Elias , and now Sean has finally met her now by attending SMTAI 2025*. As Application Lab Manager, Chelsea gets to work on just about anything in the cleaning world, as KYZEN operates in most industries that require cleaning technology. With 13 years of experience at KYZEN, she has seen just about everything, but by no means has the job become boring. There are constantly new puzzles to solve, as she describes here!

Rev 2.20 - Jarred from Hanwha @SMTAI

Jarred Ragard discusses customer-driven development and how Hanwha Semitech prioritizes customer needs. It can be difficult to navigate the competing demands of ever smaller components needing quick and accurate placement while at the same time there are larger and more complex components need to be placed in the same line.

Rev 2.19 - David from Inovaxe @SMTAI

One wrong label can ruin thousands of boards.
SMTAI 2025 show highlight Inovaxe
Our podcast is centered around problems and solutions and David Ly from Inovaxe had one for every problem!
We talked about how easily a simple labeling error can snowball a customer supplied reel with multiple stickers, a misprinted internal label, or just one manual transcription mistake. It only takes one mix-up to create thousands of bad panels.
The point David kept coming back to was being proactive, not reactive. The best ROI isn’t waiting until a problem happens, it’s preventing it entirely.
The video shows exactly what that means.
The MODI Incoming Goods Scanner automates the receiving and labeling process to eliminate human error the second material enters the building.
The IMSD2000 Smart Dry Cabinet lets you locate reels before opening the door, protecting MSL parts and extending floor life.
The SREX Smart Racks bring pick-to-light storage that syncs with MES, ERP, and placement machines for full traceability across the factory.
The Smart Stencil Rack tracks stencil usage and maintenance automatically.
The InoBright Feeder Cart Add-On turns standard carts into intelligent, trackable systems with part and setup visibility.
And the VCcount X-Ray Counter brings high-volume, high-accuracy reel counting with splice and bag detection.
Every piece ties back to one theme eliminating manual touch points before they cause downtime or scrap.
Huge thanks to David Ly and the Inovaxe team for walking us through the lineup. Always a great reminder that preventing problems is the smartest investment you can make.