K&F Electronics provides pcb design, pcb fabrication, pcb assembly and full box build services. We can also provide reverse engineering services for single and double sided PCB's.
I get excited for every guest on Rapid Fire Manufacturing, but when someone opens with a Randy Savage impression, that’s a great way to kick things off.
I sat down with Sean Kincaid, President of K & F Electronics, President of SMTA Michigan, and the co-host of The D-Code Podcast. His journey in the electronics industry is one of resilience, leadership, and adapting to change.
Some key takeaways from our conversation:
The challenge of competing with overseas pricing and how his company found a niche.
Why certifications like ISO 13485 (medical) and AS 9100 (aerospace) are critical for staying competitive.
The push toward miniaturization in electronics and its impact on manufacturing.
Sean’s passion for American manufacturing is clear in everything he does. This conversation was packed with insight, industry trends, and many laughs.
The full episode is coming soon. If you’re in electronics, manufacturing, or just enjoy hearing real industry stories, stay tuned.
#RapidFireManufacturing#PCBDesign#ThankAMachinist#ThankAnEngineer#ThankAHuman#Manufacturing#ElectronicsDavid Turner
The difference between me and most people? They think too much. Opportunities today can be gone tomorrow.
That’s the Detroit mindset: we don’t wait. That’s why we’re expanding adding 10,000 square feet to our building and pushing forward with ISO 13485 and AS9100 certifications. 2025 is our year, and we’re just getting started.
You have to eat the dream.
You have to sleep the dream.
You have to dream the dream.
You gotta touch it.
You have to see it when nobody else sees it.
You have to feel it when it’s not tangible.
You have to believe it when you cannot see it.
You gotta be possessed with the dream.
Can you see it? It’s ok if you don’t. You will.
Very few understand how hard it is to manufacture and sell circuit boards in the United States these days. We were down and out in 2019, forced to start PCBA just to stay alive. But here’s the thing about my family: when you put us in a corner, we swing back. Every challenge is an opportunity, and we’ve built a legacy of action, innovation, and grit.
#DetroitStrong#PCBA#ISO13485#AS9100#Electronics#Manufacturing#Growth#Leadership#Resilience
Ever wondered how a multilayer circuit board is manufactured? This video shows how copper foil, core and prepreg are turned into a multilayer PCB.
The other day, I was at my buddy Yash Sutariya PCB factory, Saturn Electronics, watching his operators create multilayer "books" for a production run. Seeing the process firsthand reminded me just how fascinating PCB fabrication can be. This particular job involved laminating 4-layer PCBs, stacking 10 panels into a single book to be pressed all at once.
Step 1: The Stack-Up Sequence (Lay-Up)
1. Caul Plate (Steel): This rigid top plate serves as the interface and carrier to the hot press. Further it contains the precise tooling slots critical for layer to layer registration.
2. Press Pad / Pressure Equalization Pad: Serves to equalize pressure across the entire “book” as well as serve as a heat lag to prevent the outermost panels in the book from experiencing too high a rate of rise in temperature as compared to the panels towards the middle of the stack.
3. Separator Plate: A thin steel sheet that provides a smooth surface for the outermost panel to press against.
4. Release Film / Release Sheet: A non-stick layer prevents resin from adhering to the plates, making separation easier post-lamination.
5. Outer Copper Foil: This copper forms the external conductive layer of the PCB.
6. Prepreg (B-Stage Material): A fiberglass layer impregnated with partially cured resin, which flows and bonds layers under heat and pressure.
7. Inner Core: A fully cured fiberglass laminate with etched copper patterns that define the PCB’s internal circuitry.
8. Prepreg: Another layer of prepreg is added to bond the inner core to the next layer (or foil in the case of a 4 layer design).
9. Copper Foil + Aluminum Sheet + Copper Foil (Multilayer Stack Material): The first copper foil forms the last outer layer of the PCB panel. An aluminum sheet prevents this panel from bonding to the next layer. Another copper foil starts the next PCB panel in the “book.” This is preconfigured material all in one sheet.
10. Final Layers: The stack is capped with another release film, separator plate, press pad, and a press plate.
Step 2: The Pressing Process
Once the stack-up is complete, it’s time to bind the layers through heat and pressure:
1. Hot Press Cycle: The stack (or “book”) is subjected to high temperatures (170–200°C+ depending on the resin) and pressure. This process melts the prepreg resin, allowing it to flow and bond all layers together.
2. Cold Press Cycle: After the hot cycle, some processes incorporate a cold press step. Cooling the stack under pressure helps maintain precise layer alignment and reduces potential warpage.
What advancements do you think will shape the future of PCB fabrication? What do you think is the most critical part of PCB fabrication?
#PCBManufacturing#Electronics#Engineering#CircuitBoards#PCBDesign
The CHIPS Act highlights the importance of semiconductors, but where’s the support for PCBs & PCBA?
Our own Sean Kincaid on Zachariah Peterson Altium OnTrack podcast had a great discussion with Zach Peterson about the challenges and future of PCB manufacturing.
They covered:
Why reshoring isn’t just about building boards—it’s about rebuilding the whole supply chain.
The importance of quality control, especially when working with overseas manufacturers.
How advanced manufacturing in the U.S. will need serious government support to compete globally.
They also talked about Sean's experience in the industry, from running a family business to tackling defects as a third-party auditor. The takeaway? There’s a lot to fix, but also a lot of opportunities if we get it right.
What are your thoughts on reshoring and the future of electronics manufacturing?
#PCBs#Electronics#Manufacturing#Reshoring#CHIPSAct
Ever wonder how a circuit board comes together? Check out this 8x sped-up look at our PCB assembly process! In just a few seconds, you’ll see the entire line in action—from solder paste application and SPI (Solder Paste Inspection) to high-speed pick-and-place, then straight through the reflow oven, and finally, automated optical inspection. It’s a behind-the-scenes peek into the precision and efficiency that power modern electronics manufacturing—just a whole lot faster.
Shout out to
Tim Anderson from Omron
Chris Merow from Europlacer
#PCBAssembly#SurfaceMount#Manufacturing#Electronics#HighSpeed#Efficiency
Ever since we brought in that step stencil from Metal Etch Services, Inc., our connector rework went straight to zero—zilch, nada.
You might say, “Hey, what’s the big deal with a fancy stencil?”
It allows more or less paste to be deposited in areas you want. Preventing wetting problems that causes headaches down the line.
It’s like finally getting the right tool for the job.
At the end of the day, when you clock out, you want to feel good knowing you put out the best product you could. Step stencil technology is helping us do just that. Now that’s what I call a real upgrade.
#PCBA#StepStencil#Quality
Founder Aqueous Technologies - Host of the Reliability Matters Podcast - Author of The Reluctant Entrepreneur - Content Creator - Conference Chair for the Pan Pacific Strategic Electronics Symposium - SMTA Board Member
Episode # 158 of the Reliability Matters Podcast is now available!
Today, I’m excited to introduce the hosts of the D-Code podcast, a dynamic trio of young professionals making waves in the electronics manufacturing industry.
With experience rooted in contract manufacturing and stencil fabrication for electronic assemblies, they bring a fresh perspective to the table.
Although they’re at the start of their podcasting journey, The D-Code Podcast has already begun to attract attention, tackling industry insights with a unique lens that up-and-coming voices can uniquely offer.
My guests today are Daniel Stanphill, SMT Process Engineer @ Aurora Boardworks, a contract assembler located in Aurora, Nebraska, Sean Kincaid, President of K & F Electronics, located in Fraser Michigan, also a contract manufacturer, and Elias Malfavon Jr., President of Metal Etch Services, a SMT stencil fabricator located in San Marcos California.
I’ll ask them about their experiences, challenges, and how they’re setting out to decode the world of electronics manufacturing.
https://lnkd.in/gCi27ghi#reliabilitymatters#reliability#podcast
Calibrating the Flying Probe for Electrical Testing
In this video, I'm calibrating the flying probe tester to electrically test a circuit board. This step is the most important part for aligning the probe to the center of each pad based on the Gerber file. Without it precise measurements and error detection will be off!
Here's how it works:
1. The probe begins its alignment process, moving:
All the way right until it stops being conductive. Then all the way left, up, and down to find the exact boundaries.
2. This defines the pad's center in relation to the Gerber data, creating a precise map for testing.
3. Once calibrated, the probe moves systematically, testing the circuit board to ensure every connection is functioning as designed.
After the alignment process, I show the probe in action, performing real-time electrical tests on the board.
Our probes have 4 heads. This is crucial for multilayer testing as with visual inspection alone you can't guarantee electrical connection.
#PCBTesting#FlyingProbe#CircuitBoards
Founder Aqueous Technologies - Host of the Reliability Matters Podcast - Author of The Reluctant Entrepreneur - Content Creator - Conference Chair for the Pan Pacific Strategic Electronics Symposium - SMTA Board Member
Remember the game "Never Have I Ever" from when you were a kid? Well, never have I ever had the kind of kick-butt service that I have seen from K & F Electronics and Sean Kincaid. Sean truly believes in transparency and even helped me work up a mock quote on a new project for budgetary purposes (in real time!). Never have I ever been that surprised by my contract manufacturer.
Elias Malfavon Jr., I seem to recall you saying that my first stencil was free? Sean charged us for this stencil (he texted me this picture when it came in)... Kidding! All the more fun that our purchase supports Metal Etch Services, Inc. and K & F Electronics.
#PCBA#electrical#manufacturing#design#circuits
