Back from the Dead and Back from APEX

Pick, Place, Podcast

Pick, Place, Podcast
Back from the Dead and Back from APEX
May 04, 2026
CircuitHub and Worthington

In this episode, Chris and Melissa return after a long break with a recap of Chris’s trip to APEX. They discuss customer visits, EMS management meetings, the value of trade shows, and why x-ray inspection is becoming such a big topic in PCB assembly. Chris also talks about AI, reusable checklists, his new Feeder Pugs project, and the time a hotel accidentally drilled into his room. Melissa closes things out with a pet peeve about signs that block traffic visibility.

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Episode Artwork Back from the Dead and Back from APEX 50:49 Episode Artwork Smarter Test Plans for Inevitable Failures w/ Blue Clover CEO & Co-founder, Pete Staples 1:20:30 Episode Artwork Inevitable Failures 50:31 Episode Artwork Meet up with Chris in California! 2:13 Episode Artwork IPC's Leadership on Sustainability in Electronics w/ Dr. John W. Mitchell and Dr. Kelly Scanlon 1:10:02 Episode Artwork Innovations in Motorsport Sensor Technology with Caleb Holloway of Izze Racing 1:02:14 Episode Artwork The Challenges of Motorsport Sensor Design with Izze Racing Founder, Caleb Holloway 43:28 Episode Artwork Mastering Vias: Plugging, Filling, and Best Practices 34:46 Episode Artwork Vias, Tenting, and Tiny Fireworks 24:17 Episode Artwork Navigating the Environmental Impact of Electronics w/ Component Sense Founder, Kenny McGee 54:51 Episode Artwork How Component Sense helps components fulfill their destiny w/ Kenny McGee 45:04 Episode Artwork The RGB LED Dilemma in Manufacturing 24:32 Episode Artwork RF Shields and Restroom Rants 35:29 Episode Artwork Stencils: The Unsung Heroes of PCB Perfection Pt. 2 38:10 Episode Artwork Stencils: The Unsung Heroes of PCB Perfection Pt.1 33:19 Episode Artwork IPC APEX EXPO Meetup Recap 33:31 Episode Artwork How IPC President and CEO, Dr. John W. Mitchell is working on solving the workforce problem 1:06:32 Episode Artwork What factors influence PCB quotes w/ Brett Babilonia 55:40 Episode Artwork Stick It Up Your Tube 51:31 Episode Artwork How New Solder Products Are Developed w/ AIM Solder Content Marketing Specialist, Gayle Towell 53:32 Episode Artwork A digitized solution to managing manufacturing workflow processes w/ Praxie CEO, Michael Lynch 52:14 Episode Artwork Conveyers, An Episode You Didn't Know You Needed 55:05 Episode Artwork An Answering Your Questions Grab Bag 59:53 Episode Artwork Impedance Control Demo w/ NCAB Group Field Application Engineer Ryan Miller 1:32:34 Episode Artwork Catch up with Chris 48:11