The College of New Jersey was a beneficiary of the New Jersey Equipment Leasing Fund (ELF) program that allows students in all fields to enjoy and take advantage of new high-tech equipment that will aid their academic endeavors. One noteworthy piece of equipment recently acquired by the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering is the Quick Circuit QC5000 – a fast and efficient machine that produces circuit boards on demand. The advantage of this new circuit board maker is that students can fabricate a custom printed circuit board in less than an hour.
“If you have an idea for something and then design a board, you can build the board that afternoon,” said Dr. Larry Pearlstein, associate professor, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering. One of Pearlstein’s students used the machine to create an electric guitar effects pedal controller this past summer.
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A MUSE student created this board using the QC-5000.
“Previously students would send board designs out for fabrication, but that can take up to two weeks to get boards back,” Pearlstein said. “And if you’re in more of a rush, it can become very expensive.” Students will be able to use this machine cost-free on campus and have their boards produced within hours. For quick turnaround, this machine will prove more economical and more effective, as students will be able to control the manufacturing process, according to Pearlstein.
As with any piece of machinery with moving parts, there is basic safety training. Training and usage of the machine is open to all ECE students. If a student would like to learn how to use this machine, he or she can contact Dr. Pearlstein at pearlstl@tcnj.edu.
The unit is located in lab 148B in Armstrong Hall. Here is a video of a senior Electrical Engineering major demonstrating how to operate the machine .