Tekmos' Blog

Tekmos make replacements for mature microprocessors. With the acquisition of Atmel, and we are seeing an increased demand for processors in the 40 pin DIP package. Whereas in the past, we have been dealing with small 100 piece orders, we are now faced with orders of up to 40,000. We had been manually testing the parts, but with the new, larger orders, we needed an automatic handler for testing.

40-pin DIP packages are a very old package design, dating from back in the 70's. They are not very popular, and are not supported by modern handlers. So our only choice was to go to the second hand market, and hope for the best.

In this case, we found a high volume, tri-temperature, 600-mil DIP handler. There are a number of 600 mil DIP packages, including the 40-pin package. We bid on the auction, and won. The handler was in Germany, and so we had to have it shipped back to America.

As you can see in the pictures, it is strange looking machine, but in excellent shape. It did take us a little while to bring it up. The on-board diagnostics were all in German, which none of us speak. Fortunately, the Google translate app in our phones came to the rescue, and allowed us to communicate with the handler. Our only problem was that it tended to throw empty part tubes around. After a few adjustments, the tubes wound up in the correct holding bin, and we have had no other problems.

Tekmos has the unique distinction of having Eagle Scouts and family members of Eagle Scouts among its ranks, including the founder and president, Lynn Reed. Eagle Scout is the highest rank attainable in the Boy Scout program of the Boy Scouts of America (BSA).

Eagle Scout Tekmos Team Members include Vema, Will, Clay, Alan, Adrian and Vishnu, along with Lynn Reed. Vema says "Scouting was a good time to practice leadership. As a Scout I found through camping in cold, rainy weather I had to get out of my comfort zone. All of my experiences in Scouts prepared me for real life." When Will was asked about his experiences he stated, "I learned about the world, how to organize, about fundraising, how to get along with others, and being an Eagle Scout influenced who I am today as well as got me this job."

Clay, a junior in college who has worked several summers at Tekmos says, "Scouts helped me gain friendships I can count on and made me more aware of putting others needs before mine." Alan works full time at Tekmos now, but worked summers and breaks while in school. "I learned a sense of leadership and management particularly creating my Eagle Scout project where one has to plan everything in advance and then be completely removed from the equation so that the project can be implemented. It was my first experience with managing and leadership from afar."

Adrian, the testing floor manager, says of his Scout experiences, "Scouting has been a good way of life. It has provided me with the tools for leadership to take on any obstacle and be successful." Adrian earned all 121 merit badges in 2007, the first to earn that distinction in Central Texas. He held that position for close to 10 years. Vishnu, a recent graduate from college, will be leaving to join the military. "Scouts gave me the confidence to get up in front of people, give orders, and direct. I also learned to accept when I was wrong and take advice."

Other Tekmos Team members associated with Boy Scouts are Carole Reed, who serves as the Capitol Area Council Advancement Chair for the greater Austin area. She began volunteering when her sons were in Cub Scouts and finds it rewarding to watch the young boys grow to such fine young men from their scouting experiencing.

Tekmos Team members gathered together for the first time for what hopefully will be a twice annual camp out at Oxford Ranch Campground in Llano, Texas, in the heart of the Texas Hill Country. April in the Texas Hill Country means lots of wildflowers, including the state flower, the bluebonnet, and perfect spring temperatures with many options for hiking, visiting a Presidential home, or wine tasting.

The afternoon was spent playing card games, relaxing and visiting followed by an evening of great food and music. Tekmos resident chef/cook, Phil Buck prepared an enjoyable dinner consisting of the perfect camp food; hamburgers, hot dogs, barbecue chicken, green beans, caramelized carrots, French fries to rave about, macaroni and cheese followed by s'mores.The rest of the evening we were serenaded by engineer, Rick Holman's strum of the guitar and country/blue lyrics. After a good night sleep in the fresh Hill Country air and a tasty breakfast, some went for a hike to Enchanted Rock for a good stretch of the leg and commune with nature. Others ventured to Fredericksburg for great shopping and home to more than 15 vineyards and wineries.

Oxford Ranch Campground 160 acres is located approximately ten miles south of Llano off of State Hwy 16 in the Texas Hill Country. A working cattle ranch offers tent camping under oak trees, bath-house (with hot showers) and also have hiking, mountain biking and trail rides available. This camp is close to one of the starting points for the back roads to Click scenic route if you are interested in exploring the boondocks. RV sites are available and pets are ok if kept on a leash.

Enchanted Rock (16710 Ranch Rd 965, Fredericksburg TX) is an enormous pink granite pluton batholith located in the Llano Uplift approximately 17 miles (27 km) north of Fredericksburg, and 24 miles (39 km) south of Llano, Texas. Archaeologists discovered trace of human life back 11,000 years. Folklore of local Tonkawa, Apache and Comanche tribes ascribes magical and spiritual powers to the rock (hence the name 'Enchanted Rock').

"Hill Country" is a vernacular term applied to a region including all or part of twenty-five counties near the geographical center of Texas. It is bordered on the east and south by the Balcones Escarpment, on the west by the relatively un- dissected Edwards Plateau, and on the north by rolling plains and prairies. The elevations range from less than 1000 feet in the south and eastern areas of the Hill Country and generally rise toward the north and west to reach more than 2500 feet.

Tekmos has just doubled our test capacity, and this is the story behind it. Once you have chosen a brand of testers, there are strong incentives to keep on using that brand. The first is the cost of test hardware. Each part has a dedicated load board. While each hardware set is on the order of a thousand dollars, we do a lot of chips and over time we have hundreds of thousands of dollars invested in test hardware that is dedicated to a specific tester. Another incentive is the software associated with the test programs. We have man-years of engineering time invested in the test programs which would be lost with a new tester brand.

That is why we were excited to learn that a major semiconductor foundry was closing their test facility, and selling six of the same brand of tester that we use. Used testers sell at a steep discount, and we got a good purchase price.

The main issue was that the testers were in China, and it was our responsibility to get them back to Texas. 

The first step was to hire a Chinese packing company. Each tester and each manipulator was put in a hermetic bag, and then packed in a custom shipping crate. Then, all 12 crates were packed in a 40 foot shipping container. We then made arrangements to have the container shipped from Shanghai to Houston.

We knew the name of the ship, and as a result, were able to track it's movements across the Pacific, through the Panama Canal, and on to Houston. The tracking detail was accurate enough that we could see it wait as the locks filled on the canal.

Well, the New Year is fast approaching. To me, this is always an exciting and somewhat magical time. It gives us the opportunity to take a pause, look at things, and maybe be a little more honest about those changes we seem to have put off throughout the year behind us. Everyone has their own list. Of course we all want to lose a little more weight. We should stop procrastinating whatever that thing that needs to be done in the garage is. And we should probably be a little nicer to whichever aunt, uncle or obnoxious cousin it is that you have been avoiding all year until the holidays.

We are all guilty of those lists, and they are always good for a chuckle. But around Tekmos, we are taking those lists a little more seriously this time of year. Our quality system actually demands it. In that light, we are pleased to announce that Tekmos has gone through the auditing process, passed, and received our updated BSI ISO 9001 and 14001 certificates.

Around here, we don't just make resolutions, we actually put them in writing. And if I do say so myself, we do a pretty good job of making those goals happen. That is what our customers expect, and what we expect to do for our customers. Of course we are going to be a little nicer to crazy Uncle Joe. And I really am going to lose that weight next year. But even if that doesn't happen, it is nice to know that you can come by Tekmos, and see that some resolutions really are set in stone. That is always a good comfort this time of year, for our customers, and also for our-selves as well.