Jim, I have to take exception to your note. I agree with #1, components will be subjected to higher temperatures. If we do the job right, we should not see increased product failures nor increased costs (except for the learning curve on the front end). There is no evidence that massive equipment expenditures will be required - that will be somewhat dependent on the solutions developed, but the goal is not to incur massive new costs. I also do not understand your comment #5 as I have seen nothing that would be deleterious to the environment in the workable solutions proposed. -----Original Message----- From: Jim Smith [mailto:[log in to unmask]] Sent: Wednesday, August 16, 2000 4:45 PM To: [log in to unmask] Subject: [LF] Lead-Free and Politics Guys: Before I post the following, what do you think? Jim Here's where I antagonize a substantial number of list members... Lead-free knowledge has evolved rapidly and that evolution has been thoroughly reported by members of this forum. From these postings, we now know that removing lead will: 1. Subject components to much higher temperatures than in the past 2. Likely increase product failures 3. Require massive capital equipment expenditures 4. Increase product cost, and 5. Generate environmental benefits ranging from zero to substantially negative Collectively, the electronics industry may be able to mitigate the consequences of item 1 and therefore minimize the failure issue. Items 3 and 4 are pretty much inevitable but would be acceptable (albeit painful) costs of doing business in the event removal of lead would produce a healthier planet. But item 5 trumps all the other items. Engineers may prefer to stick to physical concerns. Unfortunately, however, taking out lead is simply irresponsible given our current level of scientific knowledge. Accordingly, the engineering/scientific community has a social obligation to prevent the world from shooting itself in its collective foot. We are the people with the knowledge of the real consequences of lead removal. To suggest that discussion of politics can or should be taken out of this forum ignores our responsibilities. And IPC as an organization should be leading the education movement to ensure politicians factor the new scientific information into policy decisions. Jim Smith Managing Director Cambridge Management Sciences, Inc. 4285 45th St. S. St. Petersburg, FL 33711-4431 Tel: (727)866-6502 ext. 21 Fax: (727)867-7890 eMail: [log in to unmask] ################################################################ Leadfree E-Mail Forum provided as a free service by IPC using LISTSERV 1.8c ################################################################ To subscribe/unsubscribe, send a message to [log in to unmask] with following text in the body: To subscribe: SUBSCRIBE Leadfree <your full name> To unsubscribe: SIGNOFF Leadfree ############################################################### Please visit IPC's Center for Lead-Free Electronics Assembly (http://www.leadfree.org ) for additional information. For technical support contact Keach Sasamori [log in to unmask] or 847-790-5315. ################################################################ ################################################################ Leadfree E-Mail Forum provided as a free service by IPC using LISTSERV 1.8c ################################################################ To subscribe/unsubscribe, send a message to [log in to unmask] with following text in the body: To subscribe: SUBSCRIBE Leadfree <your full name> To unsubscribe: SIGNOFF Leadfree ############################################################### Please visit IPC's Center for Lead-Free Electronics Assembly (http://www.leadfree.org ) for additional information. For technical support contact Keach Sasamori [log in to unmask] or 847-790-5315. ################################################################