Uploaded May 2026 | Updated September 2026, 3 weeks ago
Altium Develop gives your entire team real-time visibility into PCB design, supply chain, and manufacturing — all in one connected platform: altium.com/develop?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=video&utm_campaign=ontrack-podcast&utm_content=pcb-metrology-gap-how-scan-labs-is-automating-microsectioning
The PCB industry has long relied on manual microsectioning to verify board quality — but as densities increase and skilled labor becomes harder to retain, that process is breaking down. In this episode of the Altium OnTrack Podcast, host Zach Peterson welcomes back Geoffrey Leeds, founder of SCAN Labs, for his third appearance on the show. Geoffrey breaks down what he calls the "metrology gap" — the widening divide between the precision measurement capabilities available to semiconductor manufacturers and those available to PCB fabricators — and explains why this gap is becoming a critical problem for high-reliability industries like defense, aerospace, medical, and automotive.
SCAN Labs is addressing this gap head-on with a heavily automated, third-party inspection and test laboratory that specializes in microsectioning for electronics verification. Geoffrey walks through the company's serialized grinding and imaging system, which can produce a fully analyzed IPC coupon roughly every six minutes, generating high-confidence metrology data at scale. The conversation also covers the role of AI and LLMs in electronics manufacturing, the limits of current non-destructive inspection methods, and Geoffrey's vision for standardizing metrology data reporting in collaboration with IPC — so that as-built data can feed directly back into design and simulation tools.
👉 Resources from this Episode:
- Connect with Geoffrey: linkedin.com/in/geoffrey-leeds-63389773
- Learn more about SCAN Labs: linkedin.com/company/scan-laboratories
💡 Stay Connected:
Don't forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more in-depth tutorials and tips from @AltiumAcademy. Share your thoughts and questions in the comments below!
👉 Subscribe for more: youtube.com/@AltiumAcademy?sub_confirmation=1
Don't forget to follow us on social to stay up-to-date on the latest Altium Academy content.
👉 Follow Altium on TikTok: tiktok.com/@altiumdesigner
👉 Follow Altium on Twitter: twitter.com/altium
👉 Follow Altium on Linkedin: linkedin.com/company/altium
👉 Follow Altium on Facebook: facebook.com/AltiumOfficial
The Altium Academy is an online experience created to bring modern education to PCB Designers and Engineers all across the world. Here you can access a vast library of free training and educational content covering everything from basic design to advanced principles and step-by-step walkthroughs. Join industry legends as they share their career knowledge, review real-life design projects, or learn how to leverage one of Altium's leading design tools. No matter your level of experience, the Altium Academy can help you become a better Designer and Engineer!
About Altium LLC
Altium LLC (ASX:ALU), a global software company based in San Diego, California, is accelerating the pace of innovation through electronics. From individual inventors to multinational corporations, more PCB designers and engineers choose Altium software to design and realize electronics-based products.
#Altium #PCBManufacturing #Metrology
0:00 Intro ️
03:13 Third-Party Lab Problem
08:08 Micro Sectioning Challenges
10:46 Semi-Automated Grinding ️
13:46 Customized Internal Automation ️
17:31 Metrology Equipment Limitations
20:37 Physics & Blueprint for PCBs ️
23:18 Validating Microstructures
26:34 Lack of Industry Investment
29:41 Costly FIB-SEM Units
34:13 Apex Demo Reception
36:53 Imaging and Etching Process
40:41 Microvia Glass Weave Contact
44:24 LLM Spatial Understanding ️
48:08 Standardizing Metrology Data
Altium Develop gives your entire team real-time visibility into PCB design, supply chain, and manufacturing — all in one connected platform: altium.com/develop?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=video&utm_campaign=ontrack-podcast&utm_content=pcb-metrology-gap-how-scan-labs-is-automating-microsectioning
The PCB industry has long relied on manual microsectioning to verify board quality — but as densities increase and skilled labor becomes harder to retain, that process is breaking down. In this episode of the Altium OnTrack Podcast, host Zach Peterson welcomes back Geoffrey Leeds, founder of SCAN Labs, for his third appearance on the show. Geoffrey breaks down what he calls the "metrology gap" — the widening divide between the precision measurement capabilities available to semiconductor manufacturers and those available to PCB fabricators — and explains why this gap is becoming a critical problem for high-reliability industries like defense, aerospace, medical, and automotive.
SCAN Labs is addressing this gap head-on with a heavily automated, third-party inspection and test laboratory that specializes in microsectioning for electronics verification. Geoffrey walks through the company's serialized grinding and imaging system, which can produce a fully analyzed IPC coupon roughly every six minutes, generating high-confidence metrology data at scale. The conversation also covers the role of AI and LLMs in electronics manufacturing, the limits of current non-destructive inspection methods, and Geoffrey's vision for standardizing metrology data reporting in collaboration with IPC — so that as-built data can feed directly back into design and simulation tools.
👉 Resources from this Episode:
- Connect with Geoffrey: linkedin.com/in/geoffrey-leeds-63389773
- Learn more about SCAN Labs: linkedin.com/company/scan-laboratories
💡 Stay Connected:
Don't forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more in-depth tutorials and tips from @AltiumAcademy. Share your thoughts and questions in the comments below!
👉 Subscribe for more: youtube.com/@AltiumAcademy?sub_confirmation=1
Don't forget to follow us on social to stay up-to-date on the latest Altium Academy content.
👉 Follow Altium on TikTok: tiktok.com/@altiumdesigner
👉 Follow Altium on Twitter: twitter.com/altium
👉 Follow Altium on Linkedin: linkedin.com/company/altium
👉 Follow Altium on Facebook: facebook.com/AltiumOfficial
The Altium Academy is an online experience created to bring modern education to PCB Designers and Engineers all across the world. Here you can access a vast library of free training and educational content covering everything from basic design to advanced principles and step-by-step walkthroughs. Join industry legends as they share their career knowledge, review real-life design projects, or learn how to leverage one of Altium's leading design tools. No matter your level of experience, the Altium Academy can help you become a better Designer and Engineer!
About Altium LLC
Altium LLC (ASX:ALU), a global software company based in San Diego, California, is accelerating the pace of innovation through electronics. From individual inventors to multinational corporations, more PCB designers and engineers choose Altium software to design and realize electronics-based products.
#Altium #PCBManufacturing #Metrology
0:00 Intro ️
03:13 Third-Party Lab Problem
08:08 Micro Sectioning Challenges
10:46 Semi-Automated Grinding ️
13:46 Customized Internal Automation ️
17:31 Metrology Equipment Limitations
20:37 Physics & Blueprint for PCBs ️
23:18 Validating Microstructures
26:34 Lack of Industry Investment
29:41 Costly FIB-SEM Units
34:13 Apex Demo Reception
36:53 Imaging and Etching Process
40:41 Microvia Glass Weave Contact
44:24 LLM Spatial Understanding ️
48:08 Standardizing Metrology Data
