Learn about the new IPC-A-600 Update 

In April 2010, IPC released the H revision of it’s popular IPC-A-600 standard, “Acceptability of Printed Boards”, providing over 95 new or updated photos and illustrations, that inspectors can use for comparisons to what they’re seeing.

The new revision also provides new or expanded coverage on topics such as solder mask coverage, etchback, plated hole wall integrity, via fill, flexible circuits, and more. The enhancements make it simpler for board manufactures and customers to agree on the quality of the boards.

Other externally observable characteristics include printed board edges, base material subsurfaces, solder coating and fused tin lead, printed contacts and markings. Inspectors can also check images to see how solder mask, holes and pattern definition should look. Internally observable characteristics like dielectric materials, conductive patterns, and plated-through holes are also discussed.

Along with photos, the standard provides guidelines that help ensure that printed circuit boards meet requirements when they roll off manufacturing lines. Revision H addresses complex issues like copper cap-plating of vias and sufficient copper-wrap plating, helping product developers determine plating thicknesses and other parameters.

The document also provides methodologies for removing excess material that accumulates when holes are filled.

Another issue faced by inspectors is determining how many boards and/or test coupons to check. That’s addressed in the 600H’s related qualification documents, IPC-6012C, and IPC-6013B. These documents detail the frequency of inspection and how many panels must be examined within a production lot for a given performance class to ensure that quality levels are met.

All these documents were updated at the same time, ensuring that data used by inspectors represents the latest techniques known to experts throughout the industry. Together, these documents provide a major advance that will help companies improve quality without dramatically increasing the amount of time spent on inspection. As OEM’s mover closer to zero defect levels, the standards will help fabricators and assemblers meet ever-tightening requirements.

For more information please visit www.circuitree.com or www.ipc.org/600 or www.ipc.org/6012.

For more information on the IPC-A-600 Update Standard please
contact us at 412-828-5322 or click here to contact us online.