You may have found such a situation, most of the PCB boards are with green colors, while other colors are relatively rare to see, do you know why?
As we know that the Printed Circuits Board consists of Solder Mask Layer, Silk screen layer, solder PAD, Copper traces, surface finishing and other parts, etc.
Among them, the solder mask refers to the part of the PCB that is covered by oil. Since most PCB boards use green oil, the part of the green oil that can be seen on the board surface is the solder mask, which play an important role during the reflow soldering process.
green solder mask
Then why are most of the PCB boards green? The main reasons are as follows:
Green is less irritating to the eyes. We all know that green is good for the eyes and can resists fatigue. So when the PCB board with green solder mask, relative production and maintenance personnel are not prone to eye fatigue when staring at the PCB board for a long time, and it is less harmful to the eyes.
2. Cost for Green oil is lower. Since green is the mainstream in the production process, the purchase of natural green oil will be larger, and the purchase cost of green solder mask will be lower than other colors. At the same time, using the same color oil in mass production can also reduce the replacement cost.
When the board works on the SMT soldering process, it needs to go through the process from Tinning, post soldering and final AOI inspection. These processes all need to be optically positioned and calibrated. The green background color is better for the recognition of the instrument.
PCBA AOI testing
Okay, now, do you understand why most of PCB boards are with green colors?
Though we know green is the most common one, but other colors such as red, yellow, blue, purple, black or some other colors are okay for us to make.
solder mask colors
If you have PCB board with a special color want to make, please contact us and we will try best effort to meet your request.
For LED packaging, the cooling performance of the substrate will directly affect the relevant performance of the LED. Due to the low thermal conductivity of the insulation layer, the overall thermal conductivity is generally only 2~5W / (m K), which often causes high working temperature, stability and life decline of LED. Therefore, it is necessary to know the advantages of sinkpad copper substrate.
Doule sided sinkpad of copper board
From the perspective of substrate, the application advantages of copper substrate in heat dissipation.
The copper substrate is used in the field of heat dissipation, mainly because the sinkpad copper substrate has the following advantages: high density, strong heat dissipation ability, the circuit part and the contact part of the products to achieve zero thermal resistance, can effectively extend the life of the products. Large power, strong thermal bearing capacity of copper substrate, according to the actual work requirements of tin spray, gold precipitation, silver plating and other effective treatment, to ensure the effectiveness of the surface treatment.
From the perspective of production process, the application advantages of thermal power separation copper substrate in module thermal resistance and chip temperature compared with ordinary copper substrate.
Different LED models and modules cause different thermoelectric effects. When using the common copper substrate, the junction temperature of LED chip is 72.41 ℃. However, when using the sink-pad copper substrate link, the detection shows that: the junction temperature of LED chip is 48.72 ℃. When using the common copper substrate, the thermal resistance of the module is 4.24 ℃ /W. However, after the use of sink-pad copper substrate, the overall thermal resistance of the module was detected to be 2.13 ℃ /W. Due to the different material properties, the thermal resistance of the module thermometer at the bottom of the substrate was different.
From the perspective of heat dissipation theory, for the ordinary copper substrate, the diffusion path of the heat flow is the line layer (copper foil) → thermal conductivity insulation layer copper base. The interface between metal and insulation has high thermal resistance and low thermal conductivity. In the sinkpad copper substrate, the convex platform and the base are actually a whole, and most of the heat will choose to spread through the metal, and only a small amount of heat is transmitted through the interface between the metal and the insulating layer, which greatly improves the thermal conductivity of the substrate.
According to the heat dissipation theory of LED, reducing the junction temperature of LED beads can effectively improve the light output efficiency of LED, enhance the performance stability of LED, and greatly extend the service life of LED module.
Therefore, in LED products application, the choice of thermal separated copper substrate is the best choice.
After manufacturing the Metal Core PCB, there is a shelf life, once the shelf life has passed, we need to bake the bare board before assembling the components, otherwise the MCPCB is prone to burst when the SMT line is produced. There are industry specifications for both how long MCPCB can be stored and how long they can be baked.
If the packing bag is sealed, and the manufacturing date is within 2 months, it can be directly used before assembly.
The manufacturing date is within 2 months, and the unpacking date must be marked after unpacking.
The manufacturing date is within 2 months, and it must be assembled and used within 5 days after unpacking.
Baking Time
If unpacked for more than 5 days within 2 months of the manufacturing date, bake at 120±5°C for 1 hour
Two months after the manufacturing date, baking at 120±5°C for 1 hour before assembly.
Two to Six months after the manufacturing date, baking at 120±5°C for 2 hours before assembly.
Six to Twelve months after the manufacturing date, baking at 120±5°C for 4 hours before assembly.
The MCPCB after baking must be used up within 5 days (put into IR REFLOW), and unused board must be baked for another hour before assembly.
Over half one year after the manufacturing date, bake at 120±5°C for 4 hours before assembly, and then send it to the production line to do HASL_LF before using.
Baking Machine
Preservation & Baking Standard for in different regions
The specific storage time and baking temperature of MCPCB are not only related to the production capacity and production process of manufacturer, but also have a great relationship with the region.
For areas with heavier humidity, the MCPCB must be used up within 24 hours when exposed to the air, otherwise it is easy to oxidize. After normal opening, it is best to use it up in 8 hours.
For areas with a relatively dry climate, the preservation time of PCB will be longer, and the baking time can also be shorter. The baking temperature is generally 120±5°C, and the baking time is determined according to the specific situation.
The MCPCB with OSP or Gold Immersion has a shelf life of 6 months after packaging, and it is generally not recommended to bake for MCPCB with OSP.
PCB board with SMT
If you have other questions about MCPCB, welcome to contact us.
With the continuous upgrading and optimization of electronic products, the PCBs as the carrier of components have also been continuously improved, and ceramic circuit boards have appeared. So, compared with traditional glass fiber (FR-4), aluminum-based and copper-based, what’s the advantages of ceramic PCB?
1. Stable flatness
Ordinary PCB is usually made by bonding copper foil and substrate, and the substrate material is mostly glass fiber (FR-4), phenolic resin (FR-3), aluminum-based, copper-based, PTFE, composite ceramics and other materials. The mixture is usually phenolic, epoxy, etc. Due to thermal stress, chemical factors, improper production technology and other reasons during PCB processing, or due to asymmetric copper paving on both sides during the design process, it is easy to cause the PCB board to warp to varying degrees. The ceramic circuit board is hard with good heat dissipation performance, and low thermal expansion coefficient. At the same time, the ceramic circuit board is bonded to the base material by magnetron/vacuum sputtering. The bonding force is strong and the copper foil will not fall off. High reliability, thus avoiding the
2. Large current carrying capacity:
100A current continuously passes through the 1mm 0.3mm copper board, and the temperature rise is about 17°C; 100A current continuously passes through the 2mm 0.3mm board, and the temperature rise is only about 5°C.
3. Thermal conductivity:
The thermal conductivity of alumina can reach 15~35, and that of aluminum nitride can reach 170~230. Because in the case of high bonding strength, its thermal expansion coefficient will be more matched, and the tested tensile value can reach 45 MPa.
4. Thermal conductivity:
The thermal conductivity of the high thermal conductivity aluminum substrate is generally 1-4W/M. K, and the thermal conductivity of the ceramic substrate can reach about 220W/M. K depending on its preparation method and material formula.
5. Low thermal resistance:
The thermal resistance of a 10—10mm ceramic substrate is 0.63mm thick. The thermal resistance of a ceramic substrate is 0.31K/W, the thermal resistance of a 0.38mm thick ceramic substrate is 0.19K/W, and the thermal resistance of a 0.25mm thick ceramic substrate is 0.14K /W. Â
6. Good insulation performance, high pressure resistance, protection of personal safety and equipment, strong bonding force, bonding technology, copper foil will not fall off, high reliability, stable performance in high temperature and high humidity environments.
7. Stable high-frequency performance, AK and DK values are lower than its PTFE, in line with ceramics.
In summary, with its advantages, ceramic circuit boards have been used in high-power power electronic modules, solar panel components, high-frequency switching power supplies, solid state relays, automotive electronics, aerospace, military electronics, high-power LED lighting products, and communications Antennas, automotive sensors, refrigeration sheets and other fields are widely used.
In year 2019, one of our US customers asked us, Marina can EBest Circuit (Best Technology) make a Coil PCB (Printed Circuit Board) with FR4 material? Yes, of course, we can make different kinds of PCB for our customer, included for the Coils PCB, which currently is widely used for wireless charging and antenna products. Please see the following Coils board from EBest Circuit (Best Technology).
The manufacturing process is same as other PCB manufacturing process, and just make sure the etching process and pay attention for the etching tolerance of the coils trace. And when coils PCB board finished, do you know what kind of test need to do to check the functional of Coils boards?
Today I would like to share how EBest Circuit (Best Technology) test Coil PCB board. Everyone knows that we check the quality of PCB board with Flying probe tester, as the production efficiency is extremely low and the inductance and capacitance cannot be accurately measured. In this way, we need to use LCR meter to make verify the inductance and capacitance. See the LCT meter as following.
EBest Circuit (Best Technology) chooses the digital meter LCR Meter to test the impedance characteristics of the coil. From the LCR tester you know see two numbers, one for inductance and another for resistance.
After test each coils printed circuit board, we will make record at our paper to make sure every measurement data will meet for customer requirement.
Currently, LCR Meter only provides a single-channel test function, and can only test the impedance characteristics of a set of coils at a time. But this is the effective test method for Coil printed Circuit Board. But we believe we will buy more LCR meters to let the test coil board become quicker.
If you have any comments on the testing for Coil printed circuit board, you are welcome to send us query and we are happy to discuss with you. You can visit www.bestpcbs.com to know more about us. Thank you
Maybe you’ve ever been recommended by your PCB manufacturer to add a mouse bite on the PCB edge？
But, what’s mouse bites? Is it something about the Rat?
Of course not, it is kind of connection way for PCB Panel.
As you know, usually the Printed Circuits Boards are manufactured on a standard sized panel, and sometime, the panel will with sharp edges, and those sharp edges are often referred to as “mouse bites” and they are left over after depanelization.
Mouse Bites usually presented as row of tiny holes on the board edge, just like the half holes around a stamp, which to connect and allow those small boards in an array.
mouse bite stamp holes on the PCB edge
Here is the picture for you to see how the mouse bites presented on the Gerber drawing and what it is when it is finished.
Partial Effect drawing after Penalization: (the way of connecting bridge is used in the middle, this way can reduce the residue of burr in minimize)
Partial Effect drawing pcb panel
PCB panel mouse bite
Some People also called mouse bites as perforated breakaway tabs, it is designed for a better the purpose of the mouse bites is for a better grasp when mounted.
Here is the design rules if you need to add the mouse bites on your PCB panel.
The distance between each single board need to arranged as 1.2mm and 1.6mm.
The distance between each holes need to be 0.2mm, the distance between holes center should be 0.75mm.
Need to add two rows, the mouse bites extend to 1/3 of the board, if there is a some circuits on the board edge, you will need to avoid it.
After adding mouse bites, the shapes of the two sides of the hole are connected, which is convenient for the production of gongs after work.
Here are some of our PCB with mouse bites for your reference.
mouse bite PCB EBest Circuit (Best Technology)
PCB with mouse bit
If you want to add mouse bites on your PCB board, you are welcome to send us your request and we will help you make it on your PCB Panel.
Regarding all Metal core PCB required panelization, which needs to take into account how the boards are connected. There are two main connection methods for panel: Double face carved V-shaped groove (V-CUT), and the long slot plus a small circular hole (commonly known as stamp hole), depending on the shape of the PCB.
V-CUT
V-CUT is to draw a slot at the junction of two boards, where the connection of the boards is relatively thin and easy to break. Currently SMT Board is widely used, characterized with neat and level edges after separation, which is recommended as priority.
V-cuts are generally straight lines, and there will be no complicated traces such as curved arcs, so pay attention to be in a straight line when making the panelization. Please also note the following two points.
â‘ The two sides of V-CUT line (top side and bottom side) require a no circuits area that is not smaller than 1mm, to avoid the damage circuits when separating.
② After cutting the V-shaped groove, the remaining thickness should be 1/4 to 1/3 of the total board thickness , which is not smaller than 0.4mm.
V-Cut
Stamp Holes/Mouse Bite
For irregular PCB boards, the shape of the board has curved corners, there will be many burrs if use V-cut. In this case the stamp hole connection would be the better choice.
Panelization Rules:
The spacing between the panel and the board is 1.2mm or 1.6mm.
The diameter of hole is 0.55mm, generally a row of 8 holes (Hole count depends on the design requirements, more holes can enhance the stability), the spacing of the two holes is 0.2mm.
The distance between the upper and lower rows of holes is 2mm, and 1/3 of the stamp holes enter the board. Pay attention to avoid the circuit on the edge of the board.
After adding the stamp holes, the shape of both sides of the hole need to be connected to facilitate the subsequent routing manufacturing.
The part picture after panelization.(Using the connection bridge in the middle, which can minimize the residual.)
Part Picture
The effect picture after panelization.
Stamp Holes
If you want to learn more about MCPCB design, welcome contact us.
In the ceramic circuit board processing and production process, laser processing mainly includes laser drilling and laser cutting.
Ceramic materials such as alumina and aluminum nitride have the advantages of high thermal conductivity, high insulation and high temperature resistance, and have a wide range of applications in the fields of electronics and semiconductors. However, ceramic materials have high hardness and brittleness, and its molding and processing are very difficult, especially the processing of micropores. Due to the high power density and good directivity of the laser, lasers are generally used to perforate ceramic plates. Laser ceramic perforation generally uses pulsed lasers or quasi-continuous lasers (fiber lasers). The laser beam is focused on On the workpiece placed perpendicular to the laser axis, a laser beam with high energy density (105-109w/cm2) is emitted to melt and vaporize the material. An air stream coaxial with the beam is ejected by the laser cutting head to remove the melted material from The bottom of the incision is blown out to gradually form a through hole.
Due to the small size and high density of electronic devices and semiconductor components, the precision and speed of laser drilling are required to be high. According to the different requirements of component applications, electronic devices and semiconductor components have small size and high density. Due to its characteristics, the precision and speed of laser drilling are required to be high. According to the different requirements of component applications, the diameter of the micro-hole is in the range of 0.05 to 0.2 mm. For lasers used for ceramic precision processing, generally the focal spot diameter of the laser is less than or equal to 0.05mm. Depending on the thickness and size of the ceramic plate, it is generally possible to control the defocus to achieve through-hole punching of different apertures. For through-holes with a diameter less than 0.15mm, drilling can be achieved by controlling the defocus amount.
There are mainly two types method for cutting ceramic PCB: waterjet cutting and laser cutting. Currently, fiber lasers are mostly used for laser cutting. Fiber laser cutting ceramic circuit boards has the following advantages:
(1) High precision, fast speed, narrow cutting seam, small heat-affected zone, smooth cutting surface without burrs.
(2) The laser cutting head will not touch the surface of the material and will not scratch the workpiece.
(3) The slit is narrow, the heat-affected zone is small, the local deformation of the workpiece is extremely small, and there is no mechanical deformation.
(4) The processing flexibility is good, it can process any graphics, and it can also cut pipes and other special-shaped materials.
Al2O3 PCB with drilling
AlN PCB with drilling
 Under the development trend of light and thin, miniaturization, etc., the traditional cutting processing method has not been able to meet the demand due to the insufficient precision. Laser is a non-contact processing tool, which has obvious advantages over traditional processing methods in cutting process, and plays a very important role in the processing of ceramic substrate PCB.
Please contact sales@bestpcbs.com if you want to know more ceramic PCB.
When the bare Printed Circuit Board qty become volume fabrication, the PCB manufacture will not use the Probe flying tester to test the PCB circuit board. Best Tech will make new PCB test fixture to test the bare PCB, The electrical Test (E-test), which is the final electrical test to verify net continuity and the absence of shorts on the bare printed circuit boards (PCBs). In Best Tech PCB factory, we perform 100% electrical testing on all bare PCBs its facilities as per IPC-6012 class 2 standard. And from the following photo in computer, you can see it will show PASS for PCB.
in test
in test
To test the PCB boards, we require the NETLIST file. Normally we create a reference netlist file from the customer’s original Gerber files during PCB fabrication.
We always prefer to receive the CAD file based on the netlist for comparison. Since a CAD based netlist is generated before PCB routing, it provides another layer of checking (against the Gerber files). This allows us to catch any PCB faults introducing in the event of an error in the Gerber files. For full turnkey PCB assembly (PCBA service) projects, this helps to ensure that the PCB boards are 100% correct before any components are populated.
tester 2
tester2
Here are Best Tech E-tester Capabilities
Minimum Continuity Resistance
0.1 Ohms
Maximum Test Voltage
1000 Volts
Max Isolated Resistance
25 M Ohm – 2 G Ohm
Electrical Test Pitch (Fixture)
20mil(0.5mm)
Electrical Test Pitch (Flying Probe)
4mil
Debug /check for missing pins: (Test fixture)
10 minutes
Test time per board:
40 seconds
Setup time:
30 minutes
All points are tested simultaneously. However, this process involves set-up to create the fixture itself and additional costs associated with the cost of materials.
The electrical test fixture has a limited shelf life and repeat using times. For every PCB it will need a fixture and its custom-made for a customer only. Many other factories only store 2 years shelf life for electrical test fixtures, but Best Tech will store at least 3 years for customer.
In order to ensure the quality of fixtures and spare enough space to store fixtures, Best Tech leaves one floor to keep the fixture. See attached fixture photo.
tester 1
tester1
During the 3 years’ time, customer no need to pay the fixture charge again if the update is no update. The flexible test fixture shelf-life policy, it will help customer save the cost.
At the end of the PCB production process, we use electrical test to check the interconnectivity of the PCB is correct against the original board data.
Best Tech did the E-Tester to test the PCB 100% before delivery to customer, this makes Best Tech get highly comments from our customer on the world with good printed circuit board quality and best service. See the customer highly comments of Best Tech.
Do you know what is IPC standard for PCB?IPC, it is a trade association whose goal is to standardize the assembly and production requirements of electronic devices and components.  It was established in 1957 as the Institute of Printed Circuits.  IPC has developed thousands of standards and specifications to regulate the electronics manufacturing industry.
IPC standards are related to PCB design, production technology, electronic assembly, etc., in order to achieve high reliability, high quality, high performance, and meet user specifications.
What are the IPC Standards for?
Before we can understand IPC standards, we first need to know who made them. It comes from the IPC Association, a trade association whose goal is to standardize assembly and production requirements for electronic devices and components. It was founded in 1957 as the Printed Circuit Research Institute. Its name was later changed to the Institute for Electronic Circuit Interconnection and Packaging to highlight the expansion from bare boards to packages and electronic components. In 1999, the organization officially changed its name to IPC with the slogan “Association Connecting Electronics Industries”.
IPC standards are the most widely recognized code of acceptability in the electronics industry. The organization publishes standards for nearly every stage of the electronic product development cycle, including design, procurement, assembly, packaging, and more. In other words, IPC standards refer to everything in the electronics industry and are the basic knowledge of designers and manufacturers.
Just like the IPC standards tree, there are many different aspects of standards that all serve the end product. IPC-A-610, for example, focuses on the acceptability of electronic components and is used worldwide by original equipment manufacturers and EMS companies.
What is the PCB IPC Standard?
IPC plays a vital role in the PCB industry by establishing standards that cover every stage of PCB production from design to manufacturing. These standards ensure consistency and compatibility throughout the PCB process. During the design phase, IPC standards guide file formats, PCB design software, design guidelines, and electronic product documentation. They also affect the material selection of PCB components, surface mount equipment and surface treatments. In addition, these standards are essential for testing and evaluating the acceptability of printed boards.
When it comes to welding, IPC standards cover a variety of techniques, including reflow soldering, wave soldering and welding. These guidelines help companies determine whether their electrical and electronic components meet quality expectations during manufacturing. IPC standards also address cable and harness assemblies to ensure they meet standards.
The most widely recognized IPC standard for PCBs is IPC-6011, which Outlines the performance requirements for PCBS. However, IPC-6012 is more specific and governs the qualification and performance of rigid PCBs. IPC-6012 covers everything from how the PCB should be made to its thickness and the integrity of the copper layer. Compliance with this standard ensures that PCBs meet electrical and mechanical performance expectations. Whether you’re creating boards for high-end computers or small consumer devices, compliance with PCB IPC standards is critical to meeting industry and customer expectations. Here is the IPC tree for your reference:
What is the IPC Level of PCB?
One of the most widely used industry standards in the manufacturing of printed circuit boards is IPC-A-610C Acceptability of Electronic Assemblies and IPC-A-600 Acceptability of Printed Boards. This standard is used primarily for the incoming inspection of bare boards from a PCB fabricator.
In the IPC-A-610C document, electronic products are divided into level 1, level 2, and level 3. The higher the level, the stricter the quality inspection conditions. Here are how 3 levels divided:
Level 1 products: called general-purpose electronic products. Including consumer electronic products, certain computers and their peripherals, and products whose main purpose is to use functions.
Level 2 products: called dedicated service electronic products. Including communication equipment, complex industrial and commercial equipment and high-performance, long-life measuring instruments. Under normal use environment, this kind of product should not malfunction.
Level 3 products: called high-performance electronic products. Including high-reliability, long-life military and civilian equipment that can continue to operate. This kind of product must not allow any interruption failure during use, and at the same time, it is necessary to ensure the reliable startup and operation of the equipment in a harsh environment. Such as medical life-saving equipment and all military equipment systems.
For PCB manufacturing, do you know which IPC standards are commonly used?
multilayer pcb
IPC Standard for PCBs
The IPC has created several standards for printed circuit board (PCB) design, manufacturing, and assembly. Here I would like to share you some standards which we mainly use:
IPC-2221
A general standard that covers almost every aspect of PCB design, including electrical considerations, thermal design, and manufacturing-ready design.
IPC-2222
A guide for rigid PCB cross-sectional design, including recommendations for board thickness, hole aspect ratio, and dielectric clearance.
IPC-2223
A standard for reliable Flex-PCB design, including guidelines for material selection, impedance control, and pad placement.
IPC-2224
A standard for PC card form PCBs, including design requirements for organic and inorganic materials, and single, double, or multilayered interconnections.
IPC-A-610
A standard for PCB assembly that classifies PCBs into three quality levels, with Class 1 being the lowest and Class 3 being the highest.
IPC-6011
General Performance Specification for Printed Boards
IPC-6012
Appraisal performance and specifications for Rigid printed boards
IPC-6013
Appraisal performance and specifications for Flexible printed boards
Appraisal and performance of permanent performance
IPC-HM-860
Multilayer Hybrid Circuit Specification
J-STD-003
Solderable test for printed boards
IPC-A-600F
Acceptance conditions for printed boards
IPC-4761
Design Guide for Protection of Printed Board Via Structure
resin filled production bpm20599
What is IPC-A-610 Standard?
IPC-A-610 Standard is one of the most widely recognized standards in the electronics industry, specifically focusing on the acceptability of electronic assemblies. It provides detailed guidelines and criteria for the inspection of PCB assemblies, so that these assemblies meet the necessary quality levels for their intended use. Its main content includes:
1. Soldering Criteria
IPC-A-610 provides in-depth guidelines on acceptable soldering techniques, covering solder joints, surface mount devices (SMDs), through-hole components, and wire terminations. It explains what constitutes an acceptable versus defective solder joint, ensuring that the electrical connections are reliable.
2. Component Placement
The standard includes criteria for the correct placement and alignment of electronic components on PCBs. It specifies the acceptable tolerances for misalignment and ensures components are correctly placed for proper electrical performance and physical integrity.
3. PCB Assembly Defects
IPC-A-610 details different types of assembly defects, such as insufficient solder, tombstoning, lifted pads, and more. Each defect is categorized based on its severity and impact on the function and reliability of the product, providing guidance on whether a defect can be accepted or if it requires rework.
4. Classes of Electronic Assemblies
The standard divides electronic assemblies into three classes based on the end-use of the product:
Class 1 – General electronic products
Class 2 – Dedicated service electronic products
Class 3 – High-performance products
5. Mechanical Assembly
IPC-A-610 provides criteria for the mechanical aspects of PCB assemblies, such as mounting hardware, screws, connectors, and wire routing.
6. Coating and Potting
The standard covers the application of protective coatings (conformal coatings) and potting materials that protect the PCB from environmental damage such as moisture, dust, or chemicals. It specifies acceptable thicknesses, coverage areas, and inspection methods.
7. Cleaning Requirements
The cleanliness of PCB assemblies is critical for preventing performance degradation over time. IPC-A-610 outlines acceptable levels of residues from fluxes and other contaminants and specifies methods for inspecting and verifying cleanliness.
8. Cable and Wire Harness Assemblies
The standard includes requirements for assembling and inspecting cable and wire harnesses.
9. Solderless Wire Wraps
The standard also touches on solderless wire-wrapped connections, which are used in some applications where soldering is not practical or preferred. IPC-A-610 defines the acceptable criteria for such connections.
10. Inspection and Testing
The IPC-A-610 standard provides guidelines for visual inspection and testing methods used to evaluate whether an assembly meets the required acceptability criteria. This can include both automated and manual inspection processes, depending on the class of product.
Why IPC Standard is Important?
IPC standards are of great importance to the circuit board industry.
1. IPC standard specifies the requirements for all aspects of the design, manufacturing and assembly of the circuit board, including material selection, size specifications, welding quality, reliability testing, etc., providing a unified reference and guide for circuit board manufacturers to improve product quality and reliability.
2. IPC standards can help communicate and cooperate between PCB manufacturers and customers. By referring to IPC standards, the two parties can reach a consensus on PCB specifications, quality requirements and other aspects, reduce misunderstandings and disputes, and improve production efficiency.
3. For customers, IPC standards provide confidence. When a company adheres to these standards, they can trust that the final product will be reliable and durable, even in demanding environments.
4. In addition, IPC standards also contribute to the technological innovation and development of the circuit board manufacturing industry. By being in line with international standards and understanding the latest technological trends and standard requirements, manufacturers can continuously improve production processes and equipment, improve production efficiency and product quality, and enhance competitiveness.
At the same time, IPC regularly updates and revises standards to meet changing technology and market needs.
What is the IPC Standard for PCB Clearance?
PCB clearance, or the distance between conductive components, is essential to avoid electrical shorts or interference. Without proper clearance, electrical shorts could occur, potentially leading to device failure or safety hazards. The IPC-2221 standard covers PCB design and provides guidelines for this clearance, ensuring safety and functionality. This standard specifies how much space is needed between traces, pads, and other conductive materials depending on the operating voltage. However, the minimum clearance between any two conductors on a PCB depends on the device’s intended use and voltage:
General-purpose devices:Â 0.1 mm (4 mils)Â
Power conversion devices:Â 0.13 mm (5.1 mils)Â
Class 2 and 3 PCBs:Â 0.25 mm (10 mils) for low voltage and 0.5 mm (20 mils) for high voltageÂ
What are the IPC Standards for PCB Repair?
PCB repair can be tricky, but IPC-7711/7721 offers guidance on how to properly rework and repair PCBs. These standards provide detailed procedures for everything from removing defective components to repairing damaged traces and soldering issues.
By following IPC-7711/7721, technicians can restore a PCB to its original condition without compromising its performance. This is critical in industries where PCBs are expensive or difficult to replace, such as aerospace and medical devices. Repair standards also reduce the environmental impact by extending the life of the PCB, making repairs more sustainable.
It is no problem for us to manufacture the PCB following the standard in IPC 6012 /6013 Class 2 and Class 3, as well as following to the standard listed above. These acceptance conditions are the basis for the inspection of our company’s products, as well as the working standards of the employees at the production site, and also become an important part of the training of the employees for PCB production and assembly in our company.
Send us your PCB drawing, let’s help to make your PCB design into a real board.
