WHAT DOES THE IPC 6011 STANDARD MEAN TO PCB MANUFACTURING?

In this stringent PCB fabrication and manufacturing world, following the industry standards is one primary factor contributing to the OEM’s success. The guiding light for printed circuit board manufacturing is IPC 6011. The global institute of PCB helps PCB manufacturing companies to make better electronics. The association follows the principle that follows:

• Educating and certifying companies on these standards.
• Create a proven industry standard.
• Top-notched leadership increases electronic makers’ ability to meet future-proofing and reliability needs.

1996 the organization developed IPC 6011, the generic performance specification for printed boards.

Although IPC 6011 are more standards for bare board creations than compared to PCB assembly and layout, the OEM and contractors must understand how these guidelines affect the material testing, choice, and whatnot.

What Does IPC 6011 Standard Means?

The three classifications of the devices are based on the IPC 6011 standards, which point out the severity of the defect that is allowed in the PCB. Although some defects are tolerated in Class 1, however class 3 does not tolerate manufacturing defects. If a PCB has severe defects and many issues, such a board will not fall under class 3. These defects disqualify the ranking of these boards as class 3. 

The majority of leading manufacturers make their PCB that meets the IPC standards. Sometimes, it also depends on checking the board for defects and grouping it in the right class. Although some PCB manufacturing firms try to produce the best quality and reliability, you must specify the PCB class you need. It is because not all PCB manufacturing companies are not equipped with the right equipment that meets the standard of class 3 PCBs. In some cases, the board’s performance may not meet the criteria for the class 2 board.

In this case, the board yields more and will help you save more when you choose the class 2 board. However, if the application for which the PCB is used is critical, you must opt for a class 3 board. Make sure you properly discuss the PCB class type your electronics projects may need with the contractor.

What Defects Criteria Are Specified By The IPC 6011?

Several defects are founded in the PCB board. The IPC standards have a list of defects. They have specifications. Some defects can alter the performance, whereas some are only for cosmetic purposes and do not affect the reliability or performance.

• Annular Rings: the IPC 6011 standards specify the hole’s center and ring width around the hole. Class 1 has an 189-degree breakout, whereas Class 2 has a 90-degree breakout. For the class 3 rings, the IPC specifies the minimum measurement at .050mm.
• Solder Joints: the solder coverage for the joints are also specified by the IPC standards. It indicates how well you should use the solder to wet the lead. There are no specifications for class 1 since it is a general electronic product.
• Component Misalignment: good amount of SMT components goes through the tombstone or overhanging of the soldering pad. The IPC has made guidelines for the overhanging components. 

Common IPC 6011 FAQs

IPC 6011 guidelines establish the general requirement for PCBs and outline the required quality levels and reliability. These standards are carved into to establish the roles for the following steps:

• PCB design.
• PCB assembly.
• PCB testing.
• PCB inspection.
• PCB documentation.

Electronical OEM engineers and buying managers wonder what role they play in ensuring that their end products adhere to the IPC 6011 guidelines. The following FAQs shall provide you with a head start in understanding the factors in the following:

• Does my industry get affected by it?
• How does it influence the production process of PCB?
• Who of those invested in the project should worry about the IPC regulations?
• Who is responsible for the IPC – your company or the contractor?

What Are The IPC Categories Definitions?

The IPC 6011 standard states that three class definitions reflect the quality level from lowest to highest. The primary difference in the classification is the degree of inspection needed. 

• IPC 6011 Class 1 Electronics: General Electronics Products.
• IPC 6011 Class 2 Electronics: Dedicated Service Electronical Devices.
• IPC 6011 Class 3 Electronics: Durable Electronic Devices with little room for errors and issues.

Class 1 electronic devices have minimal impact on day-to-day life if it breaks. Class 2 devices, such as TV, can be daunting when they break, but they do not affect your life. The Class 3 devices, such as medical and airspace electronics, cannot fail or be life-threatening.

What Industries Does IPC 6011 Affect?

IPC 6011 affects almost every industry that makes use of PCB components. These industries are, however, they are not limited to:

• Automotive.
• Telecommunications.
• Aerospace.
• Computer design and manufacturing.
• Energy.
• Mining.
• Instrumentation.
• Medical equipment and devices.
• Automotive.
• Industrial equipment and wireless control.
• Military and defense.

How Does IPC 6011 Affect Bare Board Design and Materials?

IPC 6011 standards detail three primary levels of design producibility, which correlates to the requirement of higher sophistication in tooling, processing, and materials. Read the following to understand more clearly:

• Level A: General Design Productibiltity – Preferred.
• Level B: Moderate Design Productibility – Standard.
• Level C: HIGH Design Productibility – Reduced.

Products that take more work and are challenging to produce may need more testing, tighter tolerances, and additional assemblies. Any of these requirements will raise the fabrication costs.

What Defects Do IPC-6011 Standards Reduce?

Although the end goal is to make high-quality stuff, defects are inevitable in PCB production. You can reduce them by adhering to the appropriate protocols to avoid the following:

• Open the solder joints, insufficient solder coverage, and solder bridging.
• Plating voids.
• Component shift or misalignment.
• Non-wetting.
• Acid traps.
• Inoperability.
• Electromagnetic issues.
• Inability to meet wear and utilize demands of the usage classification.
• Failure to meet the user’s needs.

Who Is Responsible For IPC-6011 Standards?

At the start of the project, the project leader and the electronic designer are responsible for cross-initial planning items for the IPC checklist.

• The CAD department works on the tolerances and other exceptions, including formatting the data files.
• The buying department will take over calculating the costs and component accessibilities.
• After the prototypes are tested for the board that can meet the OEM needs, the PCB assembly department will ensure that every staff member involved is trained and certified.

The engineering team will oversee the whole process from start to finish.

Does IPC 6011 Fall More On Supplier or OEM?

Although most PCB manufacturing and assembly services strive to create reliable boards, it is essential that the OEM accurately explains the class of board they need. In case you want IPC class 3 standards, you must choose a supplier that has 3 “E” to the projects:

• Expertise
• Equipment.
• Experience.

If the electronics support human safety and life, sharing the information with your assembler is especially necessary. Other factors that affect the ability of the supplier to do their job are:

• Time and cost constraints.
• Accessibility issues for components.
• Document control.
• Configuration management.

Conclusion

These are all the essential information about IPC-6011 standards and common FAQs people have when they learn about IPC. IPC 6011 standards allow manufacturers to follow certain guidelines about producing PCBs.