IPC-2221B tackles new technologies, techniques

Citation

(2013), "IPC-2221B tackles new technologies, techniques", Soldering & Surface Mount Technology, Vol. 25 No. 2. https://doi.org/10.1108/ssmt.2013.21925baa.013

IPC-2221B tackles new technologies, techniques

Article Type: Industry news From: Soldering & Surface Mount Technology, Volume 25, Issue 2

As chip sizes shrink and system features and functions expand, board designers are increasingly challenged with recalling all the parameters and guidelines they need for every aspect of board layout. The newly revised, 170-page, IPC-2221B, generic standard on printed board design, provides a basis for the design of all types of printed boards and addresses areas as diverse as testing, via protection, test coupon designs and surface finishes.

IPC-2221B also provides details on via protection, which is becoming more important as the number of via holes on a typical board increases. Another significant addition to the revised standard is the new Appendix A that details a new set of test coupon designs that are utilized for lot acceptance and periodic conformance testing in accordance with performance specifications including IPC-6012C, qualification and performance specification for rigid printed boards and IPC-6013B, qualification and performance specification for flexible printed boards.

For example, the new AB/R coupon used for plated hole/via evaluation and thermal stress testing has been designed to accommodate blind, buried and mircovia structures used in today’s printed boards. The AB/R coupon and the other eight designs within Appendix A represent a significant improvement over the legacy IPC-2221 coupon designs that date back more than 23 years which are now contained in Appendix B for existing designs.

The completion of IPC-2221B marks the finish of the three main documents for printed board design. “We’ve had a nice trifecta in the last few years,” Perry said. “IPC-2222A, sectional design standard for rigid organic printed boards came out two years ago, and IPC-2223C, sectional design standard for flexible printed boards, came out last year. This latest release completes an update of the most widely used standards in the IPC-2220 design series”.

IPC-2221B, generic standard on printed board design is available for purchase by IPC members for $50. The industry price is $100. For more information or to purchase the standard, visit: www.ipc.org/2221 Speedline Technologies appointed CRM Synergies as its distribution partner in Spain and Portugal.