What Are IPC Standards?
IPC is the official name of the association which produces PCB-related standards. The association was formerly called the Institute for Printed Circuits (hence the acronym “IPC”), but is presently called the Association Connecting Electronics Industries—even though it retains the IPC moniker.
IPC, itself, is an international industry association consisting of more than 4,000 member companies that make, use, specify, and design PCBs and assemblies, including:
advanced microelectronics
aerospace and military
automotive
computer
industrial equipment
medical equipment and devices
telecommunications industry
IPC standards are the electronics-industry-adopted standards for design, PCB manufacturing, and electronic assembly. There’s an IPC standard associated with just about every step of PCB design, production, and assembly .
A Short History of IPC Standards
The Institute for Printed Circuits (IPC) was founded by six printed circuit board manufacturers in 1957.
In 1977, its official name was changed to the Institute for Interconnecting and Packaging Electronic Circuits, as a result of more electronic assembly companies becoming involved with the IPC association. And by 1998, because most people in the industry either could not remember the full name .the association adopted IPC as the official name.
1964 was also an exciting year for IPC because, according to IPC, the first version of their IPC-A-600 standard was published. Known as the Acceptability of Printed Boards, the IPC-A-600 standard is still the main source of visual support for the bare board acceptability requirements contained in the IPC-6010 series, and has been revised and updated seven times since 1964.
In 1978 London, as one of its first major international events, IPC sponsored the First Printed Circuit World Convention (PCWC). This conference brought together Printed Wiring Board (PWB) associations from around the world, with sponsors of this event including:
IPC
EIPC (European Institute for Printed Circuits)
ICT (Institute of Circuit Technology UK)
JPCA (Japan Printed Circuit Association)
Printed Circuit Group IMF (Institute of Metal Finishing UK)
1994 marked a major event in the history of IPC because, for the very first time, IPC offered their certification and training program based on IPC-A-610B, Acceptability of Electronic Assemblies. Again, according to ipc.org, “Today, IPC-A-610 training is conducted in many languages around the world and has a user base of more than 10,000 instructor certifications. These instructors, in turn, have trained nearly 125,000 engineers, operators, inspectors, buyers and members of management teams. In addition, this certification program has spawned a number of other IPC certification efforts.”
The year 2002 brought IPC’s highly-received and their most widely-used standard: the IPC-A-620, Requirements and Acceptance for Cable and Wire Harness Assemblies. I, for one, can attest as to why this standard was received so well as I have used it often and find it very insightful.
In 2017, celebrating their 60th anniversary, the IPC worldwide membership has climbed to an all-time high with more than 4,000 member sites in 79 countries.
Where to Get IPC Standards
While IPC standards are not free, they can be purchased for a discount from the IPC store if you’re an IPC member.
About Wonderful
Shenzhen Wonderful Technology Co., Ltd. is China’s top model and small batch circuit board manufacturer.
The company targets precision circuit board samples and small batches as the main target market. Since its establishment, it has adhered to the development concept of good quality and important reputation.
Invest huge sums of money to introduce advanced equipment, strictly regulate the operating standards and QC standards for incoming and outgoing materials, to ensure that the shipped products reach Seiko quality.
The self-developed ERP management system can realize the whole process of paperless operations such as online ordering, online payment, online production progress query, online logistics tracking, and online statistical report production, which greatly improves work efficiency.
It ensures that each order can be shipped quickly. After more than ten years of development, the company’s products and services have been well received by the market.
As well as the opening of an electronic component mall, integrated circuits, semiconductors, resistors, capacitors and other products are sold.
The company’s scale is developing rapidly, and the sample and small batch shipment capacity reaches 500 models/day.
The products are widely used in communications, medical equipment, industrial control products, aviation, military products, testing instruments,Automotive, computers and other peripheral products.
We will continue to pay attention to customers, with efficient delivery speed and perfect after-sales service, to become the most trusted brand supplier in the PCB industry.
Wonderful PCB You can send us your requirements first. Click here to contact us.
You can click our component store. Please click here to contact us.
English