Randy

I would not use IPC-A-600 or IPC-A-610 as a procurement specification as
these are visual standards for the performance specifications IPC-6012 (was
IPC-RB-276) and  J-STD-001.  The introductory paragraphs in the "A" so states
this and you have no sampling plan or periodic evaluations requirements in
the "A" documents.  As many usaer have found out later, if you buy to
IPC-A-600 alone there are no requirements that the supplier ever look at your
product at any time to verify conformance, if at one toime in the distant
past he made a prodcut that met the A-600 requirements that are shown in the
pictures, some suppliers will tell you you that they looked the first board
on your order and thea was good enough.  Preferred callout is " Soldering
shall conform to J-STD-001 (Class 2 or what ever) using visual acceptability
standard IPC-A-610.  With the board specification you should state "The board
shall be fabricated to IPC-6012 Class 2 using IPC-A-600 as a visual
acceptability document.  The 6012 states that you should specify on the
drawing what your minimum spacing shall be on the drawing.  A very common
practice is to state that you want it fabricated per IPC-6012 Class 2 and
then list the exceptions on the drawing.  For example you state "----except
spacing shall not be less than x.xxx inches including isolated areas at any
place between circuits".  Unless you have extremely limited spacing
requirements, board houses do not add more cost for these kind-of normal
conditions that are required for you product.

Phil Hinton
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