Hi, My suggestion would be to run some tests. Create at least 4 different configurations (pad geometries) for each component type and place about of 100 of each on a test board. Run at least 10 boards through manufacturing and do a quantitative analysis to determine which geometry(s) produce the fewest defects. Then no one can argue "whose fault". Best regards, Mario Irigoyen -----Original Message----- From: DesignerCouncil [mailto:[log in to unmask]]On Behalf Of Matthew Lamkin Sent: Monday, August 27, 2001 9:09 AM To: [log in to unmask] Subject: [DC] Capacitor pad reduction ? Hello everyone, I wonder if I can tap into your experience of cracking of ceramic capacitors. I have a situation where the shop floor are having problems with cracked capacitors, due to several possible causes. However, the blame for the problem is being thrown at design with an instruction to reduce the width of the pads (1206/0805/0603 caps only) to be less than the width of the component. Now there are many documents out there advocating using the IPC SM-782-A pads, and many that advocate reducing the pads. However, I have the IPC specs which give me actual dimensions to follow whereas the documents that advocate reduced pad widths do not. Can anyone give me some advice on what size these pads should be when reduced to prevent MLCC cracking? Can anyone supply a URL of a document that gives any good information on this? I have many documents from AVX/SYFER etc on the subject but they do not quote any figures on reducing the width. Thankyou - Matthew Lamkin Protec Fire Detection PLC. England, U.K., Planet Earth. P.S. Come on Steve, I'm timing you now, to see how long it takes until you quote a website....he, he.... ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ----- DesignerCouncil Mail List provided as a free service by IPC using LISTSERV 1.8d To unsubscribe, send a message to [log in to unmask] with following text in the BODY (NOT the subject field): SIGNOFF DesignerCouncil. To set a vacation stop for delivery of DesignerCouncil send: SET DesignerCouncil NOMAIL Search previous postings at: www.ipc.org > On-Line Resources & Databases > E-mail Archives Please visit IPC web site (http://www.ipc.org/html/forum.htm) for additional information, or contact Keach Sasamori at [log in to unmask] or 847-509-9700 ext.5315 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ----- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- DesignerCouncil Mail List provided as a free service by IPC using LISTSERV 1.8d To unsubscribe, send a message to [log in to unmask] with following text in the BODY (NOT the subject field): SIGNOFF DesignerCouncil. To set a vacation stop for delivery of DesignerCouncil send: SET DesignerCouncil NOMAIL Search previous postings at: www.ipc.org > On-Line Resources & Databases > E-mail Archives Please visit IPC web site (http://www.ipc.org/html/forum.htm) for additional information, or contact Keach Sasamori at [log in to unmask] or 847-509-9700 ext.5315 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------