Hello, Great response, but it brings up a question? Even though you spec a class 3 finished raw board and\or assembly how are you sure you are getting class 3 finished product? In my opinion, if you pick a top pc fab supplier you will get class 3 product! The processes remain the same just different inspection criteria maybe? They don't change the processes and baths, etc.. Dan Mauro Dale Ritzen writes: > Marie, > The one reason for having a class 3 finished product, per IPC-A-610, is the > big one... your customer's request. A lot of times, as a manufacturer, you > don't know what the final product is that the finished assembly is going > into. So, the customer tells you what their expectations are. I have a > customer right now that specifies an IPC-A-610 class 3 finished assembly, > and will not let us use anything but an IPC-A-600 class 3 raw board to build > that product on. > > The key issue here is the expectation of your customer. During the contract > review step you need to get a clear reading on the "wiggle room" you have in > this regard. Some customers will be specific in their requirements. Others > will let you do a cost/benefit "DFM" investigation of the desired result and > allow you to make the decision on the board/assembly mix (with their > blessing, of course, to keep you out of hot water later!). > > I CAN get IPC-A-610 class 3 workmanship on a class 2 raw board, but I would > never represent it as a class 3 finished product unless the customer has > agreed that it is indeed that. A true, bona fide class 3 product is one that > uses a class 3 raw board platform and class 3 workmanship/soldering/assembly > for the final, completed assembly. It may seem like semantics, but it really > isn't. There's a set of standards here that leave little room for > misunderstanding if the customer knows them and expects the desired result. > > My 2 cents worth... Have a Happy New Year! > > Dale Ritzen, CQA > Quality Manager > Austin Manufacturing Services > > > -----Original Message----- > From: TechNet [mailto:[log in to unmask]]On Behalf Of Dobbs, Marie > Sent: Tuesday, December 30, 2003 8:51 AM > To: [log in to unmask] > Subject: [TN] IPC Board Quality > > > I am looking for your opinions and experience. > IPC has the 3 levels of classification for the Acceptability pf Electronic > Assemblies, and IPC also offers 3 levels of classification for the > fabrication of Printed Circuit boards. > > My question is this- Can I purchase a Class 2 Fabricated Printed Circuit > Card, and Expect to get Class 3 Workmanship Solder Joints from Manufacturing > Wave Soldering and Employee Hand Soldering? > > > One additional question, Other than the Military and NASA, what kinds of > products do you feel require the guidelines of a Class 3 Board and or > Assembly. > > > Any input is greatly appreciated. > > Marie A. Dobbs > Training and Development Specialist > 100 Technology Drive > Westminster, MA 01473 > Phone: 1-978-731-6827 > Fax: 1-978-731-6950 > > --------------------------------------------------- > Technet Mail List provided as a service by IPC using LISTSERV 1.8e > To unsubscribe, send a message to [log in to unmask] with following text in > the BODY (NOT the subject field): SIGNOFF Technet > To temporarily halt or (re-start) delivery of Technet send e-mail to > [log in to unmask]: SET Technet NOMAIL or (MAIL) > To receive ONE mailing per day of all the posts: send e-mail to > [log in to unmask]: SET Technet Digest > Search the archives of previous posts at: http://listserv.ipc.org/archives > Please visit IPC web site http://www.ipc.org/contentpage.asp?Pageid=4.3.16 > for additional information, or contact Keach Sasamori at [log in to unmask] or > 847-509-9700 ext.5315 > ----------------------------------------------------- > > --------------------------------------------------- > Technet Mail List provided as a service by IPC using LISTSERV 1.8e > To unsubscribe, send a message to [log in to unmask] with following text in > the BODY (NOT the subject field): SIGNOFF Technet > To temporarily halt or (re-start) delivery of Technet send e-mail to [log in to unmask]: SET Technet NOMAIL or (MAIL) > To receive ONE mailing per day of all the posts: send e-mail to [log in to unmask]: SET Technet Digest > Search the archives of previous posts at: http://listserv.ipc.org/archives > Please visit IPC web site http://www.ipc.org/contentpage.asp?Pageid=4.3.16 for additional information, or contact Keach Sasamori at [log in to unmask] or 847-509-9700 ext.5315 > ----------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------- Technet Mail List provided as a service by IPC using LISTSERV 1.8e To unsubscribe, send a message to [log in to unmask] with following text in the BODY (NOT the subject field): SIGNOFF Technet To temporarily halt or (re-start) delivery of Technet send e-mail to [log in to unmask]: SET Technet NOMAIL or (MAIL) To receive ONE mailing per day of all the posts: send e-mail to [log in to unmask]: SET Technet Digest Search the archives of previous posts at: http://listserv.ipc.org/archives Please visit IPC web site http://www.ipc.org/contentpage.asp?Pageid=4.3.16 for additional information, or contact Keach Sasamori at [log in to unmask] or 847-509-9700 ext.5315 -----------------------------------------------------