Hi, Can someone please offer me some guidance regarding some component damage acceptance criteria from within EIA595 vs IPC-A-610. I work for an electronics company releasing products to IPC-A-610 class 3 standard. We procure PWBs through a sub-contractor who also have to release the product to IPC-A-610 class 3 (we do not impose any criteria on the component quality, apart from type, value, tolerance etc). We have recently noticed some surface damage to some surface-mount 1208 capacitors on our PWBs from our sub-contractor which do not meet the requirements of IPC-A-610 (no damage allowed for class 3 products). From persuing this back through our PWB sub-contractor, they have advised us that the parts are not being damaged through their process (tests have proven this) but the parts are being received by them in this condition. The component manufacturer release the parts to EIA595 standards which does allow surface damage. We have, to date, no experience of electrical failure of these capacitors, the issue is only of a difference of acceptability between the IPC standard and the EIA standard. The component supplier has advised that they can supply components which will meet the IPC class 3 standards, but this will require an increase of 25% in the cost of the parts. From review of the component manufacturing process, a visual inspection is carried on the parts prior to electrical testing and any components that fail the EIA specification are rejected at that stage. My concerns are; 1. What are the reliability implications of using components which show minor surface damage which are within EIA595 standards but do not meet IPC- A-610 class 3 standards. 2. Which standard normally takes precedence. Many thanks in advance for any feedback. --------------------------------------------------- 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 847-615-7100 ext.2815 -----------------------------------------------------