Just a little clarification regarding IPC-TM-650, method 2.6.26 This method has NOT been "adopted" by the IPC. It has only recently come out of committee so that it can go to the industry for comments prior to publication. It has taken the committee a very long time to get this method ready to circulate to the populace. Publication of the final form of the document for inclusion into TM-650 is hopefully after EXPO. Currently there are no published pass/fail criteria for this test in any of the IPC specifications or standards. There are a lot of individual companies doing a lot of characterizations and the Post Separation Task Group has just completed a Round Robin to assess correlation between the standard thermal stress test 2.6.8 and IST. That report is also scheduled for publication at EXPO (if I get in gear and finish the strawman for the task group to critique). However there are very strong statements included in that document that tell the populace that the conditions (times, temperatures % change in resistance) in no way should be considered the criteria for pass/fail - or reliability conditions. We can only encourage all of the companies who have this piece of equipment to share the data generated as to laminate material tested, thickness, layer count, cycle parameters etc in order for the groups writing the specifications and standards to use in trying to include this test in our documents. Susan Mansilla Technical Director Robisan Lab Chair IPC-TM-650 Chair Post Separation Task Group This accelerated stress testing method adopted by IPC (TM-650- method 2.6.26) and has been around for several years. This method allows for the assessment of (PTH) and inner layer to (PTH) barrel connections. A special coupon is >> ############################################################## TechNet Mail List provided as a free service by IPC using LISTSERV 1.8c ############################################################## To subscribe/unsubscribe, send a message to [log in to unmask] with following text in the body: To subscribe: SUBSCRIBE TECHNET <your full name> To unsubscribe: SIGNOFF TECHNET ############################################################## Please visit IPC web site (http://www.ipc.org/html/forum.htm) for additional information. If you need assistance - contact Gayatri Sardeshpande at [log in to unmask] or 847-509-9700 ext.5365 ##############################################################