IPC-A-600, Acceptability of Printed Boards, is the most widely used published specification on printed wiring boards. This specification has set the standard for PCB workmanship quality with its comprehensive acceptance criteria for target, acceptance, and nonconforming conditions on bare printed boards. It includes extensive acceptance criteria including full color illustrations and photographs showing all types of printed board surface and internal conditions. PCB manufacturers and assemblers alike rely on this internationally recognized document to improve their understanding of printed board issues as well as to help enhance communication with their suppliers and customers. It is important so that both user and manufacturer of printed wiring boards may "speak the same language" with respect to PCB specifications.

Worker Proficiency students will be evaluated on their mastery of the IPC-A-600 material through end-of-course tests that have both open-book and closed-book components. Students must receive an average of at least 70% on both tests. Upon satisfactory completion of the course, participants will receive an IPC certification that is valid for 24 months . The IPC-A-600, Acceptability of Printed Boards, is a worldwide standard on the acceptability of bare/unpopulated printed circuit boards.

Topics Include:

• PCB classifications
• PCB acceptance criteria
• Base material surface and subsurface conditions such as delamination and crazing
• Plated-through hole requirements for copper plating thickness, voids and cracks amongst others
• Conductor width and spacing including annular ring requirements
• Solder resist coverage over conductors as well as their registration to lands
• Dielectric material criteria for etchback, voids, and resin recession
• Acceptance criteria for flexible, rigid-flex and metal core printed boards

This is a 3-day, lecture only course that teaches students the accept/reject criteria in the IPC-A-600, for all three classes of PCB assembly. Classes can be taught in the BEST mobile training center, online, at your location or at a BEST training location.

Course Objective

- Have the ability to identify acceptable/non-conforming conditions for surface imperfection, subsurface imperfections, imperfections in the conductive circuitry, hole characteristics, solder resist imperfections, marking anomalies, and dimensional characteristics

- Be able to reference the IPC-A-600

- Earn overall score of 70% or better on the IPC examinations in order for certification

Materials Provided

• IPC-A-600 specification (Purchase an IPC-A-600 standard here)
• IPC certificate of completion