FAB Notes Recommendations for RoHS-Compliant Lead-Free-Capable PCBs.

How do YOU assure your PCBs surviving the high LF-soldering temperatures?

Engelmaier Associates, L.C. announces the availability of a multi-client study/white paper titled: "WHITE PAPER REPORT: Recommendations for PCB FAB Notes and Specifications in Printed Circuit Board Drawings for SnPb and Lead-Free Soldering Assemblies, the Qualification of PCB Shops and Activities to Assure Continued Quality."

It can be argued, that the biggest threat to electronic hardware reliability posed by the change to lead-free solders are problems with printed circuit boards. As indicated by the title, in this report recommendations are made regarding appropriate specifications and 'FAB Notes' on drawings for printed circuit boards (PCBs), general procedures to qualify PCB shops and to assure they would be producing PCBs of good quality, and testing procedures to verify quality and reliability.   It provides necessary material selection information that is inadequately given on the slash sheets in IPC-4101. It contains examples--one for SnPb solder assemblies and one for RoHS-compliant Pb-free solder assemblies--of 'FAB Notes' serving as general specifications on PCB drawings, a basic questionnaire for new PCB shops to be qualified meant as a supplement to IPC-1710, as well as recommendations for ongoing activities to assure that qualified PCB shops maintain the quality of the PCBs produced by them. All the recommendations are fully researched and referenced.