What exactly is IPC 620?
Over the years, a comprehensive standard has been established to guarantee that all companies produce safe and high-quality products. This standard encompasses the development, design, testing, manufacturing, and quality control of packaging containers.
Continue reading to delve deeper into the IPC 620 standard and its distinctive functionalities.
What is the IPC 620 Standard?
The IPC 620 Standard is fundamentally defined as a framework established to guide, assess, and test all cable assemblies during the manufacturing and production of wires, harnesses, and cables.
IPC 620 is an abbreviation for the Institute for Printed Circuits. This was the name adopted by the association that represented the electronics industry.
Hence, the IPC 620 harness standard refers to the comprehensive set of measurements and requirements involved in testing assemblies, materials used, production methods employed, and the acceptable criteria in the manufacture and production of wire harnesses. These standards serve as a checklist to determine whether the final product has met the specified requirements outlined in the established standards.
What Are the Tests for Determining Cable and Level Requirements?
The IPC 620 standard delineates three classes of products, ranging from Class 1 to Class 3. These classes differentiate products based on their functionality, sustained performance under demand, equipment downtime, and the end-use environment.
What are the Types of Electronic Product Classification Set by IPC 620 Standards?
The process of manufacturing cable assemblies and wire harnesses is important in the evaluation classes to which assemblies are identified.
These three classes include;
- General
- Dedicated Service
- High Performance/Harsh Environment.
Based on the intended use for assemblies, let’s look at the three product classes.
Class 1: General Electronic Products Classification
This class comprises products suitable for diverse applications, with a particular emphasis on ensuring the proper function of a completed assembly. This includes everyday consumer appliances.
Class 2: Dedicated Service Electronic Products Classification
In this class, products exhibit continuous feature performance and have an extended lifespan, such as gaming PCs, mobile phones, and televisions. These products are designed to provide uninterrupted service, and failures are typically not due to the end-user environment.
Class 3: High-Performance Electronic Products Classification
This class involves the production of assemblies that require continuous performance. Equipment tolerance is crucial, especially in harsh environments. Devices in this category include medical equipment like life support systems and military devices.
The accept and reject decisions in IPC 620 are based on relevant documentation, such as drawings, contracts, standards, specifications, and reference documents.
What are the Advantages of Using the IPC Standard?
1.An IPC 620 standard helps in bringing in the needed control as far as reliability and quality of the final product are concerned.
2.IPC 620 standards help improve and enhance better communication with suppliers — all people are implementing these standards within this sector. This includes competitors, EMS providers, and suppliers. It’s, therefore, a unifying language.
3.Aids in containing the cost of the products. Abiding by the set’s laws ensures the production of quality assemblies, which eliminates the possibility of reworks, which can be costly.
Concussion
Generally, the IPC 620 Standard plays a crucial role in the production and assembly of wire harnesses and the materials utilized in the manufacturing process. It also holds significant importance in the inspection of the final product. Given that a wire harness or cable connects nearly every electrical equipment or device, adhering to these standards is imperative. Faulty cables, particularly those harnesses used in harsh environments such as automotive, medical, or aerospace, can be among the most challenging items to diagnose.
