Fabrication instructions

[Derek Wynne]

Hi All,

I am in the process of writing a generic fabrication document to send to our PCB vendors. Quoting the standards that our boards are to be built to, default standards, cleanliness spec etc.

Does anyone else use this sort of document to back up their fabrication notes. If so can I have some pointers to get me going, or enen bette a copy (confidential) of any document that you currently use.

Thanks in advance

Derek

[Tom]

Derek,

Normally all manufacturing notes and requirements are best kept with the drill drawing.
I.E.: A drill drawing consists of:
Fabrication Notes
Lay-up Detail
Drill Chart
Dimensioned Board Outline
Drill Symbols
A UL Location Marker

Now if you want to create a Word Document instead of putting fabrication notes in your drawing, I recommend that you at least call out the existance of this new document in your drill drawing. That way if it gets lost or misplaced they will ask for it.

I'm attaching a document that we use. You can customize it for every board. To unprotect the document, select Tools/Unprotect.
Edit the document and to protect it again select Tools/Protect Document/Forms.

Also, I would not give the manufacturer a master copy of the document. I would give them a .PDF file so they cannot modify the wording.

[peter408]

The IPC documents called out on the fabrication drawing should be enough to back up the acceptability of bare and assembled boards. You can purchase the documents, but I believe that most vendors have them, at least in the U.S. I am not sure about Europe.

Peter Pietrangelo
Tyco Healthcare
Pleasanton, CA.

[cadpro2k]

Yes, the IPC documentation called on the drawing, say IPC-6011 and 6012 call out MOST things, but...

If you look into the IPC specs you also find things that IPC says ARE TO BE STATED ON THE DRAWING. It might seem redundant, but these are still things for each fab drawing (or as Tom has, in a notes document) to fully specify. A simple read of the specs is highly recommended.

Good day.
Mitch

[Crayola]

Where could I find some sample fab notes for a lead-free design?

TIA,
Eric.

[peter408]

I was talking about acceptability of the boards (cleanliness, breakout etc) not design notes (ie: soldermask type, material etc.)

[r_canor]

I was talking about acceptability of the boards (cleanliness, breakout etc) not design notes (ie: soldermask type, material etc.)

Maybe you can add to your notes about the resist process. That it should be acceptable to point out that there should be an even resist coating, that is no splat.
Usually, our clients requesting PCB is strict about Boards' grooming because it will be for presentation.

Although I said for presentation, it does not necessarily mean excluding mass produced PCBs.

Silkscreen offset, usually silkscreen printing experienced offset which are rather not negligible. This is very important for CSP's, manual board assembly refer only to this silkscreen for aligning the pads.

[r_canor]

Where could I find some sample fab notes for a lead-free design?

TIA,
Eric.

What do you mean by Lead-free design?

Usually, Lead-free is factory dependent. And its all up to you, what components do you want your board to contain.

[Skip Yutkus]

Anyone using these notes as a basis should be aware that "warp and twist not to exceed 10%" = .100 in/in or 1 inch over 10 inches - 1% is more appropriate .010 in/in.

Skip

[r_canor]

Anyone tried making a two-colored silkscreen in one PCB?

There is one phrase in my Design that was requested to be in pink, while the rest is in white.

[Skip Yutkus]

Never done it but there is no reason why it couldn't be done - pink??? I won't ask.:)

Skip

[r_canor]

Never done it but there is no reason why it couldn't be done - pink??? I won't ask.:)

Skip

Yeah pink! My client would love that, he even requested the boards to be assembled with multi-colored testpins. ;)