Verify Your Design to IPC Standards
Design for Manufacturing (DFM) is a necessary but often neglected - or even skipped - step in the product development phase. This can be due to time constraints, cost issues, and more.
IPC is addressing several of these obstacles: We have extracted the design requirements from our standards, performed industry research, and established a generic ruleset for DFM: Nine profiles have been created according to Performance Classes 1, 2, and 3 (IPC-A-610) and Producibility Levels A, B, and C (IPC-2221).
These requirements are sourced from IPC-2221, IPC-2222, IPC-2226, IPC-2152, IPC-6012, IPC-7351, and IPC-J-STD-001. Based on extensive IPC research, line and space values are set to industry averages.
These nine IPC DFM profiles span the electronics landscape, addressing design rules for everything from off-the-shelf electronics to human-life-critical electronics, from easy-to-produce printed circuit boards to high-density circuits.
Keeping DFM Profiles Up To Date
IPC has completed its first round of updates since its launch six months ago. A major effort was placed on increasing the amount of data underlying the line and space values and to consider IPC-2226. The IPC DFM Profiles now cover values for copper weights from 0.125 - 6 ounces of both inner and outer layers in all 9 Profiles from 1A to 3C.
Using IPC DFM Profiles
IPC is collaborating with several companies to implement these IPC DFM profiles for designers to use.
Do you have questions about IPC DFM or any of the DFM tools below? Please use the form below to contact us, and we will reply quickly.
Siemens PCBflow
Siemens PCBflow is a web-based platform that lets you quickly implement IPC DFM in your designs. Set up a company account and connect with IPC in the PCBflow network.
The PCBflow platform allows you to upload a design file and Bill of Materials (BOM), select the IPC profile that best fits your product requirements, and run a DFM analysis. PCBflow will report any deviations to relevant IPC requirements in a way that is easy to understand and identify in your design.
Most standard data formats are supported, including IPC-2581, ODB++, and Gerber. The PCBflow tool works independently from any ECAD software.
Learn more about PCBflow here.
IPC DFM Profiles Demo in PCBflow
Peter Tranitz provides a demo and explanation on IPC DFM profiles and there use in PCBflow.
Utilization of IPC DFM Profiles in Xpedition and PADS
The IPC DFM Profiles, generated for PCBflow utilization, are also accessible in the Xpedition and PADS Professional Premium software environments. The following demo explains how to install and use these Profiles in Expedition. The utilization of PADS is analog.