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Why the IPC 2581 Standard is Important for PCB Designers

For some years, printed circuit boards were designed on computers and

data for PCB manufacturing. Over time, there was a change in the formats

of this data used for laying down instructions for the photoplotters. Also,

as the printed circuit board industry saw great innovations, IPC 2581

standard had to take the place for the Gerber and extended Gerber

formats.

As of today, IPC 2581 is known as the PCB manufacturing standard. It has

surpassed its competitor due to its neutral and open nature. Though

Gerber is good, it may have to retire.

Table of Contents

What Does IPC 2581 Mean?

IPC 258 can be described as a standard, which specifies the format for the

organization, as well as the exportation of PCB designs from the CAD to

the CAM systems to achieve e assembly as well as fabrication.

Furthermore, a group of manufacturers back the use of IPC 2581.

Moreover, my developers and manufacturers still haven’t accepted it. The

truth is IPC 2581 can consolidate all the PCB design areas.

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This standard is neutral and open. Its transfer and data methodology

ensures that the data exchange between the CAD and CAM is smoother

without requiring human intervention. Furthermore, the standard helps in

incorporating the single XML based files, which integrate a great set of

data for board manufacturing.

The PCB world’s technological drawbacks reveal the challenge whenever

companies own their personal standards for the transmission of data.

Furthermore, these companies help in defining these standards. The

ODB++ is owned by a provider of PCB layouts, while extended Gerber is

owned by a manufacturer of photoplotter.

It was necessary to move the newly-created parameters from a

development tool into the CAM software or automated placement

machines. These standard administrators failed to meet the industry’s

desires to extend its standards to the new technologies. This is why many

companies usually come together so as to create neutral and open

standards for PCB development. The standard will meet several

requirements.

It is a standardization and global trade organization, which handles the

issues relating to electronics manufacturing. Furthermore, IPC’s activities

include defining the standards and criteria of the industry for the

evaluation of goods produced in our electronics industry.

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Several companies based in the United States and Asia have been able to

convert the standard and also transferred the data into this format.

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What Does IPC 2581 Consortium Entail?

IPC 2581 consortium deals with different supply chain and PCB design

companies. The consortium’s overall goal is the permit, promote, as well

as drive the use of IPC 2581 in the industry. Furthermore, the IPC 2581

consortium seeks to ensure IPC 2581 integrations as a neutral and open

standard. This will reduce costs, increase efficiency, and promote

innovation.

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Also, IPC 2581 standards help in the facilitation of PCB assembly and

manufacturing. It allows the download of the design data without having

to interpret it into the CAM systems. Therefore, this helps in saving both

time and labor in contrast to Gerber projects. In addition, this IPC 2581

consortium is made up of more than 100 members. These also include

participating companies coming from different assembly, CAM, and PCB

manufacturing.

These companies have one goal; which is for IPC 2581 to be a standard for

data exchange in industries such as automotive, telecom, and aerospace.

Why Choose the IPC 2581 Standard?

This graphical foundation can be described among the best benefits of

Gerber file format. The basis functioned properly for the PCB designers

making use of software. Moreover, when you are combining different

image formats, there could be some error. This could further result in

different design modification cycles before accurate quotes are generated.

Today, most contract manufacturers offer their preferred option of CAD

file formats. This IPC 2581 that integrates the ODB++ is utilized throughout

the industry. This standard was designed specially by the consortium that

comprises several organizations inside the industry. The group comprises

both contract manufacturers and developers and their goal is creating

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free circuit board design file formats which assist in increasing PCB

manufacturing as well as reduced costs of development.

In addition, it enhances innovation. No company defines and maintains

this standard. A consortium or group of over 100 companies help in

maintaining the standard. This makes it an open standard and its

requirements can easily adapt to the new technologies. In addition, it has

no commercial advantages or licensing rights.

With this standard, you can easily output the projects from the CAD tools

and therefore prevent putting things on hold as a result of data

uncertainty. This also ensures that prototypes get to customers in a timely

manner.

Layer Stack Up Making Use of IPC 2581

When PCBs become technically demanding, specifying the layer structure

becomes necessary. This is why developers have to request the layer

structure from their circuit board manufacturer. Furthermore, to ensure

PCBs that are impedance controlled, manufacturers have to adapt the

material.

Already, the IPC 2581 file defines the layer stackup whenever the

designers read the fine in OrCAD or Allegro. In addition, routing of the

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separate layers may be stimulated with the 50 Ohm-layer structure. This is

to make sure of signal integrity.

What are the Benefits of the IPC 2581 Standard?

IPC 2581 standards can be included among the acceptable codes utilized

in the world of electronics. This is why it provides these advantages.

CAM convenience and PCB design

The IPC 258 file comes with virtually everything needed. In addition, the

standard is made up of the needed details for manufacturing PCB,

assembly, and testing. In addition, this format doesn’t need drill files

whenever there are buried/blind vias and pick-and-place coordinates in

the features of a PCB design.

Reduces miscommunication risks

With the IPC 2581, engineers are provided with a very improved method

for importing the PCB designs. Furthermore, engineers from

manufacturing usually import PCB designs like netlist and pick-and-place

coordinates. Therefore, it reduces risk of miscommunication.

Data security

Gerber files cannot help in re-engineering the design of the PCB. This is so

because IPC 2581 is composed of smart data and this is why you might be
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worried about a possible data breach. Using IPC 2581 format, customers

can send stack-up data to the circuit board manufacturers.

Versatility

This IPC 2581 standard has been able to create a full supply chain and has

more members. In addition, the supply chain is made up of PCB assembly,

EDA software, as well as solutions for electronic designs.

Less economic risks

IPC 2581 standard helps to reduce economic risks. With the smaller files

for circuit board assembly, testing, as well as drilling, you won’t experience

any loss whenever you are updating the circuit. In addition, there is no

need to be concerned about the DFM/CAM carelessness and lead to

economic losses.

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Ways in Which the IPC 2581 Impacts Industry 4.0

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IPC 2581 has become the main focus. An IPC 2581 consortium member

revealed that achieving industry 4.0 will be impossible unless you have

devised a method that you can receive data from the design through

manufacturing without any mistakes.

Usually, this manufacturing data is included inside the file. Now, there are

different elements which different machines demand for. In addition, this

standard permits the development of the digital product models inside a

file. Also, manufacturers may choose their configuration lines and then

develop the necessary data for the machines.

Before this development, there will be different drawings, files, etc.

Furthermore, the IPC 2581 specifications help in integrating the product

model in the digital manufacturing engineering and allows the selection of

the configuration daily or hourly. Therefore, it takes a few minutes for the

digital product data to be transformed into the SMT line.

Exporting the IPC-2581 Files

The exchange format of the IPC 2581 includes all the data for PCB

manufacturing into a file. Interpreting this file is easy and is

comprehensive as well. Also, the file doesn’t have any human errors.

Exporting the IPC 2581 file from Altium Designer

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You have finished your PCB design as well as evaluated your design rule.

Now, these are the steps to follow if you want to export the IPC 2581 files

 Select file-fabrication outputs-IPC 2581

 If this is the first time you are exporting a file, you might see a

pop-up box indicating the destination of the file output. In addition,

the pop-up box allows users to select the folder where the file can

be saved. Moreover you can choose your default location

 You can find just some options in the configuration settings of the

pop-up. You will need to verify the version B or A of IPC

2581 altium as well as the units and decimal points. To create your

output file, you should select B and then click OK.

Conclusion

Among the PCB designers, the IPC 2581 is much preferred. In addition,

this IPC 2581 format provides more benefits compared to gerber file

formats.. Even when these benefits are obvious, there is a slow transition

to the standard. Regardless, there are advanced developers of PCB

software like Kicad ipc 2581 that integrate the two formats. This allows

you to make the best choice for all your designs.

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