Issue link: https://iconnect007.uberflip.com/i/1535183
Eliminating Common Documents Fabrication Drawing Most technical requirements can be extracted as attributes from the ECAD/MCAD system and imported into CAM tools: • PCB outline dimensions and tolerances • Slot dimensions and tolerances • Line width/space tolerances • Part number, revision, and title block data Stackup and BOM Material details, layer sequencing and spac- ing, impedance targets, line widths, copper types, and stackup data are directly embed- ded. Designers can generate custom stackup illustrations for visualization, but these are not needed for the fabricator. Drill Table Attributes such as hole quantities, hole sizes, plating requirements, back drill specs, fill types, and IPC plating thickness class can all be exported via IPC-2581, eliminating discrep- ancies common in paper drill tables. Via Plug/Fill Hole-level attributes define fill and plug requirements. No need for notes or material specs. Solder Mask Supplier and material data, including gloss level and part numbers, can be embedded. General Notes Notes such as surface finish requirements, inspection details, or custom conditions can be embedded as free text—enabling CAM tools to process them automatically. IPC Class and ITAR Security classifications and quality standards like ITAR or IPC class can be added as attri- butes, enabling automated routing through controlled processes. Eliminating Legacy Files Netlist IPC-2581 negates the need for a standalone netlist to ensure that the data exported from the eCAD system and imported into the CAM system was not corrupted. Netlist mismatches are typically due to either revision misman- agement or intentional shorts that traditional formats (like IPC-D-356) can't handle. Ongo- ing work by IPC (7-32c committee) aims to further formalize this in IPC-9252, potentially removing netlist verification as a requirement. Read.me File Free text fields allow readme content to be embedded directly within the IPC-2581 file or sent as a separate file in the same format. Panel/Array Drawings Arrays, even with mixed part numbers, can be defined within IPC-2581 as an additional step—removing the need for separate drawings. DfX Communication IPC-2581 defines a struc- tured method for transmit- ting DFM issues and designer responses, eliminating the back-and-forth utilizing Excel or Word documents. Both par- ties can interact with the data in their preferred tools while maintaining consistency. MAY 2025 I DESIGN007 MAGAZINE 13