How PCB designers can use IPC specifications for DFM

The first thing that comes to mind when people think about PCB design and quality is inevitably IPC specifications, a series of hundreds of industry standard documents which cover multiple stages of the electronics product development cycle. IPC specifications categorize PCBs into “performance classes.” These classes are so commonly known to PCB designers and manufacturers, as well as companies that incorporate PCBs into their products, that just noting a class range provides general understanding of the overall type of work that the PCB is intended for. Class 1 represents general off the shelf electronic products, such as the PCB inside a washing machine that costs $5 to build. Class 2 boards are built for dedicated service, and Class 3 are for high reliability or harsh operating environment electronic products, with tight tolerances, multiple layers, and refined electronics.