IPC-2581

Think DFA too, it’s very important.

Today, a surprisingly large percentage of PCB designs are sent to manufacturing through decades old approach of sending multiple files and formats. This approach can and does introduce many errors and ultimately adds extra cost through time spent on ensuring the data that is sent through multiple files and formats is consistent. In addition, there is cost incurred through scrap. Systems companies use this approach as they want to create internal processes that are not dependent on proprietary formats.

IPC-2581 provides the PCB industry with an opportunity to replace multiple files and formats with a neutral, open, globally supported standard and save millions of dollars caused by outdated numerous file formats used to drive PCB manufacturing. With the adoption of any standard, the supply chain has to adopt this standard from producers, consumers and supporters all using an open, neutral and efficient specification. It’s the old chicken and egg scenario – which comes first? Solving this age old problem is the focus of a new consortium of PCB design and supply chain companies who have come together to enable, facilitate and drive the adoption and usage of IPC-2581.

We have been using printed circuit board (PCB) formats for manufacturing and assembly which were defined 30 years ago mainly for numerically controlled manufacturing units.

With increased complexity of Printed Circuit Boards in terms of number of layers, number of pins / Vias, Miniaturization with ever decreasing form factor and sensitivity of traces due to Signal Integrity and timing aspects, the designer is in a nightmare situation between design and manufacturing stages of the design phase. A lot of efforts is required and the designers are worried until the physical board is working. This is an issue that the industry must resolve. Therefore Industry required an independent format that covered needs of todays and tomorrow’s PCB designs. There emerged IPC-2581 in March 2004 from the combination of GenCAM (created by Router Solutions, Inc.) and ODB++ (created by Valor Computerized Systems). IPC-2581 is an independently developed and maintained format. IPC-2581 comes in XML representation. It contains PCB fabrication, PCB assembly and test data that manufacturer(s) would need for tooling, manufacturing, assembling.

Mentor acquisitioned Router Solutions in 2007 and 1 year later killed their involvement with supporting GenCAM and its updates. Valor only wanted to be part of IPC-2581 for the fame of being called a “world standard”. After Mentor acquisitioned Valor in 2010 they ended their involvement with ODB++ in IPC-2581 and the standard was left with no team members except Dieter Bergman at IPC. Dieter desperately tried to communicate with CAD vendors to create IPC-2581 export but no one listened or did anything. It wasn’t until Cadence realized that their biggest competitor Mentor now owned all the fabrication and assembly data formats going forward into the future. It was a rumor that IPC-2581 would die after Dieter retired however, Cadence jumped in and started the IPC-2581 consortium with the help of Mike Buetow at UP Media and Zuken. Then Downstream and Wise jumped in and that’s where it is right now. The only thing that’s left is to have the fabrication front end “Valor (Mentor) Genesis” read IPC-2581. They have the knowledge base to do that, but not the willingness because Mentor wants ODB++ to be the world standard format for fabrication and assembly.

The industry needs IPC-2581 and ODB++ to compete with each other for constant improvement and affordable solutions. The industry must come together and rally support for IPC-2581 or they will pay in the end for the ODB++ monopoly.