What are the most important sections of the IPC-2221 standard for PCB design?

2 Section 4: Board Materials

This section describes the characteristics and properties of the board materials used for PCBs, such as the dielectric constant, the thermal expansion coefficient, the moisture absorption, the flammability, and the solderability. It also provides the criteria for selecting and evaluating the board materials, such as the performance, the compatibility, the availability, and the cost. Moreover, it gives the recommendations for the handling and storage of the board materials, such as the temperature, the humidity, and the shelf life.

3 Section 5: Electrical Considerations

This section addresses the electrical considerations for PCB design, such as the impedance control, the signal integrity, the power distribution, the noise reduction, and the electromagnetic compatibility. It also provides the formulas and methods for calculating and measuring the electrical parameters of PCBs, such as the resistance, the capacitance, the inductance, and the crosstalk. Furthermore, it gives the guidelines for the layout and routing of the electrical traces, such as the length, the width, the shape, and the termination.

5 Section 7: Mechanical Considerations

This section deals with the mechanical considerations for PCB design, such as the board thickness, the board rigidity, the board warpage, and the board vibration. It also provides the standards and tests for verifying and validating the mechanical strength and durability of PCBs, such as the bend test, the drop test, the shock test, and the vibration test. Moreover, it gives the advice and precautions for avoiding and solving the mechanical issues of PCBs, such as the use of stiffeners, supports, braces, and dampers.

6 Section 8: Quality and Reliability Considerations

This section focuses on the quality and reliability considerations for PCB design, such as the defect prevention, the defect detection, the defect correction, and the defect prevention. It also provides the procedures and methods for ensuring and improving the quality and reliability of PCBs, such as the design review, the design verification, the design validation, and the design improvement. Furthermore, it gives the examples and references of the quality and reliability standards and certifications for PCBs, such as the ISO 9001, the IPC-A-600, and the IPC-6012.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?