Revised IPC-WHMA-A-620 Everything You Need To Know

Revised IPC-WHMA-A-620: Everything You Need To Know

For the time being, the cable and wire harnessing industry’s most critical process, equipment, and inspection standard is IPC-Whma-A-620D Standard. In the D Revision, which was released in January 2017, IPC updated several criteria and included additional images. It defines the materials, procedures, tests, and acceptance requirements for the production of crimped, mechanically fastened, or soldered connectors and the accompanying assembly operations for cable and harness configurations.

The IPC-A-620, like other IPC standards, is created and evaluated by a working group made up of representatives from a wide range of electronic industries and organizations. Wire harness makers, material and equipment suppliers, training institutes, OEMs, and EMS firms are all represented here.

EMS firms represented here Their expertise and experience ensure that this documentation remains an absolute industry standard.

However, the IPC/WHMA-A-620 takes a somewhat different strategy, as it was created in collaboration with the WHMA and IPC. The IPC/WHMA-A-620 can be used as a single document to purchase wire harnesses, even though it is typically used as a reference for in-process and final assessment of wire harnesses. The document’s goal is to rely on process control methods to assure constant quality levels during the manufacture of wire harness goods.

IPC/WHMA-A-620 covers a variety of subjects in its introduction, including the definitions of terminology and the categorization of products and the competence of inspectors and inspection methods, illumination, magnification assistance, facilities, and ESD concerns.

There are also standards for the upkeep and calibration of tools and equipment included in this section.

Contamination, redoing work and making repairs are all addressed.

The IPC-A-620D also covers wire peeling methodologies, solder termination tools and supplies, criteria for evaluation, crimped closure criteria, and metrics for isolation displacement connections. If you use such guidelines, your company will be well-prepared for audits connected to the IPC-A-620 and general manufacturing process characteristics.

Modification in IPC-WHMA-A-620

Since its first publication in January 2002, the A-620 standard has evolved into the industry’s most critical process, material, and inspection regulation. It has undergone four revisions to serve cable and wire harness makers better.

The most recent edition, A-620D, was introduced in January 2020. ‘A Space Addendum’ was published in September 2020. This documentation was created to guarantee that the cable and wire harness assemblies can withstand the harsh vibration and temperature cycle conditions of space.

There are a lot of changes in Version D, but three of them are very significant. The first was the elimination of any and all goal criteria you may have. Both near-ideal and tolerable conditions are considered “targets” in this context. Target conditions that were not covered by acceptable criteria were often changed to meet the satisfactory requirements.

The addition of standards for engineering records and solder depression is another significant modification.

Along with these changes, A-620D includes new requirements for stamped and molded cutoff tabs and the overmolding of flexible flat fabric.

The third significant change is in the specifications for installing structural parts and solderless wrap components. The standard terminology and images have been reworked to make the procedure more understandable. A-620D covers Class 1, 2, and 3 electrical goods’ harnesses, as in previous versions.

Electrical Goods’ Harnesses Class 1 products are those suitable for applications where the primary requirement is the function Class 1 commodities are best suited for situations where the function of the final assembly is the primary consideration. Typical home appliances are included in this category.

Class 2 items are those whose performance and lifespan must be maintained throughout time but do not require continuous servicing. Televisions, video gaming systems, home computers, and telephones are just a few examples.

Class 3 products are those that require continuous performance or performance-on-demand, cannot endure equipment downtime. Operate in unusually severe environments, and must work when necessary, such as life support systems and other vital systems. It is common for these things to be healthcare or military equipment.

There are 420 pages in all in Revision D, which includes more than 700 images and graphics in full color.

Many additional industry standards, such as IPC-A-610 and IPC-J-STD-001 Guidelines for Soldered Electronic. Electrical Assemblies, have been incorporated into the standard.

Benefits for Assemblers and End-Users

Assemblers rely on the specifications set out by the IPC task group to guarantee that their products suit the demands of their customers. The manufacturer and end-user are both working toward the same objective, and this promotes communication between the two parties.

Being a consensual industry document, the standard encompasses both widely and less commonly used technology. Standards give direction and specifications on how to proceed when needs are needed for a unique technology.

The IPC does not track the number of harness manufacturers using IPC/WHMA-A-620. The organization acknowledges that some businesses interpret the document as a contractual mandate.

While others use it as a best practices guide and execute it as a best practice.

Source URL: https://bioneerslive.org/2022/02/revised-ipc-whma-a620-everything-you-need-to-know.html