PCBL News - IPC Offers Enhanced Library Documentation

Bannockburn, IL — IPC – Association Connecting Electronics Industries® has teamed up with PCB Libraries, Inc. to provide updated library documentation and more powerful PCB library tools to support users of IPC-7351, Generic Requirements for Surface Mount Design and Land Pattern Standard. IPC-7351B now incorporates the new PCB Libraries Footprint Expert, a land pattern calculation tool that includes a library of more than 5,000 components. This library documentation conforms to the engineering rules established within IPC-7351B.

”One of the unique aspects of the Footprint Expert tool is its ability to automatically  output land patterns into various CAD formats,” notes Tom Hausherr, founder and CEO of PCB Libraries. The CAD formats Hausherr refers to include:  Allegro, OrCAD PCB, OrCAD Layout, CADint, Altium, DesignSpark, Expedition, PADS Layout, CADSTAR, CR-5000, Pantheon, Pulsonix, P-CAD, SoloPCB, Ultiboard, Target 3001!, EAGLE, DipTrace and Board Station. He adds, “I am proud to work with IPC on standards development for the sole purpose of electronic product development automation. We constantly strive for excellence in PCB design and that starts in the CAD library.

John Perry, IPC technical project manager, reflects on the history of IPC’s cooperation with PCB Libraries in the development of software that supports IPC-7351B. “IPC and PCB Libraries have worked together on land pattern calculation tools that go hand in hand with the IPC-7351 standard since its initial release in 2005.  Through two subsequent revisions of the standard, PCB Libraries has provided quality technical support and frequent software updates to users of IPC-7351. IPC is pleased to once again partner with PCB Libraries as we advance IPC-7351 into future revisions.”

For more information or to purchase IPC-7351B, visit www.ipc.org/7351.

About IPC
IPC (www.IPC.org) is a global industry association based in Bannockburn, Ill., dedicated to the competitive excellence and financial success of its 3,300 member companies which represent all facets of the electronics industry, including design, printed board manufacturing, electronics assembly and test. As a member-driven organization and leading source for industry standards, training, market research and public policy advocacy, IPC supports programs to meet the needs of an estimated $2.17 trillion global electronics industry. IPC maintains additional offices in Taos, N.M.; Arlington, Va.; Stockholm, Sweden; Moscow, Russia; Bangalore, India; Bangkok, Thailand; and Shanghai, Shenzhen, Chengdu, Suzhou and Beijing, China.

About PCB Libraries
PCB Libraries is a CAD-neutral company that seeks to benefit the industry as a whole. PCB Libraries is a member of the IPC-2581 Consortium to promote an open, neutral, global standard for design data transfer. PCB Libraries is led by veteran technologists in pursuit of simplifying PCB library development and management.