Quality Standard
Workmanship criteria for high-performance electronics establish strict limits on the size and frequency of empty spaces within completed solder joints. To ensure the reliability of critical assemblies in aerospace and medical applications, voiding ipc-a-610 class 3 limits total void area to twenty-five percent or less of the total solder joint area. This stringent standard is applied to ball grid arrays and other bottom-terminated components where internal pockets can compromise electrical or thermal performance.
Inspection Criteria
X-ray inspection systems calculate the cumulative area of all empty cavities as a percentage of the total pad area to verify compliance. During the production run, voiding ipc-a-610 class 3 guidelines require that any individual void exceeding certain thresholds must be flagged for rework or rejection. These inspection protocols must be consistently applied across all critical joints on the board.
Process adjustments like modifying paste printing patterns or extending oven dwell times are common ways to reduce these defects. Consistently meeting these high-reliability standards ensures the physical durability of assemblies destined for demanding environments.
Performance Impact
Large internal spaces reduce the cross-sectional area of a joint, making it susceptible to crack propagation and thermal fatigue. Compliance with voiding ipc-a-610 class 3 minimizes these failure modes during operating life.