IPC A 620

IPC A 620 – Revision E – Requirements and Acceptance for Cable and Wire Harness Assemblies

IPC-A-620 is a widely recognized standard developed by IPC (Association Connecting Electronics Industries) that defines the requirements and acceptance criteria for the assembly and inspection of cable and wire harness assemblies. The full title of the standard is “Requirements and Acceptance for Cable and Wire Harness Assemblies.”

Scope: IPC-A-620 applies to the manufacturing and inspection of cable and wire harness assemblies, encompassing a variety of industries such as electronics, aerospace, automotive, and telecommunications. The standard provides criteria for the entire assembly process, from design and materials to fabrication and testing.

Key Features:

1. Acceptance Criteria: IPC-A-620 establishes the criteria for the acceptance of cable and wire harness assemblies. It defines the requirements for workmanship, materials, and processes to ensure the reliability and performance of the final product.
2. Cable and Wire Preparation: The standard includes guidelines for the preparation of cables and wires, covering aspects such as stripping, crimping, and termination. It specifies acceptable methods and limits for these processes to ensure consistent and reliable connections.
3. Inspection and Testing: IPC-A-620 provides detailed criteria for the inspection and testing of cable and wire harness assemblies. This includes visual inspection, measurements, and functional testing to verify that the assemblies meet specified requirements.
4. Soldering and Splicing: The standard addresses soldering and splicing requirements, including acceptable methods and criteria for these processes. It ensures that soldered connections and splices are made to industry-recognized standards.
5. Connector and Hardware Installation: IPC-A-620 covers the installation of connectors, backshells, and other hardware components in cable and wire harness assemblies. It provides criteria for proper alignment, attachment, and strain relief.
6. Marking and Labeling: The standard specifies requirements for marking and labeling cable and wire harness assemblies. This includes information such as part numbers, date codes, and other identification marks.
7. Workmanship Standards: IPC-A-620 includes high-quality images and illustrations to depict acceptable and unacceptable workmanship for various aspects of cable and wire harness assembly. This helps ensure a common understanding of the required quality standards.

Industry Application: IPC-A-620 is widely used in industries that involve the manufacturing of electronic assemblies and cable harnesses. Compliance with this standard is often required by original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and other industry stakeholders to ensure the consistency, reliability, and quality of cable and wire harness assemblies. Manufacturers, assemblers, and quality assurance personnel refer to IPC-A-620 to establish and maintain the highest standards for cable and wire harness manufacturing.

General Product Information: