Soldering Standards?

[elmood]

Hey folks,

I've been making boards for many years and recently used a new PCB assembler. They made me a sample which looks great, and then delivered the first half of my order which has through-hole soldering that makes me cringe. I've attached a picture showing a few views of a board.

After some arguing I'm being told that there is nothing wrong with the soldering because it meets IPC Class 2 which only requires 50% fill inside the holes. The balls of solder on some pads apparently is no big deal and I shouldn't worry about it. But I don't want to send my product out looking like this... I would expect better quality if I was the customer.

Thoughts? Any arguments I can use to back up my case?

[tautech]

Welcome to the forum.

Check out this thread:
https://www.eevblog.com/forum/projects/industrial-soldering-handbook/

[Tomorokoshi]

I'm looking through IPC 610. My copy is IPC-A-610D from January 2000. I don't seem to have a newer copy around.

Look into:
5.2.4 Soldering Anomalies - Nonwetting
Figure 5-37: Defect - Class 1, 2, 3. Solder has not wetted to the land or termination where solder is required. Solder coverage does not meet requirements for the termination type.

7.4.5 Unsupported Holes - Solder
Figure 7-89: Defect - Class 1, 2, 3. Lead not discernible due to excess solder.

One approach:
Compare the difference between the sample and the first production article. Explain that with that much variation it will be hard to trust the quality of the continuing production. Ask if they can explain why there are production differences.

[JuKu]

The bottom picture is unacceptable. It looks to me that all solder is on the end of the pin as a ball, very little if any is in the hole.

[peter.mitchell]

for some of the joints (mainly the large, flat tabs) you have the wrong kind of footprint/plated hole. For these you should use plated slots, these are better mechanically (the board is more uniform to the tab) and they solder correctly with the wave soldering too.

[elmood]

Hi Peter,

I tend to use holes to prevent additional charges for slots. So far I've used these same parts in tons of boards and never had this issue. The worst part is that they gave me an absolutely great looking sample (hand soldered, not machine soldered thru-hole) and then turned around and sent me what you see in the picture. I'm just trying to make good stuff for my customers... I'm in supplier-wrangling mode at the moment.