Issue link: https://resources.pcb.cadence.com/i/1180082
IPC-2581 SPECs in PCB Editor: RAK Learn more at Cadence Support Portal - https://support.cadence.com © 2019 Cadence Design Systems, Inc. All rights reserved w orldw ide. Page 4 Purpose The purpose of this RAK is to guide you through the process of setting up the IPC 2581 specs in your design, reducing the need to locate the correct drawing and documents to read the note. Audience This document is intended for all PCB designers who want to design boards with IPC2581 guidelines and work with fabrication, assembly and testing teams closely to share the manufacturing data. Overview IPC-2581 is an XML-formatted manufacturing data file that contains information required to fabricate, assemble, and test a Printed Circuit board. The IPC-2581 format allows the inclusion of descriptive details that may be attached to specific objects such as assembly instructions and/or fabrication notes typically displayed within a Fabrication or Assembly drawing. The instructions or note callouts are defined as a specification or in IPC-2581 terms, a SPEC, and are included as attachments to components or as general design data that may be used by post-design processes. The SPEC is an XML element within the IPC-2581 data that is identified by a name (such as "FAB NOTES") and contains one or more items that make up the SPEC definition. In the "FAB NOTES" example, the traditional method is to add a note to a fab drawing, create an image layer or document file (Each note item). This requires the drawing or document to be opened to view the fabrication notes. Sample Fabrication Drawing Notes By defining a SPEC that is composed of Fabrication notes, the notes become part of the IPC-2581 data and are directly read by an IPC-2581 viewing tool, reducing the need to locate the correct drawing or document to read the notes. Once specs are created, they can be exported to a SPEC template that can be imported by other designs.