CFX Preview at IPC APEX EXPO 2020

Estimated reading time: 2 minutes

The I-Connect007 Editorial Team chats with IPC’s Chris Jorgensen about the advances CFX has made in the past year and where the standard is in the standardization process. Chris also previews the CFX line that will be on display at the upcoming IPC APEX EXPO and shares IPC’s plans on educating and providing support solutions to potential users of CFX to implement it more easily.

Dan Feinberg: Chris, I knew absolutely nothing about CFX until about 18 months ago. I became involved in it by listening to some talks at IPC APEX EXPO 2018, and I was fascinated by it. And last year’s exhibit was quite good; I went upstairs to the demo room and had a chance to look at it. What CFX progress are we going to see at IPC APEX EXPO 2020 this year?

Chris Jorgensen: At last year’s IPC APEX EXPO, the IPC-2591 standard was not even published yet. Since that time, the subcommittee approved the first edition in spring and has put the standard on a twice-yearly version update schedule to support CFX for additional equipment or other needs communicated by the industry. The subcommittee chose to have the standard follow a version approach rather than the typical revision letters or amendments of other IPC standards because this is what IT professionals or software solutions providers understand. Once the subcommittee approved IPC-2591, version 1.0, they began work on version 1.1, which is currently under ballot. We expect to have that published in time for IPC APEX EXPO 2020.

Aside from the standard, we have also continued to bring real-world views of CFX to the industry through virtual demonstrations and live factory lines at trade shows in the U.S., Europe, and China. These demonstrations enable the industry to see the power and simplicity of CFX in mixed-vendor factory lines, as well as how CFX can enable Industry 4.0.

To read this entire interview, which appeared in the January 2020 issue of SMT007 Magazine, click here.