It typically does not make sense to invest in pricey production equipment if you just want to spin a couple of prototypes and instead outsource your PCB assembly and prototype manufacturing to a trusted vendor. I will give some tips as to what to watch out for when hunting for a contract manufacturer.
china pcb assembly online will offer an immediate quote mechanism on their web page for manufacture of circuit boards and assembly of prototypes. This will save you time when comparing unique vendors. Make certain that the quote system allows you to enter all of the details, such as board material, thickness, copper thickness, milling etc. so that you can get an accurate quote devoid of any surprises later on.
Typically the price per board will reduce as quantity increases. This is due to the relatively high setup expense of circuit board manufacturing and component assembly. Some vendors will use a program exactly where they combine boards from several buyers. This way the setup cost will be distributed amongst a number of consumers. When you manufacture a product, you certainly do not want to have to manufacture a big quantity of boards proper away even though you refine your design.
1 limitation with small-quantity prototypes even though is that the option of supplies and material thicknesses will be limited. If you are working with a specific material then possibilities are there will not be any other consumers working with the same material. In addition, lead time plays a significant part in figuring out price. A longer lead time permits the manufacturer a lot more freedom in slotting your production. This is normally reflected in lower costs which you will see in the quote section. Definitely if you are in a rush and want to be moved to the prime of the pile you will need to commit far more cash.
Make confident that your contract manufacturer will support the file format for manufacture that you supply. The most typical format for PCB manufacture is the Gerber format but some vendors will also accept board files from typical PCB computer software items. Some suppliers also offer you in-home PCB style. Even if you design your board your self, choosing a vendor with style solutions may possibly prove useful in case there is a problem with your files. In this case your vendor can make quick changes which will keep away from pricey delays.
When subcontracting PCB assembly, ensure that your vendor can assemble all of the package varieties that your board makes use of. Some vendors can’t assemble specific form of IC packages such as BGA, chip-scale packages or pretty tiny component sorts. If in doubt be positive to make contact with your vendor ahead of time.
Some contract producers will carry an inventory of regular SMT and by way of-hole elements. You will save time if you can pull from your vendor’s inventory rather than purchasing each and every element oneself. Make positive to specify which components you wish to consign oneself when you upload your bill of supplies.
Most vendors will also present manufacture of the SMT stencil which is necessary for PCB assembly. Be positive to order the stencil suitable away when ordering the circuit boards themselves to stay away from delays.
To assure that your circuit boards will operate, be positive that your vendor is high-quality certified and presents the tests and board inspection strategies that are expected. Please note, nonetheless, that specific tests, such as ICT testing needs further time and price to prepare appropriate test fixtures.