It's just one Post - what grinds your gears! - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: mengfei
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: October 31, 2019, 01:36:45 am
content: when you finally finished your baby & present it to them suddenly the client changes his mind about the shape!& you get others like!- it's just a change of shape- it's only one screw hole- it's just an added post - yeah right at the center of your 200pin BGA!!!- it's just! just?

author: I wanted a rude username
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: October 31, 2019, 02:12:29 am
content: "Just move some stuff around, it's no big deal.""Just copy and paste, bro.""Oh yeah, we made this decision two weeks ago, didn't realise we should tell you."By the way, who makes that ARM chip?

author: nctnico
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 31, 2019, 11:16:15 am
content: Such radical changes are never nice but in the end it means you are not out of work yet.

author: Ice-Tea
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 31, 2019, 11:25:14 am
content: Quote from: nctnico on October 31, 2019, 11:16:15 am... if you didn't accept a fixed price job. If this is a fixed price job, you'll either be working for free or spend a few weeks arguing about the additional cost of "just another mounting hole".

author: nctnico
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 31, 2019, 11:38:25 am
content: Quote from: Ice-Tea on October 31, 2019, 11:25:14 amOfcourse not. It is a requirement change so that gets a new quotation! As a rule I don't develop based on a blank cheque and I don't develop without a clear list of requirements.

author: Rerouter
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 31, 2019, 11:42:27 am
content: And this is why your agreement has terms like fees for modifications to the original requirementsFinalise PCBHas had the customer sit there looking over the cardboard mockup of the PCB, try it in there enclosure, etc to make sure everything is exactly to there liking (print flat renders on some card stock and use a vynyl cutter to cut the mounting holes and shape) (Try and get a CAD model of a case out of some of these people!)Order PCBA services2 days pass, just long enough for the boards to be manufactured, and the parts to be orderedCustomer has a dream about changing something in the middle of the night, and it absolutely needs to be this way now.And the part I love, Emailing the quote for modification and re fabrication.

author: Ice-Tea
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 31, 2019, 12:08:38 pm
content: Quote from: nctnico on October 31, 2019, 11:38:25 amOff course. Which is the whole point. It's a requirement change to you, it's an insignificant detail to the customer that can not fathom it would require extensive rework. Which is why I never work for a fixed price. You want to add a red led where the FPGA is? Sure, that'll take me about 35 hours. Don't want that? OK, no changes. Moving on.

author: Psi
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 31, 2019, 12:26:51 pm
content: The trick is not to care, because you find working on PCBs relaxing.Just relax, chill out with a big cup of good coffee and mess around with the tracks and pads to find a nice artistically pleasing solutionHonestly i could do that all day and be totally happy.

author: Ice-Tea
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 31, 2019, 12:34:43 pm
content: Quote from: Psi on October 31, 2019, 12:26:51 pmUnpaid? I might have a few jobs for you.

author: Syntax Error
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: October 31, 2019, 12:38:58 pm
content: I too get into theZenof PCB layout.I was told about a cheap Chinese fab house that managed to drill the boards upside down. Then refused a refund as it was aGerber-malfunctionby the customer. Okay the silk was a lot fuzzy, but at least the solder mask was accurate; plus or minus a millimeter.

author: mengfei
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: November 01, 2019, 01:08:39 am
content: Quote from: Psi on October 31, 2019, 12:26:51 pmRight On!I do enjoy solving a puzzled art. I guess patience is the key

author: james_s
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 01, 2019, 01:43:02 am
content: I mean I enjoy it too, but unless I'm getting paid for my time I've got a whole queue of personal PCB projects I can work on.