USA PCBA - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: stern0m1
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: December 05, 2024, 04:10:38 pm
content: Any recommendations for a US-based PCB assembly manufacturing company?For relatively small jobs. From prototypes to a few hundred pieces.Easy to deal with and cost are important considerations.I've used an overseas company for a number of years and I was very pleased with them however I want to see how much more will cost if we could do it at home in the USA.When I looked into it years ago couldn't find anyone in the USA with half-decent prices.Thanks!

author: stretchyman
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: December 05, 2024, 04:56:06 pm
content: OSHPARK.However no idea why you'd use them as the are X4 the cost. I used to and quality is very good. However so is JLC at 1/4 cost.J.

author: stern0m1
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: December 05, 2024, 08:18:26 pm
content: I am not familiar with JLC.Do they manufacture in the USA?

author: thm_w
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 05, 2024, 10:13:36 pm
content: Quote from: stern0m1 on December 05, 2024, 08:18:26 pmNo JLCPCB is in china, and not sure why they recommend oshpark as they don't do assembly.https://www.reddit.com/r/ElectricalEngineering/comments/150iepj/low_cost_prototype_pcb_assembly_in_the_usa/https://www.reddit.com/r/PrintedCircuitBoard/comments/t7qz34/us_alternatives_to_oshpark/https://pcbshopper.com/

author: rounin
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: December 07, 2024, 05:05:48 am
content: Screaming Circuits, last I used them they were pricey for small jobs and not terrible for 50-100 parts - the setup fees were kinda high.IIRC they use Sunstone for the PCB (or you can send them the pcb). They do the PCBA in house. They are in Oregon.I've switched to JLC mostly. Even with shipping and tarrifs and inventory risk of having parts in China (instead of on my shelf), it has been much cheaper and faster. We'll see if that stays true next year.... There is a small domestic shop I use for hand PCBA sometimes too. Lots of those around but can be hard to find, usually ends up costing $$$.Off topic rant: I wish JLC would hold the parts under a carnet, if you consign them parts you have to pay VAT/import tarrif into China, and then US import tarrif again. But even after that it is still cheaper. I worry about the future of US prototype manufacturing.

author: oPossum
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 07, 2024, 09:57:02 am
content: https://www.macrofab.com/https://cybercitycircuits.com/

author: globoy
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: December 07, 2024, 03:02:54 pm
content: Quote from: oPossum on December 07, 2024, 09:57:02 amDo you have an idea of generally how expensive these vendors are?You have to submit a RFQ to get any pricing from cybercity.macrofab has an online demo of their quote process using an Arduino Uno clone PCB assembly. This is cool but the prices I got are not. At qty 250 they are quoting almost $88 per board for a 22 day turn, $84 for a 54 day turn.

author: ebastler
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 09, 2024, 04:27:09 pm
content: Quote from: rounin on December 07, 2024, 05:05:48 amI believe that this works better when you task JLCPCB with ordering the parts, via their Global Sourcing option. At least for having parts ordered from the US to China, then shipped to Europe on the populated PCBs, I don't think I paid duties twice. (I did pay them once, for import into Germany, as expected.) But I don't know whether it also works for shipping parts from the US and back, avoiding duties entirely?

author: kylehunter
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: December 09, 2024, 09:29:19 pm
content: Quote from: globoy on December 07, 2024, 03:02:54 pmYeah, Macrofab will be that way, since they farm out the assembly, you're paying two different shops. We actually are set up to do assembly for them.If you want to shoot me over anything to quote, I certainly would love to take a crack at it.Kyle

author: rounin
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: December 09, 2024, 11:25:52 pm
content: Quote from: ebastler on December 09, 2024, 04:27:09 pmYeah, I do buy parts from Global Sourcing or domestic jlc/lcsc stock as much as I can. A couple times I had stock when they didn't though, and had to send my parts to China which they treat as a import. Also sometimes the prices for Global Sourcing are inflated.Quote from: ebastler on December 09, 2024, 04:27:09 pmUnfortunately no, have to pay on both sides. I did some more looking, and apparently I was wrong, ata carnets doesn't allow importing parts for an assembly that is later exported. Lol, guess that is why they don't do it.