Small Production House, Pick and Place  - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / projects

author: LaserSteve
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 02, 2015, 05:28:30 pm
content: Looking for a small production house for a 100 board run, SMD 406, 100 components per board. If you have some one to suggest in Domestic US or Canada, please let me know. Quantity may be as large as 200 boards.Steve

author: suicidaleggroll
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 02, 2015, 05:57:28 pm
content: I've used Sierra Circuits a few times for small runs, their prices are decent and their turnaround is pretty quick (2-3 weeks for full turn-key).

author: MagicSmoker
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 02, 2015, 09:21:51 pm
content: I'll second the vote for Sierra Circuits - prices are reasonable, especially for the 10 day turnaround time - and I haven't had any rework issues thus far (about 100 total boards made by them of two different designs).I've also used Advanced Assembly in the past but can't recommend them as they made assembly and soldering mistakes on a few boards (also 2 separate designs, 1 the same as Sierra) then refused to credit us for those boards despite saying they would in response to me asking specifically about such issues in my initial inquiry email.

author: georges80
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: July 02, 2015, 10:01:44 pm
content: Sierra is just a few miles from my home. Recently used them to do a very small run of a prototype design. Small run means expensive per board cost since there's not enough volume to spread the tooling/programming NRE costs. But, given they are so close and assembled our boards in about 1 week including ordering all the non-custom parts I can't complain.Board soldering/assembling quality is great and I could talk directly with the assy managers to ensure our LGA part was soldered correctly.cheers,george.

author: suicidaleggroll
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 02, 2015, 10:51:22 pm
content: Quote from: MagicSmoker on July 02, 2015, 09:21:51 pmI tried using them since they're local to me, but I got really bad vibes trying just to get a quote. I sent them the same package I sent Sierra, they emailed back asking for manufacturer and manufacturer part numbers for all of the parts in the BOM (I had Mouser/Digikey part numbers in there). I reasonable request I guess, but Sierra didn't have a problem with it.I made the change, sent it back, and they came back with a quote that was WAY off. The parts cost was about an order of magnitude too low, and I didn't want to risk placing the order and then getting something completely wrong back. I went back and verified my part numbers were correct, they were. I emailed them about it, and got a reply from what seemed like a 13 year old girl...complete with "wow", "omg", and no less than 13 exclamation marks. It also said they would immediately address and correct the problem.That was the last I heard from them. That was over 2 months ago. I didn't bother trying to follow up and just went with Sierra instead, who finished the boards in 2 weeks and everything was dandy.

author: funkathustra
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: July 03, 2015, 09:08:40 am
content: I'm going to politely ignore your U.S. / Canada requirement and encourage you to check out TinySine. I just had them build up a batch of 100 boards for me last month -- all 0402, three QFNs, 50 parts per board, with both SMD and TH. They charged me $14/unit, turnkey. PCB + BOM + Assembly. No joke.Once they got the boards built, they asked me if I would send them hex files to program the MCUs with to test them. This particular board had two different MCUs (one PIC, one Xtensa architecture), and had some RF components that had to be in-spec. The boards didn't have any standard programming header pin-outs, so they had to build a custom jig, and use their own programmers to write the firmware. They tested the RF performance of each board, and found two boards that were slightly out-of-spec (they labeled them for me).Total additional cost for production programming and testing? $0.I used to go through Screaming Circuits and Sierra Circuits, but I got tired of paying $150 / board for 50 units, and having 100 emails pop up in my inbox with constant nagging about irrelevant, self-evident, totally obvious stuff.This is why we'll all be bowing to our Chinese overlords in 20 years.EDIT: If you really want to stay in the U.S., check outCircuitHub. They're the new kids on the block, and they have an interesting, fully-automated self-service system to help drive down their costs.

author: MagicSmoker
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 03, 2015, 11:45:40 am
content: Quote from: funkathustra on July 03, 2015, 09:08:40 amWanting the hex files to "test" your boards for you??? At no extra charge??? That didn't ring just the tiniest alarm bell for you?

author: JohnSL
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: July 03, 2015, 03:44:24 pm
content: I had some boards made by Seeed, and I was very happy with the price, the quality, and how much they did. I got quotes from US manufacturers that were all over twice as much for just the PCBs and assembly, but without programming, testing, or soldering on headers. Seeed's price included everything. I wrote a blog post about my experience here:http://trains.socha.com/2014/09/manufacturing-fsr-endstop-controller.htmlThey now have a US office in the San Francisco area that can do small (less than 100) production here in the US. I haven't used that service yet. But when I was at Makerfaire this year I met my account manager who just by luck happened to be here on a rotation in that office.

author: zapta
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 03, 2015, 05:29:45 pm
content: Quote from: JohnSL on July 03, 2015, 03:44:24 pmCan you share what was the cost per assembled board? Also, what parts, files and documents did you provide them?

author: tonyarkles
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: July 03, 2015, 09:39:08 pm
content: Check out macrofab.net. I just got my first batch of boards back from them a few weeks ago and I'm super impressed so far. The best part is that you get an instant quote based on your CAD files and BOM. Play around with different parts if there's something that is causing it to cost too much. Play around with quantities to figure out where the price breaks are. I'm still a new customer of theirs, but I'm super impressed.

author: eneuro
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 04, 2015, 09:06:43 am
content: Quote from: MagicSmoker on July 03, 2015, 11:45:40 amThey had everything to run 10x - 100x times biger production and make the same boards at much lower prices and no hacking needed, since they got everything for free to manufacture this

author: funkathustra
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: July 04, 2015, 05:02:52 pm
content: Quote from: MagicSmoker on July 03, 2015, 11:45:40 amNot for an internal-use design that fits into a much larger system that they have no understanding / use for. This particular run was for my PhD research work: it's not done ready-to-roll product that they could turn around and start selling.If you're afraid of them stealing firmware, don't send them production firmware, but instead, send them test firmware? (which most products require for testing anyway)

author: JohnSL
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: July 05, 2015, 04:24:00 am
content: Quote from: zapta on July 03, 2015, 05:29:45 pmI sent them the Eagle files, gerber files, the HEX file, a BOM, and about two pages of documentation describing the board and how to test them. They had a few questions, but that was about it. The total cost, including shipping, was < $4 board (I don't remember the exact cost). I'm working on another project now, and based on my experience with them before, I plan to work with them again. They probably not the cheapest in China. However, their business is to help the little guys like me with small runs. And they're very passionate and proud of what they do.

author: LaserSteve
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 05, 2015, 07:10:54 pm
content: My customers are insisting on MADE IN USA/CANADA.... They can already buy Chinese clone boards. These are Servo Amplifiers with nine 10 turn trimmers for ultrafast Galvanometer Scanners. The boards have a complex analog PID loop on them for processing position feedback. The clones fail often and are made on a paper like board stock that does not rework well. The clones change design and parts selection often. They often have 20% resistors where the circuit calls for one percent parts. Connector selection is often mysterious at best. What worked and tuned up well on the last order may not work well on the second batch..So there is a market for a clone to replace the clone.Please keep the replies coming, this is an enlightening thread.Steve

author: Alphatronique
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: July 05, 2015, 07:49:59 pm
content: Hi you may try to play whit my online qoute toolhttp://www.alphatronique.com/instant-quote/,if you put real email address i may help if i see error or else ( no spamming)was in Canada ,price in canadian to so that time it quite good vs the US dollarsierra and Screaming was outrageous over pricedon website main page you have picture of the shop quite small but have really good quality job we specialized in small batch from 1 to 500 PCB whit fast 7 day deliveryif you what to remain in the USA it havehttp://www.4pcb.com/the only assemble PCB it have build on it PCB shop but price was quite good toHave fun ...Marc L.