Getting a project manufactured - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: chipgeek
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: December 12, 2022, 04:54:36 am
content: A friend has a controller he made from some surplus parts, it has dials, switches and meters. I told him I could make it with an Arduino and put all the functions in software. I made a couple PCB's and made a couple. Then it needed better software and to be smaller so I went with the ESP8266 and made it surface mount and got a microscope to made a few more. Now he wants to mass produce a lot more for his clients that have seen it and I don't have time to surface mount and install that many boards and wire and drill all the cases. Where do i start to find a manufacturer that can go from schematic/drawings to finished product?Thanks

author: Jackster
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: December 12, 2022, 06:29:14 am
content: Sounds like you are after a circuit board assembly service?Feel free to check out my service. Link is in my signature.Happy to go over what you have and see if it is something we can help with.

author: DLE
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: December 12, 2022, 01:48:23 pm
content: There's a whole host of companies here in the states that do what you need but I would recommended figuring out your initial orders and how fast you plan to scale. That will help guide you in the shop you want to use.Shops like mine are geared for smaller companies with low-volume (a few thousand a year) but need more engineering support. Then about an hour from me is a big boy, they don't respond unless you are running several hundred thousand units per year and they really don't get into design, they just build what you send. There are positives/negatives to both.If you have gerbers, production firmware, testing documentation and a BOM it should be relatively easy to find a shop, just search for PCBA shops in your area. Going from a couple of hand built units to highly repeatable production takes some practice. A good shop can help you navigate a lot of it but a lot of shops are buried right now, so just getting someone to respond is a win.

author: jonpaul
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 17, 2022, 01:31:31 am
content: expect a setup cost, MOQ and lead time.Any assy in China will steal the designJon

author: Wilksey
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 17, 2022, 02:33:10 am
content: Quote from: Jackster on December 12, 2022, 06:29:14 amDoes your "Example quote" include the cost of components? Is that the actual example board image to the right of the table?

author: Jackster
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: December 17, 2022, 11:37:53 am
content: Quote from: Wilksey on December 17, 2022, 02:33:10 amThe example quoted is for assembly and delivery only.Yes, that was an actual board. Granted the funny-looking 3D render is missing a couple components.

author: Wilksey
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 17, 2022, 01:01:17 pm
content: Ok, so do you price the components separately or do your customers free-issue them to you?

author: Jackster
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: December 17, 2022, 02:17:16 pm
content: Quote from: Wilksey on December 17, 2022, 01:01:17 pmBoth. Did not include it in that example as we wanted to show the assembly price differences between the other companies and ourselves.Most of the time, we buy components ourselves as we have accounts with a lot of the big manufacturers and suppliers.

author: Wilksey
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 17, 2022, 02:43:37 pm
content: Got it, thanks.In previous employment we used several assemblers some were good and some were ... not, some started off good and ended up being a nightmare (1000 PIC Micro boards with a PSU that kept blowing the ICDs, so instead of looking at the problem kept asking us for programming kit after the 3rd round we went and investigated and found out it was their PSU over-volting the ICD as they programmed then in a hashed rig instead of on our boards which has protection on them...Needless to say they had to replace all of the PICs and it took an extra 2 weeks to deliver).So I'm always on the lookout for a decent PCBA locally (UK at least) for future projects.Are you good with BGA / LGA placements?

author: Jackster
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: December 17, 2022, 02:51:15 pm
content: Quote from: Wilksey on December 17, 2022, 02:43:37 pmDam that sucks.We can place them but I don't have x-ray to check them after reflow.Our main market is low to mid-end boards so don't really do those packages yet.I have run a board through our line for a prototype and it came out fine but the pitch was large enough that a chance of a solder bridge or nc would be low.

author: Wilksey
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 17, 2022, 06:20:26 pm
content: Ah right, we were placing iMX8 processors which has a 1300 odd BGA (here is the package infohttps://www.nxp.com/docs/en/package-information/98ASA00969D.pdf), not that would be the case going forward, it was fairly low part count, processor, memory and a PMIC and some other power and passives.We also had some UBLOX 4G modules which were LGA (100 pin, package info here:https://content.u-blox.com/sites/default/files/LARA-R2_ProductSummary_%28UBX-15022128%29.pdf).Just wondered on your capability.

author: Jackster
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: December 17, 2022, 08:13:54 pm
content: Quote from: Wilksey on December 17, 2022, 06:20:26 pmI have mounted the UBLOX ones before. They are pretty simple.But yea, I would not do those BGA ones yet. Not until we have an xray. It is on the list of things to get but so are a few other expensive items

author: Wilksey
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 17, 2022, 11:19:19 pm
content: Yeah i've done some UBLOX with hot air, but wouldn't attempt the BGA not confident enough not to cock it up! Our assembler for those had all sorts of machines for checking everything, cost a small fortune to get them fitted too!

author: Smokey
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 17, 2022, 11:27:20 pm
content: Funny. No one has yet asked how many of these things the OP actually wants to make.

author: Yellofriend
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: December 19, 2022, 03:53:44 am
content: Quote from: jonpaul on December 17, 2022, 01:31:31 amI believe that risk is lower than you think. At least if you don't have a finished product. I worked with a few assembly factories in China and most do not have their own products. Typically they don't know what they produce, and they are not really interested in it anyway.My advice would be to supply all parts. The risk of counterfeit components is rather high, sticking to Mouser, Arrow etc. can become quite a bit cheaper.More more thing, most PCBA factories in China do PCBA and that's it. They don't help much with the design. And I think you don't want that anyway.

author: sofa-king
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: December 21, 2022, 07:46:41 pm
content: I'm surprised no one has recommended JLCPCB.com? It is by far the most convenient and lowest cost IMO. I got 450 pcbs fully assembled with multiple connectors, esp32, an adc, an opamp, and power circuit for just over $4 USD a piece. That included pcb, assembly and all the components. I ordered on a Sunday and they arrived on Friday.

author: Nusa
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 21, 2022, 07:51:49 pm
content: Doesn't look like the OP is coming back anyway. One post and gone.