Cheap service for pcb manufacturing and soldering smd components? - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: nardev
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: June 15, 2017, 01:56:48 pm
content: I'm wondering if there is some service which would develop my prototype PCB and at the same time be able to solder some standard surface-mount components.It would be great to be able to get partially assembled board, just to add some specific chips etc.Any services/companies to suggest for this?

author: rea5245
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: June 15, 2017, 02:03:50 pm
content: Check outPCBShopper.com. It's a price-comparison site for PCB manufacturing. You enter your board's specs and it shows you prices and delivery times from up to 25 different manufacturers, including the best-known companies in Europe, Asia, and North America. It also has a price comparison calculator for PCB assembly, and it has user-written reviews of the manufacturers.Disclosure: I run the site.- Bob AlexanderPCBShopper.com

author: mrpackethead
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 15, 2017, 11:12:03 pm
content: The question is how much are you prepared to pay.

author: 48X24X48X
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: June 16, 2017, 03:37:07 am
content: PCBCarthas such services. The will manufacture your PCB and assemble them too. Price is okayish, definitely cheaper than doing it in the west but not as cheap as dedicated PCBA companies solely doing assembly. Their PCB manufacturing service as we all know is good. But, not sure with the assembly as I only managed to get quotes for now.

author: endevor100
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: June 16, 2017, 03:46:17 am
content: It depends on your definition of cheap. I've found Macrofab.com to be quite reasonable and their business model is geared towards what it sounds like you're trying to do.

author: Yellofriend
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: June 16, 2017, 06:01:16 am
content: If you do assembly in China you will face the problem of fake components. There are quite a lot of those out there. Take care of that.

author: rea5245
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: June 16, 2017, 10:58:52 am
content: I've had boards assembled in China by Elecrow. They order all my parts from Digi-Key. It means a long wait (Digi-Key ships to China, boards are assembled, Elecrow ships back to the US) but authenticity is not an issue.- Bob

author: mrpackethead
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 16, 2017, 11:02:33 am
content: and dutys in entry to china can be steap.

author: mrpackethead
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 16, 2017, 11:12:05 am
content: Which is breaking the law

author: Yellofriend
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: June 16, 2017, 02:32:24 pm
content: Quote from: blueskull on June 16, 2017, 11:27:28 amCustoms controls in China did get more tight in recent years. You have to put everything on the scanner these days. Not sure what they are looking for. Food for sure, specially meat and fruits.The import electronics to China got much more difficult since CNY 2017. Too much bureaucracy, but no real proper and common sense procedure.About the fakes, as long as they use Digikey, Mouser etc. it's fine. Brokers = gambling.

author: nardev
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: June 17, 2017, 12:24:21 pm
content: Set of very interesting information exchanged herethnx all

author: mrpackethead
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 17, 2017, 08:07:10 pm
content: Is murder ok, if you have a very good chance of not getting caught? Folks don't go down this path of law breaking.Quote from: blueskull on June 17, 2017, 06:46:41 am

author: Yellofriend
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: June 18, 2017, 03:09:08 am
content: Quote from: blueskull on June 17, 2017, 06:46:41 amI mean border controls. They are much more tight now. I can handcarry some small stuff, but I would be careful with a whole big reel. A few month ago I was stopped because of one metal part (a 19" front panel) it went into a 5 Minute discussion with the conclusion I should send it to the factory next time. I believe if you get stopped with electronic parts it will be more difficult to talk yourself out.I use SF Express a lot. They will refuse any electronic parts into China. My vacuum solder iron was defect and I wanted to send it for fixing to Guangzhou - no chance! I took it into China and sent it from there then.A Chinese friend forgot her mobile phone in the US - was supposed to by returned courier - and failed. It got stuck in Chinese customs for 3 month. Then they used my address as return address for refused item - and I carried it next time over the border.So if people say they just send parts in by mail for courier, I have strong doubts. I would rather buy the parts directly in digikey.cn (or whatever company inside China that has a reputation).

author: mrpackethead
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 18, 2017, 07:52:31 am
content: Quote from: blueskull on June 18, 2017, 03:17:28 amI would have to take your advice with a grain of salt, as i don't normally put any merit on people who suggest breaking the law

author: mfratus2001
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: June 18, 2017, 12:22:09 pm
content: Quote from: blueskull on June 18, 2017, 08:01:27 amDuh. That is like a child understanding when they are told, "Don't let me catch you doing that again," that the key is to not get caught doing it.

author: b_force
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 18, 2017, 12:27:24 pm
content: Elecrow and iTead/Seeed studio are both cheap for prototyping and for assembling.The quality was fine for the projects I did.(0603 smallest with some packages with smaller pins)

author: thtc
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: June 18, 2017, 12:42:29 pm
content: For the PCB, I use PCBShopper and regurarly, it's EasyEDA who has the best price.The quality of the PCB's is very good and you can also use their free online design PCB.They answer quickly at any question you have, but I never ask them for soldering components

author: homeless_peep
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: August 06, 2017, 04:14:55 pm
content: I am also looking for a reliable service to print and assemble 3x10cm boards, using 0603 packages. Right now I could just order the PCB from elecrow (tried and verified to be just fine) and assemble by hand, but I figured I'll need to automate that process eventually, so it's a good time to wet my feet.I thought about using elecrow 's service- it seems like a good deal and my specs are hardly advanced. My concerns are:1. How "clear" does the design need to be for assembly to be smooth? For example, silkscreen is very tightly packed on mine- I have all the design files so I don't care that much (it's a proof of concept prototype), but will that lead to errors on their end?2. I use very standard CD40xx logic ICs and TL0xx opamps. What kind of price should I expect for ordering and soldering these too? For example, 20-30% more than the mouser price is something common? More? Less?3. Regarding taxes and import fees, is that something that applies when components enter china for assembly or when the boards exit (or enter my country/EU) for final delivery? Can those fees increase so much that assembly in the west will eventually be more worth it (better quality/speed-price ratio?)?4. The directions on the elecrow site regarding the files they need are unclear. Do their inhouse engineers/project managers help with converting your eagle (or whatever) design to manufacturable format? Is it charged extra? Is that fee reasonable, in general?5. Are there any costs that I can get away with when I reorder the exact same board? Like component sourcing fees or whatever?I've never done this, so I'm quite lost here.

author: zeqing
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: August 07, 2017, 04:41:10 am
content: Quote from: homeless_peep on August 06, 2017, 04:14:55 pmfor your question, maybe i would be the one , to answer you...1. as the silkscreen, it is indeed important for the soldering. but actually you can even do not add any screen on the board , for manually placing, which is normal for prototyping production, you can send a soldering guide files, to explain to the soldering man where the componnents is and the direction.2. as the component price, actually it would be almost the same as digikey/mouser. for mass production, you will find the components price even lower than mouser/digikey, as shenzhen is the most important electronic market in Asia and then can get the components with lower price;3. you do not need to concern the tax fee when components from US to China, what you will paid to vendor is just the quotation fee; when the package ship to you, some tax fee maybe needed in your local custom...depends on your local policy, but normally the vendor can declare the package value lower to avoid/reduce the tax fee;

author: zeqing
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: August 07, 2017, 04:54:55 am
content: there are many many vendors for the prototyping and small batch production , with low price and ensure quality. depends on your projects difficult and the money you prepared:the seeed is famous but the price high and lead time long, especially for the prototyping; the smart-prototyping is a germany company(as themself declared....)but i do not know if the quality matches the germany quality; and the makerfabs, not so famous but did my projects smart.. they are all fabs for not so-hard projects..if your projects complex and really high request, maybe they all not fit for you...just throw them the production files for quotation and compares, depends on your project, you will find the most proper one for you with some comparison

author: SMdude
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: September 02, 2017, 12:55:36 pm
content: Quote from: zeqing on August 07, 2017, 04:54:55 amSo with smart-prototyping, once you submit an order do they review it and adjust the price?Or do you just upload the gerbers and pay?Seems allpcb no longer offer anything to do with BGA and I need to find someone else to do it.Hopefully pcbway will do it as they have done them before without problems.Cheers

author: mrpackethead
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 04, 2017, 10:03:41 pm
content: Quote from: SMdude on September 02, 2017, 12:55:36 pmNo, they have just dropped the charge for putting BGA pads on a pcb.. And so they should! They will happily make you a pcb with BGA pads on it, provided it fits within their manufacturing tolerances. I need via in pad for my currnet design and that is out of their capablity. but if you have a 1mm BGA and standard vias, then knock yourself out.

author: zeqing
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: September 21, 2017, 01:49:24 am
content: Quote from: SMdude on September 02, 2017, 12:55:36 pmNo, for PCBA it is you sending them the related files first, and they make the quote for you and then you make the order. you do not need to make any order or pay money before you make the finally decision based on the price.... personally, i suggest you have a try of makerfabs.

author: mrpackethead
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 21, 2017, 03:57:34 am
content: Quote from: SMdude on September 02, 2017, 12:55:36 pmNo. Allpcb are very happy to do your boards with BGA's on them. They have just droped the silly charging for it.

author: nardev
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: October 06, 2017, 10:41:28 am
content: Currently, i didn't find any option better than pcbway but there is one very small company which accepted my requests even for making soldered prototype andsmall runs like 50 etc.. and not costing me much more than end product would in 1000... But, all my PCBs so far were quite simple, up to 100x100mm and usually modules like ESP12 and some other "modular" transmitters etc...Other than that, there is company in Bosnia which can make me prototype PCBs in a day and i can have it next day so.. but SMD solderingis a bottleneck for me. Hate it.http://tring.ba/Usluge/Prikaz/48-SMT-PCBA-montaza-elektronskih-komponenti(Those guys said they will add some calculator on the web soon, currently they only make products for themselves, so they have free capacities for clients)

author: mrpackethead
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 06, 2017, 11:50:09 pm
content: Your alternative to set yourself up with a low cost desktop machine, like quite a lot of folks have been doing.

author: nardev
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: October 07, 2017, 12:00:28 am
content: maybe, i'm quite focused on software now so.. i'm trying to stay away from that

author: xaxaxa
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: January 08, 2018, 08:20:52 am
content: JLCPCB has a very cheap SMT service that will solder most of the parts for you; the limitation is that it can only solder components in its "part library" which consists of only about 700 commonly used parts, such as 0603/ 0402/0805 resistors/capacitors as well as some common transistors and chips. It can only assemble one side. The pricing is $8 base cost plus $0.0016 per smd pad. (http://www.sz-jlc.com/home/vorderadd.html)I'm not sure if they will ship outside of china though, as the online system for submitting pcba orders is in chinese only. Everything is done through their online system which parses your BOM and xy file, matches your parts against their parts library, and shows you a preview before submitting the order. I've used this before and you can submit a pcba order without exchanging a single word with a human.

author: nardev
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: January 08, 2018, 03:23:40 pm
content: Any price example?Do they have some contact in english?

author: Koen
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 08, 2018, 03:31:59 pm
content: Quote from: nardev on October 06, 2017, 10:41:28 amHello, a price example for rapid prototypes please ? Thank you.

author: nardev
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: January 08, 2018, 04:06:41 pm
content: Please contact them:http://www.tring.ba/en/UslugeFeel free to quote the forum...