Reasonable cost DOMESTIC PCBA Contract Manufacturer Needed - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: piperpilot
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: December 06, 2016, 02:33:59 pm
content: Hey guys...I've been a lurker for a long time, first post. I have a small electronics business, we make and sell designs for Ham Radio. For the past several years, I have done PCB sourcing and assembly overseas. I'm now looking to see if I can find someone domestically to work with. A Google search turns up a lot of big names and I know they have high quality, probably due to working with the Military, etc. I'm looking for a fully capable smaller PCB Assembly house that would be willing to work with me. Most of the time I run 100-200pcs of a board, right now I have the need for a 400pcs run. I was hoping to find someone that could "fit me in" between their larger customer orders, maybe utilize their machines when they wouldn't normally be running.I have tried to find a domestic source in the past and generally it has been 4-5X the cost...obviously at that price point its worth it to continue working overseas...I'm willing to pay more for domestic work and quality, but not that multiplier.Anyways, if you represent a company, or know of one, please shoot me an email or post here.Thanks,Curtiscpope (at) hobbypcb (dot) com

author: rea5245
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: December 06, 2016, 02:39:36 pm
content: Check outPCBShopper.com. It's best known as a price comparison site for PCB manufacturing, but there's a tab at the top of the page where you can select PCB assembly. There are only 6 companies in the assembly price calculator (fewer companies offer on-line quote forms for assembly than for manufacturing) but 4 are in the US.Disclosure: I run PCBShopper.- Bob

author: KL27x
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 06, 2016, 09:09:39 pm
content: QuoteGood luck. In my limited experience trying to source, domestically, the companies working in medical and military have no interest in working for competitive rates, at all, let alone in small quantities, lol. Some of the smaller companies that will even get close are buying the pcb's from China and only assembling them domestically. Most of them "work with partners oversea" have "shared facilities" blah blah.Quoteabout par for the course.

author: Kean
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: December 07, 2016, 01:38:40 am
content: I have heard good things about these two. Being in Australia, I don't have personal experience with them though.https://macrofab.com/http://pcb.ng/

author: piperpilot
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: December 07, 2016, 03:32:17 am
content: Thanks Kean...I took a look at macrofab...really neat software, but CRAZY expensive...not sure where their numbers came from, but they are way out of control. Pcb.ng seems to be more of a small run service for prototypes...I might try them at some point.Still looking...I'll post back here if I find anyone willing to play!

author: Ice-Tea
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 07, 2016, 08:05:43 am
content: Have you conisered just doing it yourself?

author: ar__systems
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: December 08, 2016, 04:03:56 am
content: Quote from: blueskull on December 07, 2016, 05:29:11 pmThese numbers are unreal.

author: coppice
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 08, 2016, 08:40:36 am
content: Quote from: blueskull on December 08, 2016, 08:36:42 amThat's a bit less than anything I have seen. Which machine are you thinking of?

author: Ice-Tea
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 08, 2016, 09:47:05 am
content: That's a hobby machine. It requires assembly. Add the labor just to get the kit assembles will probably double the price already. Unless you're in a Shenzen garage setup...

author: coppice
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 08, 2016, 10:46:09 am
content: Quote from: Ice-Tea on December 08, 2016, 09:47:05 amAs well as assembly time, a lot of bits aren't in the kit. You'll probably pay a few hundred dollars more by the time you've got all the bits, and you'll spend ages sources them.

author: coppice
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 08, 2016, 01:20:08 pm
content: Quote from: blueskull on December 08, 2016, 08:55:33 amAccording to Daves video #740 about the LitePlacer, it was $1300 in early 2015.

author: ar__systems
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: December 08, 2016, 01:33:53 pm
content: It is a toy, not a machine. You can't use it in production.And TM962... Hell no. It is unusable in production at all. You have to try it before recommending.

author: wraper
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: December 08, 2016, 01:52:30 pm
content: Quote from: coppice on December 08, 2016, 01:20:08 pmI would not consider Liteplacer as any remotely serious machine for the task as it does not have any sort of feeders. Doing 100-200 board run without feeders, with just short pieces of cut tape is a joke.

author: coppice
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 08, 2016, 02:00:32 pm
content: Quote from: ar__systems on December 08, 2016, 01:33:53 pmI don't think anyone seriously promotes it for production. Its developer promotes it as a prototype assembly machine.Quote from: ar__systems on December 08, 2016, 01:33:53 pmI assume he means the T962A. That does seem to be a really poor machine. The somewhat similar QS-5100, on the other hand, is like a T962A with all the bad stuff cleaned up. People seem generally happy with that model, and its price is similar to the T962A.

author: wraper
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: December 08, 2016, 02:05:41 pm
content: Quote from: blueskull on December 08, 2016, 08:36:42 amYou can try using it for reflowing 10x10 cm boards. For reflowing any sensible size panels, it's useless. You could sort of get away with SnPb solder paste and lack of any connectors with metal body (like micro USB). But no chance for any remotely consistent results with lead-free. Some parts on the panel won't reflow but other will be already burning.

author: wraper
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: December 08, 2016, 02:16:00 pm
content: Quote from: blueskull on December 08, 2016, 02:11:47 pmThat is forced convection oven with nitrogen, not IR with all of it's hot and cold spots where even PCB and parts colors means a lot.

author: aholtzma
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: December 19, 2016, 02:31:42 pm
content: Try OCM Manufacturing in Ottawa, Canada. I've used them for a lot of short run builds (radio boards). They are easy to work with and the pricing is very reasonable.

author: mikeselectricstuff
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 20, 2016, 12:45:32 am
content: Based on my experience in the UK it is possible to find assembly at reasonable cost ( assuming you don't want it urgently) , but you do have to shop around quite a lot to find somewhere that fits your needs. IME you should be looking at small places, or places that assemble their own products in-house and sub out their spare capacity.A problem is that good places don't need to advertise. Beware anywhere that advertises a lot.

author: viya
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: December 20, 2016, 03:13:21 am
content: PCB AssemblyCost =PCB manufacturingcost + PCB frame test or flying probe test fees + PCB engineering cost (only for small prototype order) + Component cost (additional 5%) + SMT assembly charges + PCB assembly test cost + Box building charges + Package cost (for special application) + Logistics cost (requested)

author: richardlawson1489
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: December 30, 2016, 06:58:58 am
content: Hi, piperpilot. You can take a look at 4pcbassembly.com. We may help you with the specific requirements and achieve a long-term goal.

author: Rog520
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: December 30, 2016, 07:08:04 am
content: Curtis, I see you're in Florida so I'm not sure how much help I'll be, but I've used a company called Ascentron here in Oregon for several years now and have been generally happy with the pricing and quality of assembly. You can check them out at ascentron.com.

author: technotronix
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: December 31, 2016, 11:02:28 am
content: Hi piperpilot. We are experienced custom pcb manufacturer, with 4 decades of experience in providing quick turnaround time and affordable cost as per the end customer specification, drawing and samples.