It normally does not make sense to invest in expensive production machines if you just wish to spin a few prototypes and instead outsource your PCB assembly and prototype manufacturing to a trustworthy vendor. I will offer some tips as to what to watch out for when searching for a contract manufacturer.

Some vendors will have an immediate online quotation system on their website which will save you save time when picking a supplier. You should be able to enter all of the board information including board thickness, material etc. and particular requirements such as milling, surface treatments into the quote system. This will guarantee an accurate quote without the danger of surcharges afterward.

The per-board cost will usually decrease with increasing quantity as a result of the manufacturing setup expense. Some manufacturers will employ a system where they mix boards from several clients. This way the setup cost will be distributed among several customers. When you produce a product, you obviously do not want to have to produce a large quantity of boards immediately while you refine your design.

One limiting factor with small-quantity prototypes however is that the choice of materials and material thicknesses will be limited. If you are using a particular material then chances are there won’t be any other clients using the same material. Furthermore, lead time plays a big role in deciding cost. A longer lead time allows the manufacturer more freedom in scheduling your production. When you input your details in the instant quote section, you will notice that the production expense will vary depending on the lead time. If you can wait then cost will be lowest. If you are in a rush then you will have to pay extra to be moved ahead of the line.

Be certain that you can deliver the file formats that your supplier needs. The most common format is the Gerber format for PCB production. A few companies will also be able to read design software-specific file formats. A few suppliers also offer in-house PCB design. Even if you design your board yourself, selecting a vendor with design services may prove practical in case there is a problem with your files. In this case your supplier can make fast modifications which will avoid costly delays.

When subcontracting PCB assembly, make certain that your vendor can mount all of the package types that your board uses. Some vendors cannot mount specific type of IC packages such as BGA, chip-scale packages or extremely small component types. It is best to contact your vendor ahead of time to eliminate problems down the road.

If you wish to simplify the ordering of board components, you can pick a manufacturer which maintains inventory of standard parts. That way you only have to consign special types of components. Make certain to state which parts you want to deliver yourself when you upload your bill of materials.

Most manufacturers will also offer manufacture of the SMT stencil which is needed for PCB assembly. Be sure to buy the stencil right away when purchasing the circuit boards themselves to eliminate delays.

If you require testing, make sure your vendor supports the board test methods you require. Some testing will need building of particular test fixtures. This will require additional time and cost. In addition, be sure that your manufacturer has appropriate quality management approvals.

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