Hi.
I'm developing an Arduino Standalone project (with ATmega328P-PU) and I was wondering... If I want to sell it, how automated can I make the production process, like, If I want to sell 1000 units in a month (for example), can I automate the whole process sending it to a factory or do I need people to solder the components?
I know that I can order the PCBs already made, but for solder the components on it do I need any labour, or can I automate the process just like with the PCBs?
Just for curiosity.
Thanks in advance.
Pedro
The more you have made in one go, the cheaper you can get them. 10,000 boards is enough to make setting up the machine that assembles and solders (tests?) an array of PCBs at a time, all pre-sliced to where you snap them off in rows then snap individual boards off those. I used to buy HK factory direct, they shipped boards in rows for cheap.
For 1000 or less; while the machine is being set up it is not producing many 1000 other boards. The fewer parts there are on one board the quicker set up should go, see how many before the per piece price comes down quickly.
Solder by hand; the price of a board just went way up even at minimal wage.
Hand soldering is better used salvaging minor design mistakes until the next rev-level comes out. Never time to do it right, always time to do it over! Hand build until extensive testing reveals no shortcomings before you talk large quantities and then look at 5-10-20K vs 1K pieces.
Individual circuit boards is ridiculous for production work. If you are doing the ordering, get the boards panelized to match the largest panel your assembler can handle with their automated equipment.
Paul
Just have your PCB fab assemble the boards - that's called PCBA. Have it done in China to save cost.