We have all seen the common/popular places to get PCB's made. (OHS, iTead, SEEED, Elecrow..etc)
but what about places for assembly?
Any feedback on places for that service?
I see iTead offers it.. anyone use them/it before for getting the pcb's assembled?
I like ordering professionally made pcb's.. and dont mind cutting my own stencils on my vinyl cutter and assembling a few here and there.. but doing a batch of say 25-50 or more by hand isnt very motivating lately.. LOL
my boards would be under 5cmx5cm (1.85in x .75in)
a few ic's and some 0603 resistors/caps..etc..
just to help put the board needs into perspective when talking about the prices compared to your project/product..
I couldnt get the iTead estimate link to work (502 bad gateway each time I submitted anything)
I was referring to your statement "my boards would be under 5cmx5cm (1.85in x .75in)". Individual boards that small are very troublesome to control while applying solder paste and then using tweezers to place the components. They also get lost going through the convection oven for soldering.
Having 15-20 boards that size in a panel is much easier (cheaper for you) for the assembler to work with. Then when your volume increases the job can be placed on a pick-and-place machine.
Yes, I use them regularly.
I've made boards up to 100mm x 100mm. Smallest was 25x50mm I think.
They prefer SMD parts on tape/reel. Will do thru hole.
I've been sending mylar stencil from Pololu.com. They can also have them created.
Min price is $75, or maybe $100. They've been making lots of 20 & 40 cards for me for different things.
Best to send the design info as complete as you can and request a quote.
If it's just a board or two, I think they place by hand. Larger runs go thru pick & place machine.
They won't do turnkey, you drop ship all material to them. Include ESD bags if you want bagged boards back, otherwise you get cards in a cardboard box.
They prefer to ship back to you on your FedEx account. Let me know Gnd, Air, etc.
You must send a check for payment, no plastic, no paypal.
Provide clear directions for what you want done. Include Gerbers, Parts list with placement info, board layout, schematic, and special directions. If you have a prototype assembled and your final boards are the same, sending a picture will help.
I do small production jobs. 20, 30, 50 cards. So I don't see the minimum generally.
Send them your info, get a quote.
Yes, they are doing the assembly for me that we either can't do because the parts are too finely pitched, or there's too many to do in a timely manner cost effectively. Robotic pick & place & automated reflow beats laying out 3 cards at a time for days on end after work.
CrossRoads:
I do small production jobs. 20, 30, 50 cards. So I don't see the minimum generally.
Send them your info, get a quote.
Yes, they are doing the assembly for me that we either can't do because the parts are too finely pitched, or there's too many to do in a timely manner cost effectively. Robotic pick & place & automated reflow beats laying out 3 cards at a time for days on end after work.
I hear ya!
Thats kinda where I am.. (but at a much more beginner level!) lol
Nothing too complicated... but just time consuming.
I usually do it all in house as well..
Eagle design
cut my own solder paste stencils on my vinyl cutter
apply paste
use my 'manual' pick and place machine (from 1975 <-- thats me!)
reflow in my $17 toaster oven form wal-mart..
