Turnkey PCB Assembly

Choosing turnkey printed circuit board assembly is a great solution for any business. With this option, our professionals will gather all necessary parts and components as well as assemble the PCB. This PCB assembly solution is cost-effective and helps save time as we will ensure we have everything we need for the proper build.

Kitted/Consigned PCB Assembly

For those who know exactly what they want in their PCB, but perhaps don’t have the time or equipment to assemble, kitted printed circuit board assembly is a perfect choice. You can purchase all of the components and parts you want and need, and our experts will use each when assembling the PCB. This can help you have better control of production costs and know what to expect with the completed printed circuit board.

Combo PCB Assembly

Perhaps you have a few components you know you want to use in your PCB, but still need some parts to complete your PCB electromechanical assembly – that’s where combo PCB assembly comes in. You supply us with the parts and components you have, and we’ll supply anything you still may need, and professionally assemble it all together. This option still allows you to have some control of the production costs, as well as control over your most important components combined with the ease and time-saving capabilities of the Advanced Circuits team completing the work.

To learn more about our available PCB assembly options, view our quote order process page, or contact us today.

The PCB assembly process is critical to get right the first time. A single misstep here could result in malfunctions, lack of functionality, or even the threat of accidents. In this post, we’ll cover some of the most important PCB assembly process steps and what you should know.

It’s Not Board Manufacturing

First and foremost, understand that the PCB assembly process takes place during a specific time in the development of an electronic device. It’s not about manufacturing – that happens first. For instance, at Advanced Circuits, we’ll manufacture the board itself, including all the required layers, creating the traces, and all the other important steps, and then work on PCB assembly.

In short, PCB assembly is the process of bringing everything together into one place and creating something functional out of multiple components. It’s taking that newly manufactured board, adding components and resistors, and then making sure it does what it is intended to do.

Understand the PCB Assembly Technologies

Assembling a printed circuit board requires more than just the raw components and a well-designed board. It also requires the right technology. In this case, there are several options to choose from, and each brings something different to the table. For instance, there’s surface mount technology (SMT), as well as manual soldering, and the use of pick and place machines.

While some PCB assembly processes will require just one technology, others will require a combination of two or more technologies. For example, many boards require the combination of through-hole technology (THT) and surface mount technology. Understanding when, where, and how to integrate those technologies is a critical consideration when choosing a company to handle your project or production.

It’s also important to understand that the PCB assembly steps involved with the various technologies differ, as well. Below, we’ve outlined some basic steps involved, as well as how they differ from technology to technology.

The PCB Assembly Process: An Overview

• Solder Paste: If you’re following a traditional PCB assembly process, the first step is the application of solder paste. Note that this is not the case with THT, but SMT does require paste application and/or printing.

• Component Placement: In the traditional PCB assembly process, the next step is to place the components on the board. This can be done manually, or it can be done with the assistance of machinery (pick and place systems). In THT assembly, components are placed by hand, which requires incredible precision. In the SMT process, robotic systems place components on the board. Note that automated placement is far faster than manual placement and is just as precise.

• Reflow: In the traditional PCB assembly process, the next step is reflow, which is when the solder is first melted and then resolidified. The board and all its components move through an oven, which heats the solder, liquifying it and ensuring that connections are formed before the board moves into a cooler, where the solder is cooled.

Note that the THT process does not require reflowing solder. Instead, the second step here is to inspect the board and rectify component placement. This is due to the manual placement process – a visual inspection in conjunction with a design transport frame helps ensure placement accuracy.

In the SMT process, reflow soldering takes place at this time, as well. The board is sent through a furnace, which melts the solder paste, allowing it to flow as necessary, before the board passes through a series of coolers that gradually bring the temperature down, solidifying the solder on the board and cementing the components in place.

• Inspection: The next step in the traditional PCB assembly process is a visual inspection of the board, soldering, and components. Note that this step has already occurred in the THT and SMT processes.

• Through-Hole Part Insertion: The traditional process requires that through-hole insertion be done manually, after the reflow and inspection process. Soldering is also often done manually, but it may be done using wave soldering.

Wave soldering occurs during the THT process at this point, as well. The entire board moves over liquid solder and then moves through coolers to solidify the solder.

Note that there is no correlating step in the SMT process (it is actually already finished, and wrapped up after just three steps, although a visual inspection should still be conducted to ensure accuracy and to reduce the potential for errors).

• Final Inspection and Cleaning: The final step in the traditional PCB assembly process is a final inspection of the board, the solder points, and the components, and a cleaning to ensure that debris or excess solder is removed.

The Right PCB Assembly Process for You

While the SMT assembly process is faster and often more accurate than either the traditional PCB assembly process or the THT process, it is not always the best option. For instance, if you only need a single prototype board assembled, the THT method might be the better choice. Each situation varies and there is no single solution that will always work for every need.

At Advanced Circuits, we understand that needs, budgets, and goals vary. We pride ourselves on offering exactly the solutions each client needs. Whether you’re producing a single prototype for proof of concept needs or you’re ready to move into full production with thousands of units being produced, we can help. Contact us today to schedule your consultation or to learn more about our services and capabilities.

Know Your Goals with the Printed Circuit Board

Before you start to design the PCB and long before it can go through the circuit board assembly process, you need to be sure that you know what the board needs to accomplish. Different types of boards may have different functions. Some might be relatively simple, while others may need to handle more functions. Those who have complex needs from their boards will likely need to use multilayer PCBs. This will allow for more functionality in less space.

Take the time to determine what the goals are for the board before beginning the design. Designers will find that having a solid plan in place even before heading to the software will help to keep them on the right track.

Sometimes, the design that you create will not work as intended. It’s always better to find this out in the early planning and designing phase rather than when the boards are being printed. Take the time needed to perfect the design. A good plan and the right software will help with this.

Use Quality Software

When designing the boards, you will want to be sure that you are using quality software that is made specifically for PCBs. Good software can help to make the process of designing easier, and some programs will even offer the ability to check the files before they move to the circuit board assembly process. They can find errors, and some software can fix certain errors to make your work easier.

If there are potential problems with the design, you can go back into the software and make the needed adjustments before you move to the process of circuit board assembly. This helps you save time since you won’t have ordered a prototype that doesn’t work and then try to figure out why. Once you are certain that your board is in good shape, you can then get a prototype or have a large number of the boards manufactured.

Generally, you will want to have prototypes done first. Order just a single board, or a few, and test them out. See how they work, how they stand up to different situations, etc. This will let you know if you need to do any further design work before moving into the manufacture and circuit board assembly phase.

Of course, many will worry that prototypes will be difficult to get because some manufacturers do not want small orders. When you work with Advanced Circuits, you will not have to worry about this since there are no minimum orders. We also provide an engineering check to ensure it will work, and you can use our free software to design the boards.

Hire a Professional for Manufacturing and Assembly

After you are certain that you have a circuit board with a good and usable design, it is time to assemble the boards. However, you may not want to attempt this on your own. Consider just how much time and space it will take to perform circuit board assembly, even for a few hundred boards. If you have thousands, it will be next to impossible for you to do on your own unless you already have a facility dedicated to production.

This is not the case with most designers, so it makes more sense from a logistical and financial perspective to work with professionals like Advanced Circuits. If you were to try to set up an assembly facility of your own, you would need to have additional space and likely additional employees. Also, there would not be a guarantee that the circuits were working properly.

You need to have a manufacturer that has the space, expertise, and tools available to manufacture the circuit boards. Outsourcing the circuit board assembly is typically the best option. Of course, you can’t entrust your boards to just any manufacturer.

Why You Should Work with Advanced Circuits

You now have a better understanding of why you will want to work with professionals and why you need to have a quality design to start. It is time that you connected with Advanced Circuits. Our company is the third-largest printed circuit board manufacturer in the United States.

On our site, you can download our free software for designing your printed circuit boards. This helps to make the process of designing faster and easier. This is not just some simple software, either. You will find that it is a professional-grade software that has more features than many paid programs. It is easy to use and it includes a free online file check that lets you look for any manufacturing issues that might be present before going into production.

Advanced Circuits is known for being reliable and providing quality PCB fabrication. Additionally, we are financially stable, which means you will not have to worry about the company going out of business.

We are known for using quality materials, providing reliable PCBs, and having a fast turnaround time. Our experience helps to ensure that the boards are made and assembled correctly and that they reach you quickly. We also have around-the-clock tech support, so you can always talk to an actual human when needed.

If you need professional printed circuit board assembly, it is time that you got in touch with us. We have the means and the expertise to help you get what you need quickly and easily. Check out the software, get a quote, and get your boards faster than you might believe.

High-Quality Materials and Assembly

When working with a professional company for printed circuit board assembly, they will typically be using the best possible materials and assembly tools for the job. While this may not be true of all companies offering these services, the reputable companies that have been around for a while will. Choosing a company that can offer the best materials and that provides topnotch assembly services helps to ensure that the final product is perfect.

Naturally, you want to be sure that the circuit boards you are using are the best quality they can be before you start to use them or sell them. Choosing professionals rather than trying to assemble them on your own, in-house, will help to ensure this.

Find Errors Early

Even those who have been designing printed circuit boards for years can make mistakes during their design. A mistake that is followed for all of the circuit boards that are constructed would mean a huge error that could cost your company a lot of money. Rather than letting this happen, you could be working with a professional for the printed circuit board assembly.

At Advanced Circuits, for example, we have engineers test the design – even after you have tested it – just to be sure that there are no issues that could crop up down the line. This provides you with the peace of mind you need to go ahead with the full assembly. You will know that the boards will work properly once they have been assembled.

The software that is available through our company is free, and it can do more than just help you design a circuit. It helps to make it easier and reduces the risk of errors. When the boards are submitted, we will check to ensure that they have been designed correctly. The earlier the errors are detected, the better. It means that you can fix those problems before you go into full manufacturing mode.

Save Time

Consider how much time you would be spending if you had to manufacture and assemble all of the PCBs at your own facility. You would need to hire extra people just to keep up with the manufacturing and assembly needs. It would take up a lot of time that could better be spent working on other aspects of your company. It makes far more sense to hire professionals for the printed circuit board assembly. They can take care of the assembly, whether you need one PCB or you are in the market for thousands of boards.

Reduced Manufacturing Costs

Additionally, consider the manufacturing costs that you would have to incur if you assembled the boards on your own. You would need to have a large space available for the printed circuit board assembly. You would have buy all of the materials and tools needed, and more. You would likely be spending far more money than if you had just hired a professional company to take care of the assembly of the boards for you.

You can talk with companies like Advanced Circuits to get an estimate of how much it will cost for the PCBs that are needed. When you compare this with the cost of increasing the size of your facility and hiring more people for the printed circuit board assembly, you will see why outsourcing is such a good idea.

Turnaround Time Can Be Fast

One of the reasons that some companies still consider in-house printed circuit board assembly is because they worry that another company won’t be able to help them meet their deadlines. This is not necessarily true. When you choose a company that is known for having a fast turnaround time, you can get the boards in a matter of days in many cases. Of course, it will depend on just how many of the PCBs are needed and the company you choose for assembly.

Shipped Directly to You

Once the printed circuit board assembly has been completed, the manufacturer can have them shipped right to your door. The shipping time can vary, but when you choose a quality manufacturer like Advanced Circuits, it tends to be fast. This means you will be getting the circuit boards you need quickly.

Choose Advanced Circuits for PCB Needs

Naturally, you will want to be sure that you are choosing only the best for your printed circuit board assembly. You should take the time to consider just what the company offers, along with how fast they will be able to provide you with the completed boards. Price, of course, is another factor. You want to choose a good company that remains affordable and that can provide quality customer service.

Now that you know more about the benefits that are associated with using a professional for printed circuit board assembly, it’s time to find a company that can provide you with what you need. At Advanced Circuits, we strive to provide our customers with the best service and products from start to finish.

Whether you simply need a prototype, you have a short run that you need, or you are looking for a substantial number of boards, we can help. Get in touch with us today.

Advanced Circuits has the capabilities, the technology, and the expertise to provide you with just what you need.

A Fast Turnaround Time

Advanced Circuits has more than a quarter of a century in the field of circuit boards. The company can provide unbelievably fast turnarounds for high-quality, premium circuit boards as well as prototype boards. When you choose to use the company, you will find a host of benefits that help to make it a solid choice all around.

One of the best features, which is not offered by many of the other manufacturers, is a huge production area. This means that all of the work done on the PCB from manufacturing to assembly can begin and end right at the facility, rather than sending the PCBs elsewhere for completion. The company is one of the few options that are capable of manufacturing and assembling circuit boards and shipping them out the same day or the next day.

However, it is not just a fast turnaround time for the circuit boards that help to make the company a good solution.

Plenty of Support

You will also find help through each step of the process including access to PCB Artist, our free PCB design software. This means that even at the design stage of the process, there are tools that can help you to get the design from idea to production very quickly. The software has a components library with more than half a million parts and it provides more features than even many of the expensive pieces of design software that are on the market today.

Those who might already be using their own program to design the circuit board will still be able to use FreeDFM, which tests the manufacturing quality of the design, for a Gerber file check. This helps to highlight any issues that might be in the design and it can even fix some of the issues automatically. Users will be able to generate a report that will highlight any of the issues that might be present. This allows you to make those changes quickly and easily so you can get your design into manufacturing.

The support goes well beyond just the software and the file checker, of course. There are team members who can provide you with a quote for the circuit board based on the design specs. Once you are sure the board is working properly, there are members of the team that can help with the final production phases of the board all the way through the assembly phase. To make the service even better than is a full CAM review that will take place before the manufacturing starts. This helps to ensure that the design is what is needed and that there aren’t any mistakes. In addition, there are visual inspections of the circuit boards that have been produced.

Tech support is also available. Anyone who has created a design for a circuit board knows that it can be beneficial to have an extra set of eyes on it to make sure it is working properly. There might even be a few questions that you will want to have answered before you finish up the design. Thankfully, the tech support that is available will ensure that you have support around the clock to help troubleshoot any issues. In fact, it is even possible to get in touch with a CAM engineer 24-hours a day.

Even the pricing is nice and clear. There aren’t any setup fees or stenciling fees, and you will find that there are no hidden costs. This ensures those who use the service will know what they are paying. It doesn’t matter if you have a large order that needs to be completed or if you have a small order of just one prototype. Advanced Circuits has you covered. When you work with us, you are essentially choosing a one-stop-shop company that can take care of all of your circuit board needs.

It’s Done In-House

In today’s world, so many aspects of so many companies are outsourced. However, with Advanced Circuits, the work is done at the premises since it is not a broker. There is no outsourcing for different elements of the production. By keeping everything at the company from the testing through to the production, the amount of time it takes to go from start to completed product that’s been shipped is reduced. In addition, costs can be reduced since everything is streamlined and done at the premises.

Who Should Consider It?

Those who are already in the stage to move on with manufacturing and are sure they have a great, workable design will find that Advanced Circuits is a stellar option. Even those who are still in the beginning stages and are looking for quality software to help them design the circuit board will find that it’s a great choice. From start to finish, no matter the size of the project, this is a company that can deliver results.

Given all of the benefits that are available, it only makes sense to choose Advanced Circuits. It’s affordable and customers can get instant quotes. You can even track your orders, which will arrive a lot faster than many people anticipate when it comes to manufacturing PCBs. If you want the best quality available for your circuit boards, Advanced Circuit is a trusted choice!

This is also why the same-day turnaround times that a firm like Advanced Circuits offers seem too good to be true, even though they are not.

One-Stop Printed Circuit Boards Shop

With more than 25 years in the circuit boards industry, we are one of the largest and few one-stop solutions for those in need of premium circuit boards and prototypes. With tens of thousands of square feet of production space, we offer clients an in-house PCB assembly system from start to finish.

Our capabilities include:

• One day PCB – We are one of the few PCB makers that can manufacture and assemble circuit boards and ship them out in as little as a single day
• Full support – Unlike many other manufacturers, our team works with you every step of the way. We begin with a quote based on initial design spec uploads and walk all clients through to the final production and assembly phases.
• Quality – While many in the PCB industry approve of Advanced Circuits’ array of design resources, they also appreciate the inspection process that begins with a full CAM review before any manufacturing begins, as well as visual inspections of the final circuit boards produced.
• Clear pricing – Also unlike many other producers, we do not ask for stenciling fees, setup fees, and other hidden, but ultimately unnecessary charges.

Keep in mind that we are also a chosen maker of circuit boards because of our one-stop system. This ensures a totally seamless process that occurs under a single roof and remains consistently in the hands of our designers and engineers. Without any outside vendors and with the option for production and assembly in a single space, there will be fewer risks of delays, problems, and errors.

Beyond In-house Production and Assembly of Circuit Boards

While the convenience and speed that comes with in-house production and assembly of printed circuit boards cannot be overlooked; the capabilities that Advanced Circuits makes available ensure a much more substantial list of benefits can be enjoyed.

For one thing, we impose no minimum orders, making us an ideal solution for small to midsized firms in addition to larger manufacturers. We also make design, even for the novice teams, remarkably foolproof. We do this through:

• CAM engineer evaluations – All products are evaluated by one of the in-house engineers long before production begins in order to spare clients any costly mistakes.
• Free design software – The cost of PCB design software is part of doing business, but the Advanced Circuits proprietary and exclusive PCB Artist software is available in an unrestricted format and entirely for free. It is a free download to a client’s desktop (Windows only at this time) and is capable of up to 28 layers in a single design. The program has over 500k parts from which to choose, integrates a controlled auto-router function to speed up design processes, and offers multi-page schematics for more complex projects. With a complete library of tutorials to train those using the program, there is no reason not to take advantage of it (and the discounts given to clients who opt for the use of our free software).
• Free evaluation software – For those already using a CAM program of their own, the option for FreeDFM allows the manufacturing quality of a design to be tested. The files are exported in a Gerber format and loaded to the online software. This will review the entire file, correct any glitches and generate a report indicating changes or potential problems.
• Customers get tech support – And while it is great to have customer support around the clock, few PCB firms will offer their clients an opportunity to troubleshoot with the help of a CAM engineer. However, Advanced Circuits does have experts of this kind available 24 hours a day.
• Ordering through the software – When a client runs the proprietary software available through the Advanced Circuits’ website, they also have the choice of ordering through it at the same time. They still get that CAM engineer review and the crucial checks for errors, but they can use the software to make the order, too. And when they do, they receive a discount code as an incentive.

We live in a world of outsourcing everything. It is no longer just customer service and other phone service options that are sent overseas. This can make for a lot of difficulties in the design process. Even when there are online solutions that make uploading your proprietary files easier than ever; the danger for grave mistakes presents too many risks involving time, money and reputation. That’s why so many companies choose Advanced Circuits for their PCB manufacturing and assembly.

When you work with Advanced Circuits, you get the kinds of hands-on interaction and attention that the modern world is so short on. Rather than the distinctly “no-touch” approach used by a lot of fabricators (who want to receive your pre-tested files and get to work), we are a distinctly hands-on service. We run the printed circuit boards through rigorous examinations before any part of production begins. Since we are not a broker but are instead that one-stop solution making everything in-house, it is assured that we do all we can to prevent problems.

We have quick turns services specialists with some of the fastest turnaround times and shipping. In fact, we have the BEST ON-TIME SHIPPING RECORD in the industry, and are now shipping 50% of orders early! In fact, we ship Standard Spec orders on time or they’re FREE!

When you want a flawless design process full of support and even corrections and adjustments that guarantee success, depend on the Advanced Circuits team to produce and deliver your order.

Why Start With Prototype Assembly?

Some design engineers choose to go straight to production after designing and manufacturing a PCB; this, however, is not wise. There are many issues that may arise in the many stages of fabrication, assembly, and testing. Here is why it is important to start with low quantity prototype assembly:

• Cost – Prototype assembly of your first prototypes can lead you to discover ways to reduce costs in manufacturing and assembly of your circuit board; plus, mass producing a design with flaws can cost a fortune.
• Discover Design Flaws – PCB prototypes may help you discover design flaws that can be corrected before your production run.
• Proper Testing – Testing ensures proper functioning of your PCB design and reduces the risk of errors prior to production.

How to Choose a PCB Prototype Assembler

Before embarking on the design and production of a PCB prototype, it is crucial to select the right prototype assembly partner. Here are important questions to make the proper selection:

• Does the PCB assembler internally manufacture the bare printed circuit board?
• Will all or some parts of the manufacturing be sub-contracted to third-party?
• Does the PCB assembler have technical experience and capabilities for your circuit board design requirements?
• Does the assembler have direct and prompt access materials and components needed?
• Can the PCB prototype assembler produce the pieces by the required timeline?

What Information is Essential for a PCB Assembly Order

Prior to a PCB prototype assembler beginning a new project, the majority will require this relevant information:

• Amount of prototypes needed
• PCB Gerber files
• Bill of Material (BOM) detailing all components
• Precise timeline of prototype turn-around

After receipt of the necessary information, assemblers can review the material and determine if they can properly meet the deadlines and specific execution of the PCB prototype.  For a complete list of PCB assembly requirements from Advanced Circuits, click here.

• No setup fees
• No stencil charges
• Files receive detailed CAM review
• One seamless process from PCB fabrication to assembly

Prototype PCB Assembly Solutions & Capabilities

Our PCB fabrication and prototype assembly services under one roof eliminates the complications you may encounter when the PCB assembly service is performed by a third party, such as miscommunication and shipping delays.  Knowing that you can rely on a single vendor for quickturn PCB fabrication with advanced capabilities, easy component procurement, and small quantity assembly services in-house can be extremely valuable; especially when facing fast-approaching deadlines.

We source all components from reliable authorized distributors to ensure their authenticity and offer three different ways to process your prototype PCB assembly order.

Three Ways to Order PCB Assembly

• Turnkey: We source all components required
• Consigned: You send all components to us
• Combo: You send some of the components and we source the rest

PCB Assembly capabilities include both surface mount technology (SMT) and thru-hole manual assembly.  We use the latest MYDATA Pick & Place equipment, Glenbrook Technologies precision X- Ray imaging, and YESTech Optical Inspection units.  To view a complete list of our PCB assembly equipment, click here.

Our quickturn prototype assembly service supports fine pitch components as small as 15 mil pitch, passive components as small as 0201 package, and ball grid arrays (BGA) as small as .4mm pitch with X-Ray inspected placements.  Solder types include leaded and lead-free RoHS compliant and we use laser-cut stainless-steel stencils (nano-coating available).

For more information about our full service PCB manufacturing capabilities and our in-house prototype PCB assembly services, please contact your Advanced Circuits Sales Representative or call 1-800-979-4722.

Advanced Circuits ranks #25 in the latest Aurora Economic Development Council list of the largest private primary employers in the Aurora, Colorado area. 2015 has so far proven to be a strong year for the printed circuit board company as it was also recently profiled in the 2015 Progress Colorado Guide. The guide article summarized the company’s dedication to customer service, on-time product delivery, and commitment to producing its PCB boards in the United States. Advanced Circuits is also committed to protecting the jobs of its highly skilled staff.

Mr. John Yacoub, CEO of Advanced Circuits, stated in the 2015 Progress Colorado Guide interview:

“We do not outsource any of our printed circuit board manufacturing to China; we keep all of our production here in the USA. When the economy was bad and companies were laying people off to cut costs, we continued to hire. In fact, we’ve never had a layoff in 25 years.”

Advanced Circuits continues to create and preserve American jobs this year and  pursue even greater growth opportunities. This growth trend means that new jobs will be created along with a sustained dedication to ensuring that every PCB order of any size (including prototypes, complex orders, quick turn orders and weekend turns) is produced and delivered on-time and for competitive prices.

As a one-stop PCB fabrication and assembly source, Advanced Circuits offers capabilities that allow customers to receive their printed circuit board orders in as soon as one day. With its 24 hour online instant PCB quoting, best on-time shipping record, and enhanced capabilities that can produce and assemble any size order, Advanced Circuits delivers the highest quality and most reliable PCB manufacturing and assembly services available today. Advanced Circuits serves over 10,000 customers, specializing in the high tech aerospace, military (DOD contracts ready), medical, and commercial industries. For more information, visit www.4pcb.com or call 800-979-4PCB (4722).

Watch the video above to learn more about steps you can take to keep your PCB Assembly costs low when designing your PCB.  Make sure to check out Advanced Circuit’s PCB Artist™, the industry’s best free PCB layout software.  When you are finished with your PCB layout, upload your files to our FreeDFM, our pre-order file check that identifies any issues for manufacturability.