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.

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.

Quick Turn Assembly for Small Quantity PCB Prototypes

Having your small quantity prototype boards fabricated, populated, and shipped as fast as one day is made possible by Advanced Circuits™ because we can do all the work in-house within the same facility which eliminates miscommunication issues and delays that can occur when shipping your printed circuit boards to another vendor for prototype assembly.

Our prototype assembly capabilities include Surface Mount Technology (SMT), Thru-hole, Mixed Technology (SMT & Thru-hole), Single or Double Sided Placement, Fine Pitch Components, and so much more.  We have no assembly “set-up” charges, no NREs, and no stencil charges and use the latest state-of-the-art MyData equipment.  All PCB files receive a detailed CAM review to ensure your printed circuit boards flow seamlessly from fabrication to assembly.

PCB Assembly Capabilities

We specialize in Quick Turn PCB assembly for small quantity orders.  However, we do offer many flexible turn time options, such as Weekend turns for Monday morning delivery, longer lead times such as 4 week turns, and scheduled shipments.  Advanced Circuits offers parts procurement for turnkey assembly, partial turnkey, and kitted/consigned.

Assembly Types

• SMT (surface mount technology)
• Thu-hole
• Mixed (SMT/Thru-hole)
• Single/Double Sided Placement

Assembly Solder Types

• Leaded PCB Assembly
• Lead Free PCB Assembly
• RoHS Compliant PCB Assembly
• “No-Clean” Process Available

Assembly Stencil Types

• Laser-cut Stainless Steel PCB Assembly Stencil
• Nano-Coating Available

Assembly Component Types

• Passive components as small as 0402 package (as small as 0201 with design review)
• Ball Grid Arrays (BGA) – X-ray inspected (as small as .4mm pitch)
• Fine Pitch Components as small as 15 mil pitch

Other PCB Assembly services include:  Repair/re-work, mechanical assembly, box-build/electromechanical assembly, and sub assemblies.