When you are choosing a manufacturer for PCBs, you should consider not only the most important factors for you but all of the factors that go into a great company. This helps to ensure that you are choosing your manufacturer correctly.

Below, we will be looking at some of the factors that tend to be at the top of many peoples’ lists when they are looking for a PCB manufacturer.

Are Quick Turn PCBs Important for You?

Whether you are creating your prototype, or you are looking to have a large number of printed circuit boards manufactured, you want to know how long it will take. Sometimes, you do not have as much time as you might like. You need the PCBs as soon as possible. This means that you need to choose a manufacturer capable of meeting your specific needs not only in terms of quality but also turnaround time. It is important to realize that not all companies will be able to offer quick turn PCBs.

Fortunately, you will not find that problem with Advanced Circuits. We have a range of options available to meet the needs of our customers. We can offer same-day turns for those who are placing their two-layer PCB order by 8:15am MST. These boards will be shipped the same evening. Additionally, if you submit two-layer or multilayer PCB designs on Friday, we will build the boards over the weekend, so they can arrive by Monday morning.

We offer small quantity and quick turn assembly services that ensure you are getting the PCBs you need when you need them. We also have an on-time guarantee. Our company built a reputation on being able to provide quick turn PCBs, and this means that we will guarantee that your standard spec PCBs will ship on time, or they are free.

Reputation and Experience of the Company

One of the first things that you should look for when choosing a manufacturer for your PCBs is how much experience they have in the field. Are they a new entrant into PCBs or do they have several decades in the field? While there might be some new companies offering quality products, they do not have the reputation of older companies. This also often means they will not have the same capabilities. They will not be able to get the materials they need at good prices. Those companies will not have dedicated manufacturing facilities, and it is unlikely that they will have a reliable process for quick turn PCBs. A good reputation and experience go a long way in this field, so do not overlook how important it can be.

The Standard and Custom Options

When it comes to the standard and custom PCB options that a company offers, you need to understand what they mean by those options. Some companies, for example, will not have true custom printed circuit boards, but will only offer standard options. Take the time to learn how many layers are available, whether they have a minimum number you will need to order, board thicknesses, copper weight, materials, and more. You have to be sure the company can provide you with the boards you need.

Customer Service

How the customers are treated is also important and something you will not want to overlook. Find a company that can guarantee their quality and their quick turn PCB time. Make sure that you have plenty of ways to contact the company if needed, and that the manufacturer offers free checks of your work before going into production. This helps to reduce the possibility of creating boards that are not going to work.

Overall Capabilities

What are the overall capabilities of the manufacturer? Will they be capable of providing you with just a prototype if needed? Will they be capable of offering short runs, as well as producing the PCBs you need on a massive scale? You have to think about what your needs are right now, and what they could be in the future when you are choosing a PCB manufacturing company. Take the time to learn more about the company’s certifications, such as whether they can offer military-grade PCBs. How many facilities do they operate?

Additionally, you will want to be certain that the PCBs are being made in facilities owned and operated by the company. Some manufacturers shunt their production off to other parties, which means you cannot always rely on the quality or the speed. Learn as much as possible about the company you are considering and then make up your mind whether you want to do business with them or not.

These are some of the most important things you will want to consider when you are choosing your PCB manufacturer. Always make sure that the company you choose can meet, and hopefully exceed, your needs.

Get in Touch with Advanced Circuits

If you are looking for a company that excels in all aspects of PCB manufacturing and customer service, Advanced Circuits is ready to provide you with what you need. We have decades of experience in the field and we have a range of quality services and features that help to make us a top choice in the field. We are the third-largest PCB manufacturing company in the United States, and we want to ensure our customers are always happy with the orders they place. Our experience, our size, and our dedication help to ensure that you can count on our quick turn PCBs.

Anyone involved in the electronics industry already knows that PCB & PCBs are interchangeable acronyms for the same thing: printed circuit boards. Not all manufacturers, fabricators and assemblers are able to offer the full array of PCBs because there are also HDI and other specialized options. These may call for more refined handling and even some degree of miniaturization and finer detailing that a standard vendor cannot offer.

Additionally, not all will provide their customers with the kinds of resources needed to get the most out of the entire design, production, and assembly process.

PCB Types

When in the market for PCBs, it pays to know what varieties your preferred provider can deliver. The basics include:

• Single Layer
• Double Layer
• Multi-Layer
• Rigid
• Flexible
• Flex-Rigid
• High-frequency
• Aluminum-Backed
• Full Spec, and more

If your design features LDI, or laser direct imaging; more than 28 layers or with air pockets between layers; oversized styles; heavy copper; and more, the team at Advanced Circuits can supply you with these and any other type of PCBs you require.

Over Twenty Years of PCB Production & Assembly Experience

If you are looking for solutions to your PCB needs and you want a firm that offers the entire array of types, along with one-stop solutions in design, manufacturing, and assembly, Advanced Circuits is an ideal choice. With more than two decades in the creation of premium PCBs, we have one of the most comprehensive sets of solutions.

Advanced Circuits stands as one of the largest PCB manufacturing and assembly companies, and we are also noted as one of the most reliable in the PCB industry. This is because we do what we say we will, and it starts with something as simple as our shipping guarantees. For instance, we have the BEST ON-TIME SHIPPING RECORD in the industry and are now shipping 50% of orders early! In fact, we put our money where our mouth is . . . and ship Standard Spec orders on time or for FREE!

The Advanced Circuits Difference

We take on more than 200 new clients each month of the year, and most are referrals! We are able to get such loyalty because we:

• Do not work as a broker – Our entire process is done in-house. Our 62k square foot manufacturing facility is able to quickly handle every step of the process. We facilitate easy delivery of your project’s Gerber files or design; have every single order reviewed (for free) by one of the in-house engineers; and any issues are identified and remedied long before fabrication begins. We are hands-on, and it means that no clients are left with something that is untenable because of a design flaw.
• We guarantee stability – What’s worse than building a relationship with a PCB manufacturer only to see them go out of business or suffer a decline in customer support, quality, or efficiency? The team at Advanced Circuits offers their clients one of the most efficient, stable, and cutting edge facilities.
• We have experts on hand at all times – While 24-hour customer support is not all that unusual, getting access to a CAM engineer at any hour of the day or night is certainly unique. Our clients can call in and have their design and engineering questions answered by a professional engineer at any time. Remember that all clients also get a free CAM engineer review of their designs, ensuring no glitches exist before the manufacturing process begins.
• We offer free design support – Design is the crucial factor in any PCB process. Make one mistake and the batch is unusable and all of that money and time are gone. The good news is that Advanced Circuits clients have the use of several free software options meant to eliminate such risks. There is our free and unrestricted PCB Artist software that contains more features than even the strongest competitor; and may outdo the traditional Gerber file options. This enables easy design checking, but it is also possible to upload any files through FreeDFM, our free file review program that assesses, corrects and reports.
• Ease of use – Instant quotes are available from the website, and every client has a unique customer page where they can place orders or reorder previous items. They can also use the file uploading options and follow the progress of any order. Their ordering can be done right through the free PCB Artist software, but also through the web page. Test certifications and C&Cs can be ordered here too.
• No minimums – It can be cost-prohibitive to order the parts needed when the manufacturer imposes arbitrary minimum lot requirements. With the no minimum PCB orders, Advanced Circuits’ clients never find themselves holding on to too many components.
• No tooling fees – It can be disappointing to order standard spec PCBs, only to get slammed with a high tooling charge. Our clients don’t have to worry. The standard spec order is always free of tooling charges. If a client reorders something that was once previous standard spec, as a custom spec order, that no fee status remains.

Advanced Circuits – Your Premier Provider of Printed Circuit Boards 

While it is important to ensure that your PCB manufacturer has all of the types of PCBs available, it is just as significant to ensure they have the fullest range of complementary services, too. One-stop shops like Advanced Circuits, which domestically manufacture and assemble PCBs, provide the greatest degree of control over the quality and cost of your projects. The benefits of working with us are immense, and whether it is a tiny batch or a massive assortment of printed circuit boards, you can rest assured we’ll make your order easy, efficient, and successful.

Why Order PCBs from Advanced Circuits?

Advanced Circuits has capabilities for printed circuit boards that range from small, simple designs to advanced military and aeronautical applications. By meeting and exceeding quality and manufacturing standards set by the industry, Advanced Circuits is able to produce all of the PCBs that you need to get the job done quickly and correctly. Contact a representative today for more information.