The world of PCB manufacture and assembly is all about revenue. The more projects that are scheduled for production, the more probable it is that an assembly house will remain operational. This offers an incentive for many firms to forego quality in favor of shorter lead times. However, the top manufacturers will take the time to understand your concept before mass producing your board.
Design review is time consuming, much more so when dealing with a high-layer-count, high-net-count PCB, says Vinatronic. When design flaws are discovered, your manufacturer must communicate back and forth with you, the client, in order to rectify the flaws. In the worst-case scenario, a CM will have to return the design to you for revisions. The key to guaranteeing a short turnaround time for PCB assembly is to anticipate these possible issues early in the communication process.
Here are some helpful tips for getting fast PCB assembly.
Utilize your PCB Assembler as a valuable resource as you begin the design process for your PCB
PCB Assembly is often seen as a step that occurs at the conclusion of the cycle. However, the reality is that you should contact your PCB Assembly partner early on. Indeed, given their extensive knowledge and skill, the PCB Assembler may provide critical insights throughout the design stage. Failure to do so may result in costly modifications, which may also delay your go-to-market, which may be an expensive endeavor in and of itself.
Seek Outshore Assembly
While cost is often a primary consideration when it comes to fast PCB assembly, the reality is that there may be other hidden expenses. Consider the cost of receiving substandard items or experiencing a delivery delay. These concerns may easily outweigh the original cheap cost you incorporated into your product price.
Defining test requirements
It is advised that you give the CM with your design files, such as netlists and Gerber data, in order to develop a clear testing process. The CM performs post-assembly testing on all completed boards. Detecting faults at a later stage may be expensive and time consuming. As a result, it is recommended that you give all test requirements in advance to ensure a speedy turnaround of your product.
The expedited turnaround time should not jeopardize the quality of your printed circuit board in any manner. As a result, emphasizing design rules will assure the board’s quality, which will result in a faster turnaround time for your fast PCB assembly. We can currently discover a broad variety of applications for rapid turn PCB assembly on the market. Whether a start-up firm is developing a low-cost product in order to attract investors or a bulk product manufacturer is seeking rapid market delivery, fast turnaround assembly is the optimal option.
Prototype PCBs are used by manufacturers for a variety of purposes, including proof-of-concept, functional validation, production feasibility, and as visual models. This is necessary prior to initiating full load production. It eliminates conjecture and saves time and money on redesigns and adjustments. As a result, rapid turn PCB assembly is quite beneficial in many applications.
Once the design and data are complete, any reputable PCB assembly company should be able to fulfill your deadlines. Choose a CM that has a track record of doing high-quality work on time. A rapid turn-around PCB assembly service will undoubtedly assist you in gaining a competitive advantage in the industry.
Make an informed choice on the PCB Assembler
Often, you will end up selecting a provider who is the lone source of PCB components. There is always the possibility of becoming stranded if the supplier is unable to supply components on schedule or discontinues manufacture of a certain item. In such instances, you would be without recourse. Often, this criterion will not be included in your decision-making matrix, but it is critical nevertheless.
Labeling consistency
It is critical to maintain consistency in your labeling, whether on the design document or the component components. While we pay close attention to document labeling, component labeling receives little attention from us. However, any discrepancy may result in the use of incorrect components, which may have an adverse effect on your product.
Formats of Files
Similarly, confirm that the file formats are compatible. It should not happen that the assembler is unfamiliar with the formats you submit, resulting in time being wasted. This is critical since not all assemblers support all file types. Gerber and CAD continue to be the two most prevalent formats.
Utilize the Assembler’s tools
The PCB Assembler can assist you with the basic design and production of the schematic. This may go a long way toward ensuring that there are no complications at a later stage, which can be incredibly expensive due to the necessity to repeat the prototype, not to mention the time wasted.
DFM Evaluations
Additionally, it is recommended to do a DFM Review prior to submitting the design to the PCB Assembler. DFM, or Design for Production, evaluates whether a design is conducive to manufacturing. DFM may detect a variety of difficulties, such as those relating to component spacing or polarity. It may go a long way toward highlighting differences, if any, from the start rather than at the finish. Discover how to cut production costs and accelerate the manufacturing process by using PCB DFM.
Create a list of required capabilities
It would be beneficial to create a list of the needed skills for the board. Is it main signal transmission or high power output that you require? As a result, it will aid in the development of a design. There may be a need to make certain trade-offs depending on your aims. Additionally, this will verify that the final product meets your expectations and has no anomalies. If there is a method to improve the capabilities based on your particular needs, the Assembler may also provide suggestions.
Make certain you account for lead time
It is critical to account for lead time throughout both the design and assembly phases. This will assist you in precisely estimating your time-to-market. Additionally, testing before to placing the final order will assist you in determining the partner’s reliability. This, in turn, will provide you with the essential confidence to proceed.