Actions
Forum Thread Details
  • State Not Answered
  • Replies 5 replies
  • Subscribers 171 subscribers
  • Views 326 views
  • Users 0 members are here
Related

Getting boards made off shore

Former Member

Does anyone have any experience getting circuit boards made in China or other off-shore sites?  Any recommendations for mfgrs?  Are there any things to be aware of, concerned about?  What about quality control?  Is it better for them to populate the board or have it populated here?  My board will include a PIC 16F88 micro.   Any problems there?  I am looking at 10,000 pieces if that is a consideration.

  • 0

    I haven't looked into 10000 piece quantities yet, but I have ordered 10-100 piece quantities from two overseas board houses. The 10 piece which I have used for prototyping is SeeedStudio, and  have been very happy with the quality of the boards.  The other board house is http://www.goldphoenixpcb.com/, which I have done one order and a co-worker of my has order 8-10 different layout from them.  All have been good quality.  As for assembly You might start with the "the Knode" PCB services for quotes at least I have not used this yet, but from what I see done in our manufacturing at the company work for the prices are fairly competitive in the under 1000 piece range.  Also we do use both here USA and overseas and in that quantities you shouldnt have to many problems finding someone to work with you for both boards and assembly. Hope this helped out a little.

  • 0 in reply to Former Member

    Thanks for the info.  I am hearing from others that it will be a lot more cost effective if I have the same place that makes the board do the assembly and it looks like Gold Phoenix does that too - so that looks good.   I would actually prefer if they could also make or buy the enclosure and insert the board in it, ensuring that everything fits and works.  And it would probably be cheaper than having yet another company in the loop.

  • 0 in reply to Former Member

    If you go for this one stop approach you have put all the cards in your suppliers hands - it's obvious (from your questions here) that you don't have a relationship with the supplier so you are putting a huge amount of trust in people on the other side of the world that you have never met. Before you go this way (and I have no idea if you are in the UK, US or elsewhere) at least check the prices you can get from an assembler within a couple of hours travelling from your home. This will do three things at least:

    1) provide local work - if you don't take care of your neighbours (or at least give them a chance) why should they do anything for you ?

    2) save you a great deal of grief in setting things up and possibly save you £1000s if any serious problems occur.

    3) ensure that your design rights are protected by local laws that you understand and are familiar with.

     

    If you have to comply with any regulations (and you will in the US or Europe and pretty much every where else) it will be much easier to check up on a local assembler.

     

    In the UK it is a near certainty that the bare boards will be cheaper from China.

     

    Michael Kellett

  • 0 in reply to Former Member

    Yes Michael is right onfor the doing a whole package deal.  If you are in the US and more specificly Ohio or close I can recommand one or two the company I work for uses.  It is much easier to be able to talk to someone, and one of the place we work with even give us feedback on board layout.