Finding the right company to manufacture your pcb can seem like an overwhelming task leaving you wondering where in the world you are supposed to even start at. There are many manufacturers to choose from which means narrowing down your choices can be a chore in itself. Using some of these tips can help you narrow down your choices to the few manufacturers which fit your needs. From there you can weed out the ones which won’t work and better choose the manufacturer you think would be a good fit your your needs.
Quality
Not all prototype circuit boards are created equally, and many experienced pcb fabrication manufacturers are aware of this. Prototype pcb assembly and prototype pcb fabrication can produce drastically different failure rates among the different manufacturers. Quality is a critical point in the design of prototype circuit boards. Small mistakes can seem minute, but they can turn into costly problems which affect the overall success of your entire project.
Price
Every heard the saying “you get what you pay for?” This statement may be true for a variety of products, but it is not always the case for prototype circuit boards. Quality and pricing do not always match up in this case. You can find relatively expensively priced pcb boards, but for the most part competition between the industry keeps the prices pretty similar between different manufacturers. Go ahead and shop around some without worrying about skimping on quality in order to get a lower price.
Customizing
One size fits all is not a term you want to hear when it comes to designing your prototype circuit board. Certain specifications can cause a drastic change in your specific needs and how complex your board may be. When you find yourself needing a specifically customized board, you want to ensure that you choose someone who is trained and has the experience to provide you what you need. This involves someone who not only has the knowledge and skills, but also posses the tools to provide you what you need.
Speeds
Choosing the right speed for your prototype circuit board is absolutely vital in the success of the finished product. Many projects are started and considered with very strict deadlines. Determining who can produce the best pcb for you or your company with the fastest turn around time will be a major factor in which company you choose. Research turn around times and how fast they can produce your board, because you may find that the speed at which they are produced varies greatly. Some companies may promise to have it done within five days while others can offer a finished product within a certain amount of hours. How fast you need the product will determine which companies you can choose from.
Support
So you have designed what you think is the perfect prototype circuit board and you are ready for it to be fabricated. What if there is a mistake? Are you prepared to spend even more money after receiving the first one and realizing your mistake? A good manufacturer is one that offers support from engineers. Their primary job is to review your plans and your design and catch any flaws or problems before the fabrication begins. This not only saves you time but it saves you money as well.
Once you read through and apply these tips and pointers you might find that choosing the right prototype circuit board manufacturer is not as hard of a process as it first seemed. Many times the answer to your question about which manufacturer to choose from is going to lie within the details of the pcb itself. You want to make sure you get exactly what you need, in the right amount of time without spending an arm and a leg. Use these tips to help you choose the right company for your and your prototype circuit boards.
