More and more manufacturers of electronic devices have come to realize the benefits of outsourcing their manufacturing processes to third parties. One of the key benefits is cost. After all, there are third parties with better equipment and cheaper labor, so they can afford to fabricate and assemble boards cheaply. Another benefit is efficiency. Third parties are able to produce exactly the number of boards required and all of them will be perfect. After all, they usually test boards before and after assembly to ensure the client gets exactly what they ordered.
It is crucial to note that all PCB assembly quote firms are not equal. Some firms are known for their quality craftsmanship while others are known for their low cost or fast turnaround. Depending on your needs, be sure to hire the best contractor for your needs. Below are some key factors affecting PCB assembly quote:
i) Choice of Assembly Firm
As you might have guessed, different circuit board assembly firms will quote different prices for their services. Therefore, you have to request quotes and compare them to find the best service provider for your needs. Ideally, you should not be in a rush to make a commitment as there are many potential service providers out there.
ii) Type and Size of Circuit Board
Circuit boards come in different shapes and sizes. There are simple boards that can only accommodate a few components as well as complicated boards that are printed on both sides and can accommodate thousands of small components. The type of board you want to assemble, therefore, will have a huge impact on the cost of service. For this reason, you will have to send the design of the circuit to different firms and ask for their quotes. Firms that are competent, but quote the most competitive rates should get special consideration.
iii) Number of Components to be Installed
A circuit board for a small rectifier circuit only has about a half dozen components, so it’s cheap to assemble. On the other hand, the mother board of a computer has thousands of components, so it is much more costly to assemble. Depending on the number of components your circuit requires, you can easily get affordable services.
During the search for the best service providers, it is always a good idea to look for firms with a proven track record. The most experienced firms should be given preferential treatment.
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