How do I get a Printed Circuit Board made?
Discussion
I've had a PCB designed for one of my business interests and we have something called "Gerber files" with all the spec to create it. Our usual supplier is asking for more information and the designer is saying all they should need to be able to quote for this is the Gerber files.
Has anyone got a contact (ideally in China - who can make PCBs and could give us a quote using Gerber files? While I am out of my depth here in doing this, I have to think that we're not exactly building the Large Hadron Collider here and this has been one before so quite why I'm running into these obstacles baffles me.
Can anyone help please?
Has anyone got a contact (ideally in China - who can make PCBs and could give us a quote using Gerber files? While I am out of my depth here in doing this, I have to think that we're not exactly building the Large Hadron Collider here and this has been one before so quite why I'm running into these obstacles baffles me.
Can anyone help please?
We've used these guys;
http://www.minnitron.co.uk/
without problems before. They've been quite helpful with getting designs into a good format for them. Not China based, sorry.
http://www.minnitron.co.uk/
without problems before. They've been quite helpful with getting designs into a good format for them. Not China based, sorry.
I wouldn't be so set on China, especially for a new product.
There are companies who specialise in small quantities for prototyping e.g. http://www.alncircuits.co.uk/
Do you just want the boards for building up by hand or do you want full assembly?
There are companies who specialise in small quantities for prototyping e.g. http://www.alncircuits.co.uk/
Do you just want the boards for building up by hand or do you want full assembly?
FWIW said:
I wouldn't be so set on China, especially for a new product.
There are companies who specialise in small quantities for prototyping e.g. http://www.alncircuits.co.uk/
Do you just want the boards for building up by hand or do you want full assembly?
As mentioned, I;m out of my depth here. We use a few thousand of these boards every year and whether they are made by hand or assembled, I do not know. I just know they are made. Sorry!There are companies who specialise in small quantities for prototyping e.g. http://www.alncircuits.co.uk/
Do you just want the boards for building up by hand or do you want full assembly?
Aquarius909 said:
FWIW said:
I wouldn't be so set on China, especially for a new product.
There are companies who specialise in small quantities for prototyping e.g. http://www.alncircuits.co.uk/
Do you just want the boards for building up by hand or do you want full assembly?
As mentioned, I;m out of my depth here. We use a few thousand of these boards every year and whether they are made by hand or assembled, I do not know. I just know they are made. Sorry!There are companies who specialise in small quantities for prototyping e.g. http://www.alncircuits.co.uk/
Do you just want the boards for building up by hand or do you want full assembly?
We use a variety of PCB suppliers here although mostly for prototype volumes. For the volumes you mention China may or may not make sense
Ben
surely your PCB designer should be able to sort it out with your supplier?
What specifically is the supplier saying is missing from the board package?
btw. in case it helps, Gerber is a file format that basically describes the copper tracks on each layer of the board. So a set of pcb gerber files is really just pictures of the tracks on each layer.
That is a start, but the manufacturer also needs to know things like copper and board thickness, drill sizes etc.
So, an example of a board package I have includes:
.gbr files for board outline
.gbr files for component placement
.gbr files for paste mask
.gbr files for solder resist
.gbr files for each copper layer
.gbr files for silk screen
PCB definition spec (pdf file) includes board type, type (eg 4 layer, no blind or buried vias, plated through holes), finish etc etc.
.csv file with component xy coordinates
.drl file with drilling information
Different board makers need different info in different formats but you pcb designer should be able produce what every they need pretty simply.
What specifically is the supplier saying is missing from the board package?
btw. in case it helps, Gerber is a file format that basically describes the copper tracks on each layer of the board. So a set of pcb gerber files is really just pictures of the tracks on each layer.
That is a start, but the manufacturer also needs to know things like copper and board thickness, drill sizes etc.
So, an example of a board package I have includes:
.gbr files for board outline
.gbr files for component placement
.gbr files for paste mask
.gbr files for solder resist
.gbr files for each copper layer
.gbr files for silk screen
PCB definition spec (pdf file) includes board type, type (eg 4 layer, no blind or buried vias, plated through holes), finish etc etc.
.csv file with component xy coordinates
.drl file with drilling information
Different board makers need different info in different formats but you pcb designer should be able produce what every they need pretty simply.
FWIW said:
Aquarius909 said:
Update on this from my more technically literate colleague: we need PCB assembly, hence why China makes sense.
China is *definitely* a mistake unless you already have a supply chain in place.Give Jaltek in Luton a call if you want product made properly.
If you don't already have a tie up with China, then count on sending someone who understands pcb assembly out there for a couple of months to supervise things, otherwise you'll get a pile of rubbish.
As previously mentioned for that sort of volume China will be a waste of time and not really any cheaper when you look at the overall cost.
There are lots of manufacturers geared up for this in the UK, from proto boards up to full volume, some specialise in different fields (such as medical, military etc).
Are the boards quite complex?
There are lots of manufacturers geared up for this in the UK, from proto boards up to full volume, some specialise in different fields (such as medical, military etc).
Are the boards quite complex?
Use a UK company unless you want more than 50K boards assembled per year.
https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=pcb+assembly+uk&...
https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=pcb+assembly+uk&...
spikeyhead said:
FWIW said:
Aquarius909 said:
Update on this from my more technically literate colleague: we need PCB assembly, hence why China makes sense.
China is *definitely* a mistake unless you already have a supply chain in place.Give Jaltek in Luton a call if you want product made properly.
If you don't already have a tie up with China, then count on sending someone who understands pcb assembly out there for a couple of months to supervise things, otherwise you'll get a pile of rubbish.
As others have mentioned above, feel free to drop me a PM. We run a Contract Electronic manufacturer, based in Cirencester and assemble both Surface mount and Through hole assemblies.
If you download Viewmate you should be able to import the Gerbers and view the board layout. If one of the layers mentions ' paste' then you'll be looking at Surface mount. If you see a few rows of ' holes' they'll probably be connectors or Other ' Through ' hole components!
Good luck!
If you download Viewmate you should be able to import the Gerbers and view the board layout. If one of the layers mentions ' paste' then you'll be looking at Surface mount. If you see a few rows of ' holes' they'll probably be connectors or Other ' Through ' hole components!
Good luck!
gottans said:
Well don't forget RoHS 2, lead free solder and all that extra wonderful stuff...
Is this the massive pain in the arse I've read it is? As if there aren't enough things trying to make the smoke escape from electronics we have to go and add another way for it to happen. The shortened lifespan and increased waste must be far worse economically and environmentally than the cost of dealing responsibly with lead and electronic waste generally.I've got a pal who I think works for http://www.graphic.plc.uk/.
They're based in Crediton in Devon, and there are benefits of going UK, at least for the prototype stage I'd have thought.
Dunno much about what they do, but I can put a call in for you...
They're based in Crediton in Devon, and there are benefits of going UK, at least for the prototype stage I'd have thought.
Dunno much about what they do, but I can put a call in for you...
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