When choosing a printed circuit board manufacturer, what should you consider? It’s an important aspect of your manufacturing process, and if you choose the wrong PCB manufacturer, you could face a lot of problems, including the possibility of your product not functioning as it should.
Here are some pointers to think about to help you make a more informed decision about your circuit board technology.
Circuit Board Quality
Quality is important when choosing a good circuit board. This means you must deliver your design specs correctly without any error. In the specs, you must include the dimensions and location of the drill holes in the proper position and ensure that your plan passes the bare board test. You want to avoid board warping and ensure that all materials are compliant with your specifications.
Quality of Your Supplier
You need to know that your Printed Circuit Board Manufacture can work on your requirements. Suppliers such as Lithography Solutions, LLC use quality materials to print diagrams on the board. Make sure that the company you work alongside is capable of producing a board with the PCB material and tolerance you need. Check to make sure that all of these details are covered before placing an order with a PCB manufacturer.
Cost
Your cost is another factor to consider. While you may want to reduce costs, you need to consider the quality of the board and balance the cost against the quality.
Timescale
Making sure deadlines can be met is a major consideration when choosing a PCB manufacturer. A quick turn-around capability is great for short lead times, but is it the right solution for long-term production? It is a question you must ask yourself.
Business Relationships
Another key element is a company’s ability to cooperate and build a good business rapport. You need to know whether the PCB manufacturer can work alongside your PCB assembly and design areas. Cooperative business working relationships can contribute to the speedy resolution of issues and provide feedback to enhance productivity and improve processes.
Material Sourcing
Where the PCB materials are sourced is another key consideration for many companies when choosing the right PCB manufacturer. Some low-cost manufacturers may use boards that are not consistent in performance from batch to batch. If you need a UL-certified circuit board, make sure the PCB manufacturer can deliver it.
Production Capabilities
You should match the capabilities of the PCB manufacturer with the number of printed circuit boards you are likely to need for your project. There may be a need for prototype PCBs to be in very small quantities, or you may need smaller production runs before volume production is started. Make sure the PCB manufacturer can meet your requirements.
