Third-party PCB assembly services are incredibly helpful in allowing companies to create their own electronic products at a lower cost. Instead of investing massive amounts of money on building their own factory and employing a large labor force, they can simply outsource the process and start right away. All they will need is a circuit design. The rest is all up to their service provider. Several of these take orders online. Check out their different offerings and use their quote generators to get an idea of how much you’ll have to pay to each. Aside from the prices, you should also look into the following:
Minimum Order Quantity
These assembly houses will differ in their acceptance of low quantity orders. Some might not accept anything less than 100 while others will go as low as 1. For small businesses and hobbyists that are trying to create prototypes, it would not be practical to make large quantities of their circuits right away. They need to look for places that will welcome them and understand their needs. Some might even specialize in low volume assemblies. As for those that need to make large batches for the mass market, it will also be crucial to check the maximum quantities possible.
Build Time
Build time will depend on the complexity of the circuit and the type of order sent. For regular PCB assembly services, this can range from same day to four days. There may be additional fees for rush orders. As for turnkey services, it can take quite a bit longer with 10 to 16 days being common.
PCB Specifications
Check their minimum and maximum board sizes to see whether your design fits into their range. For example, the smallest size could be 5mm x 5mm while the largest size is around 500mm x 400mm. Look into the types of boards that they use and surface finishes that they are able to provide. See if they can provide different board shapes including rectangular, round, and irregular.
Assembly Types
These houses may use different types of assembly including surface mount, through-hole, or a combination of the two. They might also be able to provide single or double-sided placement.
Parts Sourcing
As for parts procurement, see if they are able to provide full turnkey services to reduce on work on your part. Most will also be able to work with the components that you procured. You can also arrange a situation where you supply some of the parts and they fill in the rest.
