Finding the right Contract Manufacturer (CM) is a critical success factor, a good design badly-built happens more often than it should and the problems are often caused by a combination of poor communications between the designer and the CM and inadequate quality-control checking.
For a completed PCB design, the deliverables must include Gerbers, NC Drill files, and a Bill of Materials; these are sent to each potential CM who quotes for the build. For a new design, the first small-batch run of boards serves to not only prove the design functionality but also to identify any manufacturing problems. As an example, each side of a SMT board design includes a solder paste Gerber layer that defines a stencil that is used to apply the solder paste to the board before the components are placed; this stencil is a thin, expensive, steel sheet that’s often laser-cut. A good CM will want to look carefully at the stencil to ensure the solder paste applied will result in the components being properly secured to the board. Good CMs will examine the stencil and discuss issues with the designer, others will simply build what’s given to them and then charge for rework if there is too much or too little solder paste on some components.
Aiming for a Quality Job
Quality is getting it right but profitable quality requires you to get it right the first time; from our previous example, making a new stencil costs time and money and the changes also need to be rolled back into the design tool by the PCB designer which costs more time and money. If the PCB designer has a working relationship with the CM, then such issues can usually be handled seamlessly before the first build run so that costs and delays are minimized.
MB Electronic Design has close ties with several leading CMs; we leverage our relationship to our clients’ advantage; making it a win-win-win; the client is happy, the CM’s happy, and we’re happy. We can also check that the manufactured PCBs meet the design specifications – you’d be surprised how often this basic step is omitted. If you don’t have a CM selected, we can recommend several but we can, of course, work with your preferred CM and leverage our experience get things right the first time.
Call us to discuss your requirements.