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"Small circuit boards from China are essentially free[..]" A little later: "Some time ago, I got access to a pick and place machine (a Charmhigh CHM-T36VA). I
by weinzierl 3y ago
"Small circuit boards from China are essentially free[..]"
A little later:
"Some time ago, I got access to a pick and place machine (a Charmhigh CHM-T36VA). I have it on semi-permanent loan."
Why is it, that it still makes sense to assemble boards yourself while outsourcing PCBs is a no-brainer?
It doesn't have to be "essentially free", but isn't there an assembly service that is suitable for hobby projects like this?
I assembled a fair share of PCBs, both for hobby and professionally (in R&D), but I neither have the time nor the space to do it anymore.
- randyrand 3y agobecause pick and place machines need to be setup per device this is a solveable problem tho. I hope someone solves it.
- cglace 3y agoPcbway.com has incredibly cheap assembly for low-volume runs. They will also source the parts and find replacements if they can't find the ones you requested.
- HeyLaughingBoy 3y agoMaking PCBs can be "essentially free" because the manufacturer can group multiple orders on the same panel so they reduce manual workload and increase throughput. The PCB manufacturers typically also offer assembly services, but individual assembly orders require individual sets of components. So you either need parts feeders with a huge variety of components (read: expensive) or you need to intelligently group the orders that use the same set of parts. And for minimum cost, you'd need to group the orders that used similar parts onto the same panel so they could all go through the P&P at the same time. I suspect that it's feasible, but there's not enough cost pressure on assembling PCBs for the manufacturers to bother going down that road.