How to Reduce Circuit Board Assembly Cost?
The question of how to reduce circuit board assembly cost will be answered here by using easy 7 steps. MADPCB is aware that keeping PCB and assembly prices to a minimum is an important part of our work to the development of your Printed Circuit Board (PCB). Here are some considerations to keep in mind to help to keep the PCB circuit board assembly cost down before the stage of PCB layout.
Here are 7 easy steps to reduce circuit board assembly cost.
- It is essential to utilize a good drawing package that locates components you are using on the PCB.
- View the Gerber files with a separate viewer.
- Work with MADPCB to ensure the finish you chose for your circuit board will best compliment our assembly processes.
- Place components that require specific locations first.
- Attempt to space out your components evenly horizontally and vertically, and orient like components in the same direction whenever possible. Ensure that the orientation of polarized parts is the same. Avoid placing your components at angles other than 0 or 90 degrees.
- When it is necessary to have components on both sides, keep sensitive, heavy, or through-hole components on the primary side. Also, any components that need special attention should be kept on the primary side of the printed circuit board as well.
- When deciding where to place PCB components, always attempt to minimize trace lengths.
Consider the volume of the run. If you have a low volume then circuit board assembly by hand is a viable option. If you have a high volume run, it is most cost-efficient to use automated circuit board assembly. Also, the volume is not only determined by the number of boards ordered but also by the number of components on each PCB. Check with your PCB assembler to determine what volume your run is considered.