Introduction
Printed circuit boards (PCBs) form the core of an electronics hobbyist’s projects. For professional looking, functional boards that bring your design ideas to life, choosing the right PCB manufacturer is key. This article covers the key factors to consider when selecting a PCB fabrication partner as an electronics hobbyist through 16 commonly asked questions:
Q1. What volume of PCBs do I need as a hobbyist?
For hobbyists and makers, the typical quantity of boards required for a project is usually quite low – ranging from just 1-2 prototype boards for testing up to about 50-100 boards for small scale building. This is considered low volume in PCB fabrication. So look for manufacturers that can support prototyping and small batch orders.
Q2. What size of PCBs will I need?
Typical PCB sizes in hobbyist projects range from 10mm x 10mm boards for tiny circuits to about 200mm x 100mm for more complex projects. Maximum sizes can go up to 300mm x 300mm but usually not larger. Select a vendor that can fabricate boards in this range of compact sizes.
Q3. What PCB technology choices do I have?
Hobbyist boards are typically 2 layer or 4 layer designs using standard FR-4 material. Some projects may need 6 layers or flex PCBs. Ensure your vendor can handle layer counts from 1 to 6, different dielectric materials, trace/space down to 5 mil, plated slots/holes, gold plating, carbon printing etc.
Q4. What budget should I allocate for PCB fabrication?
For prototype 2 layer boards of 50mmx50mm size, expect costs of around $5 to $10 per piece for 10-piece quantity from China. For larger 4 layer boards up to 200x200mm in 10-pc quantity, costs are approximately $50-100 per board. Budget 1.5 to 2 times more for very quick turnaround.
Q5. What are the PCB fabrication process capabilities needed?
Look for suppliers offering: solder mask, silkscreen legend, controlled impedance, HAL, minimum hole sizes of 0.2mm, copper thickness up to 2 oz., Underwriters Lab (UL) approval, RoHS compliance and lead-free processing. Not all of these may be needed but having these capabilities ensures your supplier can meet future needs as projects increase in complexity.
Q6. How do I check the reliability and quality of the PCB manufacturer?
Ask about their quality certifications like ISO 9001. Review online testimonials and feedback on forums. Evaluation samples from potential vendors. Ask detailed questions on their quality assurance practices. A reliable manufacturer will be transparent and even allow site visits.
Q7. What special services do I need as a hobbyist?
Hobbyists need:
- Low NRE (non-recurring engineering) charges or none for complex designs
- No minimum order quantity – ability to order single pieces
- Quickturn fabrication in 3-5 days to test designs faster
- Basic assembly services to get ready boards
- Virtual communication for design reviews
Q8. What support for design is important?
Design support services that help hobbyists include:
- Online quotes based on your uploaded Gerber files
- Free DFM (design for manufacturing) analysis to check your design against fab norms
- Quick online communication for design reviews
- Prototype PCB fabrication in 24-48 hours
- Supplying required design libraries and templates
Q9. How do I assess technical capabilities of a PCB manufacturer?
Review their technology roadmap and offerings vs industry standards to assess technical competence – things like line/space capabilities, microvia sizes, impedance control tolerances, HDI stacking abilities etc. The right partner for an advanced hobbyist should have strong technical expertise.
Q10. What certifications should I look for in a PCB supplier?
Relevant quality and sustainability certifications include:
- ISO 9001 or AS9100 – Quality management
- ISO 14001 – Environmental
- IATF 16949 – Automotive quality
- UL – Product safety testing
- RoHS – Hazardous substances process control
- IPC standards – PCB manufacturing
Q11. How important are environmental factors in choosing a PCB supplier?
As a hobbyist, ensuring your PCB manufacturer follows environmental rules on wastewater treatment, emissions norms, chemical handling etc. promotes sustainability. They should be REACH and RoHS compliant. If they have ISO 14001 certification, even better.
Q12. Does manufacturer location matter for a hobbyist?
Location has a major impact on cost, lead time and communication access for on-demand prototyping needs. For fastest turnaround and cost savings, use manufacturers based in China. But also consider your intellectual property security when sharing design information.
Q13. How do I evaluate potential PCB manufacturers before selecting one?
Ways to evaluate suppliers:
- Get free design review and quotation
- Review online reputation and testimonials
- Assess responsiveness of sales and engineering team
- Ask for samples of similar PCBs built recently
- Validate quality certifications and technical expertise
Q14. What questions should I ask PCB manufacturer before ordering?
Important questions hobbyists should clarify:
- What are your capabilities in PCB fabrication and assembly?
- What engineering support do you provide during design?
- What design standards do you follow?
- What quality control checks are performed during manufacturing?
- How do you ensure protection of my IP/design data?
- What certifications have you obtained?
- Do you have liability insurance to cover defects?
Q15. What are signs of a good PCB manufacturer for prototype projects?
Characteristics of a good prototyping partner:
- No minimum order quantity
- Quickturn fabrication in 3-5 days
- Low NRE (non-recurring engineering) charges
- Willingness to fabricate low volumes
- Capability to scale to medium volumes
- Good design and engineering support
- Quality and reliability focused
Q16. What mistakes should I avoid when choosing a PCB supplier as a hobbyist?
Common mistakes to avoid:
- Selecting purely based on lowest price quotes -Going with unknown, new companies without reputation
- Assuming overseas companies have lower quality
- Not checking their qualifications and certifications
- Not reviewing prototypes before larger builds
- Not having a robust manufacturing agreement
Conclusion
Choosing the right PCB manufacturing partner is key to ensuring success as an electronics hobbyist. Evaluating suppliers based on capabilities, services, quality, responsiveness, and costs helps identify the best prototyping partner for your unique needs. With the right selection, hobbyists can fully realize their PCB designs and product ideas.
Key Takeaways
- Focus on manufacturers equipped for low volume prototyping
- Leverage design support services like DFM analysis
- Prioritize quality, reliability and technical capabilities
- Evaluate based on certifications, customer reviews and pre-production sampling
- Analyze total costs not just unit prices
- Align supplier location and capabilities with target lead times
- Establish effective communication channels and IP protection
Recommendations
Reliable PCB suppliers with strong support for hobbyist prototyping include:
- Rayming Technology- China based, excellent engineering support
- Seeed Studio – China, community marketplace and Fusion PCB service
- JLCPCB – China, very fast delivery at low cost
- OSH Park – US based, small batches with quickturn
- Eurocircuits – Europe, proven quality and 25+ years experience
With the right partner, hobbyists can take their electronics projects from concept to reality smoothly.
