Cheap non-Chinese source for 4 layer PCB manufacturing?

[Weston]

JLC will often modify your stencil apertures without asking. For parts with unusual / critical apertures this can make the stencils borderline unusable. 

[Reckless]

We use DEK inifinity and MPM ultraprint automatic screen printers.  When using the 29" framed stencil and could not get the machines to print evenly.  I had 2 experienced SMT operators try with inconsistent results.  My go to person said that there was a strange coating that neither printer could get repeatable results.  It costs us $70 more to buy them locally.

[MarkF]

I want to move away from jlcpcb.  They have been way too unpredictable lately so I hope Aisler can replace them for me.  I don't mind paying 10% more for faster service.  Has anyone used them for stencils?  I tried jlcpcb and their stencils were crap. 

I tried uploading my file on their website and it continually says "Preparing your final production data..." and never does anything.  I tried emailing them but haven't heard a response.  How long do they normally take to respond?

I have been using Elecrow.
Similar to JLCPCB.  Have not used them since COVID-19 hit.

[JLCPCB Official]

Sorry for the delay in production and logistics Our production capacity back to normal in February, shipping is still improving. We seek for stable and fast delivery companies in some countries to replace new postal parcels and DHL parcels, hope many options as possible. FedEx, ems, Hong Kong DHL are all provided to customers. We are doing...

[Styno]

JLC will often modify your stencil apertures without asking. For parts with unusual / critical apertures this can make the stencils borderline unusable.

From the JLCPCB website:

At JLCPCB, the stencil aperture for components(except for diode) larger than 0805 will be slightly reduced from the pad size like below image to avoid the solder beads.

Note: If you don't want to apply this solder beading treatment for your stencil, please make a remark when you place an order. 

[thinkfat]

JLC will often modify your stencil apertures without asking. For parts with unusual / critical apertures this can make the stencils borderline unusable.

Aisler does the same.

[AndyC_772]

I'm surprised that a PCB manufacturer would make changes to a stencil, given that the required relationship between stencil aperture and component type is down to the assembly contractor and no-one else. Only they know how their own particular process works, what type of solder they're using, what reflow profile, what known issues from previous batches and so on. They're also the ones commercially responsible for the production yield; if a component doesn't solder properly, they're on the hook for the inspection and rework costs.

If a stencil needs changing it should always be at the request of the process engineer that will actually use it. Not the original PCB layout engineer, and certainly not on the whim of the company making the stencil.

My artwork has a standard note on the drill drawing layer which simply says :

APPROVAL IS REQUIRED FOR *ANY* CHANGE TO ARTWORK

It doesn't mean changes can't be made at all, it just means I must be informed about what is proposed and why before it can go ahead. If I submit the same job to two PCB suppliers, I expect to get back two sets of identical boards (and stencils).

There are other good reasons to be very particular about who gets to change PCB artwork and when. Some years ago I designed a PCB, we ordered a small number of prototypes, built them up, tested them, made some small changes, and ordered a much larger number of rev B boards.

They didn't work. Why? Because rev A contained a layout error which the PCB supplier had "helpfully" spotted and fixed without telling us, and which therefore hadn't been fixed on the rev B board. The PCB supplier, for whatever reason, didn't apply the same fix to rev B as they'd quietly applied to rev A.

Instead of the problem being confined to a small number of prototypes - which is why prototypes exist at all, of course - we now had a full production batch of boards that needed rework. The whole exercise was costly and time consuming.

Artwork changes: yes, if you need to, but TELL ME ABOUT THEM FIRST.

[Koen]

Add "按我的贴片层做，不要修改文件，谢谢！Please do not edit stencil!"

[coppice]

Add "按我的贴片层做，不要修改文件，谢谢！Please do not edit stencil!"

That Chinese says something like "Follow my SMD layer, do not modify the file". You might want wording that specifically says not to modify the stencil file.