JLC PCB Prototype Assembly - Incredibly Cheap

[SteveyG]

Assuming there's no problems, you'll probably get it shipped out before the holiday.

Mine has just finished ENIG process, so shouldn't be long now... 

[langwadt]

Well, for now not enthusiastic about the component availability.
This is what i was able to populate.
  (Attachment Link)

Positioning issues are a huge time sucker.
For now i think i am sticking with PCBWAY for this kind of boards.

The risk of making errors not having a professional doing the positioning is a huge bummer for me. If I screw this two times, my customer is going to kick me where the sun doesn't shine.

Something odd ball going on with your 5 Pin SOT-23's     They all seem 180degrees out.

a good reason to use asymmetrical packages, then it is at least obvious when the rotation is wrong

[mrpackethead]

The biggest problem for me in this, is that unless they can supplky all the components, then a partial assmembly is just not going to be useful.   

[bd139]

It’s fine for first phase production. Most designs can be optimised into their BOM availability. Then you can ship your crap off to another factory for final hand placement or do it yourself. I think I can get my in dev product down to three hand placed parts if I rework some stuff. That’s pretty good and saves me time and money.

Optimisation is key. Compromises need to be made to favour automation and reduced cost.

[spongle]

but at that point is it really cheaper than elecrow, pcbway or some other full service PCBA?

[tom66]

Depends on whether it is a hobby project or not.
A lot of hobby projects I'm much more willing to put time in versus money, even if my "time" is worth more.
Commercial projects where engineers cost £30+ an hour then it's harder to argue when you are saving only £100 or so...

[Mr. Scram]

Depends on whether it is a hobby project or not.
A lot of hobby projects I'm much more willing to put time in versus money, even if my "time" is worth more.
Commercial projects where engineers cost £30+ an hour then it's harder to argue when you are saving only £100 or so...

Engineers for 30 quid an hour?

[mrpackethead]

44-47k Stiring..  is about 22.5 / hour.

[yombo]

It is here, I can place assembly orders already!   

Edit: Where is supposed to be the origin of component coordinates? I can't see my components in the preview.

[ddavidebor]

but at that point is it really cheaper than elecrow, pcbway or some other full service PCBA?

I've posted one example a few post back where it wasn't worth it. It's going to depend primarily on these factors:
* how many of your components they can assemble
    * how many are SMT?
    * how many are in their list?
    * how many are of type "basic" in their list?
* How many they can't?
    * can you get them easily and cheaply? Many suppliers, time spent ordering, shipping cost, duties...
    * are they easy to solder?
* What degree of trustworthiness, experience and reliability do you need?
    * inspection is going to be minimal to keep price down
    * process is heavily automated, so you don't get an expert technician reviewing it
    * how much do you trust yourself getting the positioning right?
* How much is your time worth and what purchasing power does your national currency have against the dollar?

a good reason to use asymmetrical packages, then it is at least obvious when the rotation is wrong

Yep. Love my sot-23-5

[SteveyG]

    * inspection is going to be minimal to keep price down
    * process is heavily automated, so you don't get an expert technician reviewing it
    * how much do you trust yourself getting the positioning right?

The process is better controlled than you're suggesting. They're basically able to offer these boards for this price because your PCBs are being pooled onto the commercial PCB production line otherwise it wouldn't be commercially viable. The manufacture files are reviewed and fixed by their technicians, rotation fixed, placement fixed etc (up to a point...)

[ddavidebor]

    * inspection is going to be minimal to keep price down
    * process is heavily automated, so you don't get an expert technician reviewing it
    * how much do you trust yourself getting the positioning right?

The process is better controlled than you're suggesting. They're basically able to offer these boards for this price because your PCBs are being pooled onto the commercial PCB production line otherwise it wouldn't be commercially viable. The manufacture files are reviewed and fixed by their technicians, rotation fixed, placement fixed etc (up to a point...)

I was referring to the assembly not the PCBs

[Mr. Scram]

44-47k Stiring..  is about 22.5 / hour.

I assume that's what they get paid and not what they cost?

[SteveyG]

    * inspection is going to be minimal to keep price down
    * process is heavily automated, so you don't get an expert technician reviewing it
    * how much do you trust yourself getting the positioning right?

The process is better controlled than you're suggesting. They're basically able to offer these boards for this price because your PCBs are being pooled onto the commercial PCB production line otherwise it wouldn't be commercially viable. The manufacture files are reviewed and fixed by their technicians, rotation fixed, placement fixed etc (up to a point...)

I was referring to the assembly not the PCBs

So was I

[SMTech]

Given JLC et al run  your PCB designs though an engineer & approval process, I see no reason why they wouldn't also be doing some basic checks on your pick and place data , made somewhat easier by the fact they are heavily encouraging you to use standard set of parts they already know. I wouldn't necessarily expect such a process to spot the more annoying centroid file quirks however, the main one being if you have incorrectly defined your component centers so they instead show Pin1 or some other arbitrary co-ordinate. (although even that isn't out of the question if they can overlay placement data onto gerber)

In a previous posting someone suggested the rotation data was based on its rotation in the tape. This might be true in some cases for certain machines (e.g a Versatronics RV) but in actual fact what you should normally be doing is basing your rotation number on established IPC standards which exist for a reason. An example of why that is can be fairly simply demonstrated with the example of an SO8 device in either tape or a tube - potentially exactly the same part packaged two different ways with different rotations as presented to the pick head. If the rotation definition for the part in the tape and the device in the board all refer back to the same standard you can switch between either packing format with ease. Also good luck finding that data in the datasheet, more likely to either not be there at all or in a separate datasheet detailing the specific package in question.

[SteveyG]

I wouldn't necessarily expect such a process to spot the more annoying centroid file quirks however, the main one being if you have incorrectly defined your component centers so they instead show Pin1 or some other arbitrary co-ordinate. (although even that isn't out of the question if they can overlay placement data onto gerber)

They definitely go through and check manually. I had to re-issue my board to include polarity markings on the silkscreen for the LEDs. They also fixed a rotated IC.

[SMTech]

Well rotation is an easy issue to fix & indeed spot. Regardless of who you use, it is very important to mark up LEDs, LED manufacturers are super inconsistent with how they mark up their devices and the technician shouldn't need to wade back though the traces on your circuit to make an educated guess, but IME always put them in the tape the same way round as a standard diode, makes inspection afterwards a real pain however as you can't do it without a datasheet for each LED, even sticking with one manufacturer doesn't help.

Much like the Screaming circuits blogger I typically see default IC rotation out by 270 degrees, data from two clients also rotates 2pin passives which is very odd.

[pmnxis]

mine came
first image is took by mirrorless camera.
you guys can check quality.

I think not bad for SAMPLE.

I am still fixing my pcb now.

Since I am in korea, so I will start mass product with korean local company.

[48X24X48X]

mine came
first image is took by mirrorless camera.
you guys can check quality.

I think not bad for SAMPLE.

I am still fixing my pcb now.

Since I am in korea, so I will start mass product with korean local company.

(Attachment Link)

(Attachment Link)

(Attachment Link)

Is that a short on the RS232 converter IC?

[thm_w]

mine came
first image is took by mirrorless camera.
you guys can check quality.

I think not bad for SAMPLE.

I am still fixing my pcb now.

Since I am in korea, so I will start mass product with korean local company.

thanks, looks very good, whats with the optos though? Are you using them for low voltage isolation and not high voltage?

[pmnxis]

I didnt checked yet. I will do this weekend

[pmnxis]

mine came
first image is took by mirrorless camera.
you guys can check quality.

I think not bad for SAMPLE.

I am still fixing my pcb now.

Since I am in korea, so I will start mass product with korean local company.

thanks, looks very good, whats with the optos though? Are you using them for low voltage isolation and not high voltage?

I am using for take a 5 or 12volt singnal or even high
I wanna uses 12v input with esp32. So I used Optocoupler.
I tried to use mosftet and tvs diode for this. But my application’s input voltage can be change somtimes (this mean cannot use resistor voltage dividing, maybe).
Well if there’s better solution i want to adapt it. But for now this is my best

[GeorgeOfTheJungle]

Esp32!   

[avion23]

Has anyone found connectors?

I'm searching for full assembly. The only parts I'm missing are connectors. SMT is fine.

[mskeete]

Nope. Emailed support about that. No response regarding that