Working with a custom PCB assembly manufacturer may feel second-nature to you. But it may surprise you to hear that there are some simple things you can do to make the process and relationship even easier.
A little preparation goes a long way.
As you prepare to work with Aurora Boardworks—or any other custom manufacturer—providing the following elements will support the process and allow our team to ensure a “where have they been all my life” outcome that meets or exceeds all your expectations and requirements. (and makes you look good; let’s not forget the important stuff)
- Bill of Materials (BOM) – This document, often prepared as a spreadsheet, should include:
- Manufacturer part number and the name of the preferred manufacturer, along with alternate parts or their equivalents (if that’s appropriate for your product), reference designator, and quantity.
- With regard to alternates, you have the opportunity to help keep costs down by specifying two or three different alternates, or if your design allows for it, indicate “or equivalent.” By noting “or equivalent”, an almost infinite number of possible alternatives become available.
- If specifications and tolerances on alternative parts are being recommended, you can expect to hear from our team to get your approval before moving ahead.
- Manufacturer part number and the name of the preferred manufacturer, along with alternate parts or their equivalents (if that’s appropriate for your product), reference designator, and quantity.
- Files: ODB preferred, or Gerbers
- ODB’s standard format helps prevent errors and misinterpretation of data, making it the de facto standard for PCB production. Gerber files are a blueprint that guides the production of PCBs, but we prefer ODBs because they provide all the information that otherwise might need to be input manually. In our experience, ODBs help prevent human error in attaching the wrong name or part number to sets of pads.
- When we receive the best files, your lead time shrinks because we need to invest less time in getting the system set up. More automation means less data entry and less opportunity for error.
- Board Assembly Instructions for Placement Other than SMT
- We want to handle your special requests correctly, so we need instructions. Without instructions from you, we’ll create our own instructions and send them to you for approval. Having your instructions prevents a host of back-and-forth emails and the chance for misunderstandings to enter the process.
- Board Fabrication Instructions
- We need to know things like if you have dielectric parameters that we need to follow, the board stack up, if you want the impedance set or want more substrate on other layers.
- Any design offers may opportunities for nuance and detail; when we have a clear set of instructions to follow and open communications, we can move ahead and more efficiently product that meets your purpose.
OPTIONAL ITEMS
- Electrical Schematic
- Schematics are really only needed when we’re testing or debugging, but they are nice to have. Basically, they’re the blueprint of how the circuit functions.
- STEP (Standard for the Exchange of Product Data) files
- For a box build, STEP files of the components and the housing are absolutely necessary to provide appropriate 3D modeling and data exchange information.
- For other applications, these are just nice to have on hand. They provide us with a full picture of how all the components come together and lets us get a sense of the different heights. These files could be useful in helping to build fixtures that might be needed.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
- Estimated annual usage
- Preferred order quantity
- Preferred order frequency
- Other special requests
- For example, if products require individual packaging, that’s something we need to know as early in the process as possible in order to provide an accurate quote.
- Compliance with particular standards, such as RoHS should also be noted as early as possible, as well as any special finish requirements.
- Engineering point of contact
- Designating an engineering point of contact helps us to streamline our evaluation and quoting process. Allowing your engineers and ours to communicate directly saves time and reduces the back-and-forth needed to provide answers.
Each of these elements helps lay the foundation for a successful and efficient partnership. Your goals are our goals. Consistent, open communication helps us keep every project on track.
Get ready for a friendly, down-to-earth professional relationship that lasts a lifetime.