Customers can save a lot of money by letting another company build their PCBs instead of doing it themselves. They don’t have to purchase expensive equipment or hire people run these. They don’t need to secure another building to house these machines. By using the services of the specialists, they can get faster results and potentially higher quality. That said, this approach will still cost them money. PCB assembly cost is affected by a number of factors including the following:
Assembly House
The assembly house is the one that will be investing in all of the machinery, infrastructure, inventory, and personnel. The cost can be offset by the profits made from serving multiple customers such that their factory keeps on running at full capacity. If they can optimize their assets and operate efficiently, then the can reduce their own costs and pass on the savings to their customers. Those that operate overseas tend to have the advantage of cheap labor and proximity to parts suppliers.
Parts Sourcing
PCB assembly cost can go in different ways. Customers may send over their own parts or procure these from their own suppliers. The assembly house will simply pick and place according to the design. They will make sure that the components are secure on the board and that everything is up to standard. Others customers will simplify matters by letting the factory procure the parts themselves in what is called turnkey services. They just send over the design and wait for the final products. This will cost more but the time and energy savings may be worth it.
Design Complexity
Simple designs such as one or two layer PCBs are relatively fast and easy to make. They are relatively cheaper than designs that have a lot more layers since these will require more time and care to pull off.
Order Quantity
Of course, higher quantities will mean higher payments since these will require more materials and more time. However, bulk orders may also be given discounts at the discretion of the factory. More information may be obtained from customer service including minimum order to qualify for the discounts.
Build Speed
Some places have streamlined their operations to provide the fastest possible build speed for their customers. These are great for rush orders but they may come at a higher cost. It is also possible for customers to choose the fastest delivery services available to get their packages right away. These logistics companies will also charge higher for these services.
