Under normal circumstances, the time required to receive a PCB processing quotation depends on which stages are included in the PCB manufacturing process. As most people know, PCBA refers to PCB assembly in China, which encompasses three key parts: the PCB circuit board, SMT placement, and component soldering. Therefore, the PCBA quotation must be based on these three components. Today, the editor from Jiangsu Meizheng will break down the process for you, aiming to provide a simple explanation of how long the quotation cycle typically takes.
1. **PCB Board**: The PCB quotation depends on the board fabrication details and the documentation required for the quotation. If all the necessary information is complete, sorting through the details, determining any special processes that may incur additional charges, and adding other miscellaneous fees, a comprehensive price quote can typically be provided within 2 hours. However, if there are numerous other quotations ahead of yours in the queue, the time required may be longer.
**PCBA Processing**
2. **SMT Chip Processing Section**: This module primarily deals with the calculation of processing fees. In most PCBA factories, the cost is determined based on the number of points. Some charge by points per item, while others charge by points per pin. This pricing method is a key factor in cost structure. Since each component typically has at least two pins, a single-point charge per item might be more expensive than charging per pin. After all, with fewer points, the per-point price tends to be higher, as the factory cannot afford to sell at a loss. Therefore, while a high per-point price may seem excessive, it should not be judged in isolation. The evaluation of the cost for a given item can usually be completed within an hour.
3. **Component Module**: Components include both standard resistors, capacitors, and specialized components. The market for standard components is relatively transparent, making price evaluations easier. However, special components like BGAs or ICs can present more challenges. For example, the ongoing Huawei incident in the past couple of years has highlighted how some components are affected by international embargoes and approval processes. These issues lead to stringent procedures, longer customs clearance times, and fluctuating prices. Consequently, quotations for such components typically require 3 to 4 days to process.
After breaking down the process above, we can conclude that obtaining a PCBA quotation typically takes several working days. Only companies with in-house stock materials can offer evaluations in a very short period. For others, quoting is primarily focused on PCB and SMT placement, which can be done quickly. In some cases, such as when there are many orders and tight quotation deadlines, it’s important to be the first to report. After all, all customers are treated equally.
**Second, PCB Manufacturability Design Review Method**
Once PCB design is complete, it’s crucial to conduct functional checks on all aspects of the design. This is similar to reviewing an exam after completing it yourself, ensuring that no major mistakes are overlooked due to negligence. The PCB design process requires similar checks. Below are the key inspection steps to take after completing the PCB design:
1. **DFM Review for the Bare PCB**: Ensure the bare PCB design adheres to the manufacturing process requirements. This includes checking parameters like trace width, spacing, layout, vias, marks, wave soldering component orientation, and more.
2. **Component-to-Pad Matching Review**: Verify that the actual purchased SMT components align with the designed pads. Any mismatches should be highlighted with red marks. Also, check that the design meets the minimum spacing requirements for the pick-and-place machine.
3. **Generation of 3D Graphics**: Create 3D models of the PCB to check for potential component interference, verify whether the component layout is reasonable, and ensure proper heat dissipation. This also helps assess the suitability for SMT reflow soldering.
4. **Optimization of PCBA Production Line**: Optimize the placement sequence and material station layout. Input details of the existing pick-and-place machines (e.g., Siemens high-speed machines, global multi-function machines) into the software. Allocate components to the available machines based on component types, machine locations, and material pickup areas. This optimization saves time in the SMT assembly process and can be extended to multi-line production environments as well.
5. **Work Instructions**: Automatically generate work instructions for workers on the production line to improve efficiency and reduce errors.
6. **Revision of Inspection Rules**: Inspection rules can be adjusted as needed. For example, the minimum component spacing requirement may be set to 0.1mm, but this could be adjusted to 0.2mm based on specific factors like component model, manufacturer, or board complexity. Similarly, the minimum trace width may be set to 6 mils but can be changed to 5 mils for high-density designs.
7. **Support for Panasonic, Fuji, Universal Placement Software**: The software can automatically generate placement machine programs, reducing the time required for programming.
8. **Automatic Generation of Stencil Optimization Graphics**: The system can generate optimized stencil designs for better manufacturing accuracy.
9. **Automatic Generation of AOI and X-RAY Programs**: Automatically create programs for automated optical inspection (AOI) and X-ray inspection to ensure quality control.
10. **Inspection Report**: Generate detailed inspection reports for quality assurance and documentation.
11. **Support for Multiple Software Formats**: The system is compatible with various file formats to ensure flexibility and ease of integration with other software tools.
12. **Review and Correct the BOM**: Conduct a thorough review of the Bill of Materials (BOM) and correct any errors, such as misspellings or inaccuracies from the PCB manufacturer. The BOM can also be converted into an appropriate software format for integration with other systems.
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