I want to look into commercial scale pcb manufacture and assembly in the USA but it seems vastly more expensive than china.
For example a set of 5x5'' pcbs is roughly 400% more expensive in the USA than in china from what I've seen.
However I know of at least one company (Schiit Audio) that gets their stuff cheap in the USA.
Is there something I'm missing?
For example a set of 5x5'' pcbs is roughly 400% more expensive in the USA than in china from what I've seen.
However I know of at least one company (Schiit Audio) that gets their stuff cheap in the USA.
Is there something I'm missing?
Quantity I would imagine
I've been working with a few from china and am happy with results overall. I like to sample around and am now looking at Bittele. They function in and abroad, most likely just offices here and factory in china. Will have a batch produced by them as they seem more reputable and have near perfect reviews. They source name brand parts and apparently ENIG is standard. Advanced Circuits is local to me but they fall short often. Sometimes they cant read my files and other times their sales just give me links rather than talking with me. Take a look at Bittele.
S
I've been working with a few from china and am happy with results overall. I like to sample around and am now looking at Bittele. They function in and abroad, most likely just offices here and factory in china. Will have a batch produced by them as they seem more reputable and have near perfect reviews. They source name brand parts and apparently ENIG is standard. Advanced Circuits is local to me but they fall short often. Sometimes they cant read my files and other times their sales just give me links rather than talking with me. Take a look at Bittele.
S
Took at look at Bittele, I don't like the fact they manufacture in china.
I have a highly potent design that I've spent years working on and I don't want china ripping me off. Patents don't seem to mean anything in china either.
I have a highly potent design that I've spent years working on and I don't want china ripping me off. Patents don't seem to mean anything in china either.
Try giving them a call in California and talk about your concerns.
Tell them your fears.
I'm sure my projects don't even register as background noise for being noticed.
Talk to some local folks too, but I'm sure it would entail some significant quantities to get your costs down.
You could also get your own equipment and assemble yourself. There's well functioning pick and place machines that you could stick in your garage if you so see fit.
S
Tell them your fears.
I'm sure my projects don't even register as background noise for being noticed.
Talk to some local folks too, but I'm sure it would entail some significant quantities to get your costs down.
You could also get your own equipment and assemble yourself. There's well functioning pick and place machines that you could stick in your garage if you so see fit.
S
See if adafruit will do anything for you. Ask them where they get theirs from. They're NYC
Here in Colorado there's sparkfun and really a lot of PCB makers. I've used oshpark (Oregon) but by the time I get the boards, they're superceded. You may have someone nearly next door to you. Try Google maps searching for PCB manufacturer. I've noticed that if they're not high profile, they're expensive.
Good luck
S
Here in Colorado there's sparkfun and really a lot of PCB makers. I've used oshpark (Oregon) but by the time I get the boards, they're superceded. You may have someone nearly next door to you. Try Google maps searching for PCB manufacturer. I've noticed that if they're not high profile, they're expensive.
Good luck
S
I get my pcb's made in China by PCBWAY and JLCPCB.
I haven't had any problems.
Much of my stuff has a microcontroller in it so its a waste of their time trying to copy it.
The code is protected.
PCB's in the UK are extortionate.
About 3-4 times the price of China.
They start adding in fee's for tooling etc.
I haven't had any problems.
Much of my stuff has a microcontroller in it so its a waste of their time trying to copy it.
The code is protected.
PCB's in the UK are extortionate.
About 3-4 times the price of China.
They start adding in fee's for tooling etc.
Last edited:
Any of the big houses will have a spin of any sort of audio-based pcb you could imagine overnight if you're willing to pay the money. Can't remember who's up in NE, but I've found plenty of less well advertised places here in my region (and OSH Park is a short drive from where I live).
Unless it's digital with an HDI BGA package, I can't imaging your design rules being anything too crazy that just about any competent PCB house couldn't get it done.
Unless it's digital with an HDI BGA package, I can't imaging your design rules being anything too crazy that just about any competent PCB house couldn't get it done.
Osh Park is great for small proto pcbs, though delivery is slow.
Cost is $5 per sq in, for three boards including shipping.
Yeah Oshpark is my current choice but far from optimal considering the delivery times and the lack of assembly option.
PCBWAY is great and would be my first choice if they weren't in china.
My goal is to find some place that can give me PCBWAY manufacturing and assembly price in the US.
PCBWAY is great and would be my first choice if they weren't in china.
My goal is to find some place that can give me PCBWAY manufacturing and assembly price in the US.
Overheads in the UK and USA are so high the pcb prices have to reflect that.
The last PCB's I got from JLCPCB were $2 for 10 off 100mm by 100mm.
The p+p is the expensive bit but if I dont get 2-3 day delivery they are very cheap.
The last PCB's I got from JLCPCB were $2 for 10 off 100mm by 100mm.
The p+p is the expensive bit but if I dont get 2-3 day delivery they are very cheap.
I do not share your concerns of stealing your designs - keep in mind that you deliver the gerbers only, no net list, no parts list, no circuit diagram. So, how should the fab know what they are producing?
Reverse-engineering a pcb layout without knowing what it is?
btw, I do not name my projects "fantastic innovative TPA3255 amp V1.0" but "2018-11-12" thus identifybing but hiding the purpose of the project.
Last edited:
I work for a small high tech company, and we have had good luck with Gorilla: Printed Circuit Board Manufacturer PCB | Gorilla Circuits. I'm pretty sure they handle the proprietary stuff well.
They are in California though.
I have used Advanced circuits over the years for my personal stuff. They have been quite good. But this is for my own designs, which I publish. So I haven't really cared if they share them (I don't think they do) because I already beat them to the punch. 🙂
Printed Circuit Board Manufacturer & PCB Assembly | Advanced Circuits
They are in Colorado, Arizona, and Minnesota.
There just isn't much in the PCB fab world in New England. Frankly there isn't much manufacturing of any sort left here anymore. But the PCBs can be on my doorstep the next day no matter where they are made, so I haven't worried about exactly where in the states they are made.
Not exactly helpful, but my $0.02
Sheldon
They are in California though.
I have used Advanced circuits over the years for my personal stuff. They have been quite good. But this is for my own designs, which I publish. So I haven't really cared if they share them (I don't think they do) because I already beat them to the punch. 🙂
Printed Circuit Board Manufacturer & PCB Assembly | Advanced Circuits
They are in Colorado, Arizona, and Minnesota.
There just isn't much in the PCB fab world in New England. Frankly there isn't much manufacturing of any sort left here anymore. But the PCBs can be on my doorstep the next day no matter where they are made, so I haven't worried about exactly where in the states they are made.
Not exactly helpful, but my $0.02
Sheldon
Do you have any input on the relative cost of these manufacturers compared to china?
- Status
- Not open for further replies.