Earlier, it was the rarest of occasions that a designer would approach a full service printed circuit board manufacturer to print a prototype. Designers either resorted to doing printed circuit board prototyping themselves or in most of cases, approached a small scale manufacturer for getting their prototypes done. The main reason for this compromise being, the cost of printing a PCB prototype was significantly high during those times. Since the evolution and revolution of technology and processes, all the designers have turned to the services of full-time PCB manufacturers for any of their prototype requirements. The development in technology and modern processes has made full-scale PCB manufacturers print prototypes at a much lower price as compared to the earlier days. This has created a win-win situation for not only the manufacturers but also the designers as the designers get high-quality prototypes at a much affordable cost.
However, choosing the right Printed Circuit Board Prototyping manufacturer is not a simple task at all. Giving the job to a wrong manufacturer can lead to grave mistakes that can compromise the entire project. So, to help you make the right choice, below are some of the tips that you need to keep in mind before finalizing on a prototype manufacturer?
Quality of the prototype: The most important criteria in choosing a PCB manufacturer should be the quality of the prototype that it provides. You need to make sure that the prototype would be devoid of any kind of error as even the smallest mistake can be gravely damaging and costly for your entire project. So, the quality of the prototype is vital when selecting the right PCB manufacturer. However, quality can signify a variety of different things and not just something that is defined.
Minimum order quantity: The next most significant aspect to look in a PCB manufacturer should be the minimum order quantity that is required by the manufacturer to accept the job that you are offering. A prototype is nothing but a design that is at an early stage and is susceptible to any sort of change. It just would not make sense if a PCB manufacturer wants a high minimum quantity order from you, and more than what you can afford. As a designer, you have the room for negotiation with most of the good manufacturers, like you can offer more orders in your future projects to convince them for a low minimum quantity.
Cost: The cost is a very important factor in the production of prototypes as well. The PCB printing business is quite competitive. With the development of the internet, every designer has the option to compare the Printed Circuit Board Prototyping manufacturers’ costs. Due to this competition in the market, there is unlikely to be much difference in the price quotes by different manufacturers. But you have to keep in mind that quality and cost don’t go hand in hand, and it is recommended that you choose quality over the price factor.
Surely, selecting the right PCB manufacturer is not easy, but we hope that now it is not that difficult of a task for you too. By keeping mind the above-mentioned points, it would be much easier for you to make the right choice.
