JLCPCB ordering tip

[Demon]

The prices for ICs and labour are much higher here in Canada:

16F1946 TQFP-64 in CAD funds

JLCPCB $2.90
Digikey $4.85-5.31
Mouser $4.45-4.68
Newark $4.54


If I have the PCBs fabricated in China, shipped to a local place for assembly, I'd pay shipping twice, and run the possibility of one supplier blaming the other for screw-ups.


I'm using:

- 0603 SMDs,
- TSSOP 74HC14,
- TQFP-64 PICs,
- 0.2mm traces,
- 0.2mm clearance,
- 0.5mm x 0.3mm VIAs.

I doubt I can expect small shop to compete with China.

[Ioannis]

From my experience, the chips that were in stock by JLC were double or triple the price from Mouser. The others that were not in stock were cheaper...!

But since I wanted only 20 assembled PCB's and none locally would do it, I just let JLC do the job.

Are you sure all components are available by JLC?

Ioannis

[Demon]

Yup, first thing I do is match all components on JLC's inventory for a given footprint and input price, JLC part # and Manufacturer part # in my symbol editor (Kicad), as well as if it's a Basic part or Extended part. My design depends on availability at JLCPCB, that's why I select PICs that are currently available.

I'm not looking forward to the day I have to start looking for compatible PICs because they are out of stock. New IC prices are just insane, even if we get to stock direct from Malaysia.

[Demon]

I'm pretty sure we get hit with "engineering", "setup" and "stencil" fees everywhere.

I tried to limit the "extended components fee" by using Basic components when possible (resistors and capacitors), but that's impossible to completely avoid.

I'm not sure what "manual assembly" and "hand-soldering labor" involve, but I think it's assembling the headers.

I'm willing to pay for board cleaning to make sure I get nice circuits.




The only way I an think of to get this cheaper is to do it myself, and there's no way I could match JLCPCB's precision. I don't think I'm going to get less than $80 for over 800 components installed on 5 PCBs. Just those 775 resistors and caps would take me forever.




If there's a better alternative for Canadians, I'd love to hear it.

[Demon]

...I'm not sure what "manual assembly" and "hand-soldering labor" involve, but I think it's assembling the headers. ...

Yup, confirmed. I removed headers from BOM and CPL and those 2 fees went away, as well as an extra $3 or so for cost of headers about $13 + tax reduction).


Anyways, I've decided to install the headers myself cause they're the easiest component to manually install.

I'll be using 90deg headers, and they have to be exactly perpendicular with the board. I noticed that the last set that was manually installed by JLCPCB were slightly off.

[Ioannis]

SMD's that many is impossible to do it manually in reasonable time and with no errors!

When production is low and you have through hole components, these are assembled by hand. And this costs...

Ioannis

[Demon]

Tip: When you think you're doing something wrong and spend countless hours trying to generate a 3D model on JLCPCB:




Stop tearing out your hair, browse the part and check the 3D model in inventory:




And if this is empty, you're done nothing wrong.




Complete brain fart on my part. I had created a new symbol in Kicad and copied over an SOIC-20 footprint. I was certain I had messed something up in the process.

I gave up, went to bed, and it dawned on me before I fell asleep.
....argh.....