As demand for printed circuit boards (PCBs) increases worldwide, many organizations are weighing the long-term pros and cons of outsourcing PCB assembly to offshore companies. While sourcing from overseas can provide cost savings, it can also lead to production delays, poor quality, and shipping problems that can negatively impact your company’s reputation. This article aims to help you make an informed decision by breaking down assembly differences between offshore and domestic companies in terms of cost, quality, risk, and time to market.
The primary advantages of using pcb assemblers include increased productivity, better cost control, and reduced risks. Professional assemblers use state-of-the-art equipment to guarantee quality, and they can handle high-volume orders quickly and accurately. They can also provide prototypes to customers, allowing them to test and perfect their designs before manufacturing begins. Moreover, they can offer customized services that are specific to your project.
During the manufacturing process, a pcb assembler can detect errors and rectify them immediately. This helps in ensuring that the final product is free from flaws. Errors such as solder-bridging, electrical opens, “tombstoning” and de-wetting can occur in the SMT assembly process, but if these mistakes are detected at an early stage, they can be corrected.
Primary Advantages of Using PCB Assemblers
SMT pcb assembly is a highly automated method that can produce large volumes of high-quality circuit boards at relatively low costs. It is ideal for products that require complex wiring arrangements or multiple components. However, it may not be suitable for circuits that are expected to heat up or undergo significant pressure. The soldered joints may fail under these conditions, which could cause the devices to malfunction or shut down.
A pcb assembler can perform multiple functions in one machine, including component placement, soldering, and inspection. This can significantly increase productivity and reduce costs. Moreover, it can handle a wide range of sizes and types of parts. This can save space and improve efficiency, as well as ensure that all the components are properly soldered.
Another advantage of using a pcb assembler is the fact that it can eliminate the need for hand soldering and manual alignment, which can be time-consuming and costly. It can also handle complex layouts and offer features like auto open/close for loading and unloading, auto fiducial alignment for X, Y, Z positioning and visual alignment/assist options to simplify paste application.
The pcb assembler can provide a wide range of benefits to the manufacturer, including reducing supply chain complexity and eliminating the need for a separate procurement team. The pcb assembler will also have established supply chains that they can take advantage of to get volume discounts on components, thereby taking a lot of the procurement burden off of the OEM.
Lastly, the pcb assembler can also provide valuable technical advice and insight on the design and layout of a circuit board. This can result in improved reliability and durability and shorter development times. It can even increase the profitability of the company by enabling it to offer a more competitive price and reduce the cost of manufacturing.
