Sometimes Hand Assembly of PCBs Makes Sense
Green Circuits and other reputable PCB contractors fabricate the great majority of printed circuit boards through automated processes. The efficiency of automation has lowered overall costs, cut production time and results in PCBs of consistently high quality.
However, even in these days of automated production, there are still instances when hand assembly of PCBs makes sense.
Fortunately, the employees of Green Circuits are skilled at hand assembly. We pride ourselves on our exacting workmanship. Our placement of components is precise; solder is applied with no overflow. We check and double-check all our manual work for complete functionality throughout the PCB fabrication process.
When Hand PCB Assembly is Appropriate
Hand assembly of printed circuit boards remains a viable alternative to automation in situations such as when:
- Relatively few boards are needed. Green Circuits specializes in building prototypes, and small and medium sized runs of printed circuit boards. Often, our clients who are in the development phase of a product initially require just a few PCBs.
- The PCB involves few components. We can more easily complete simple, straightforward boards of limited production by hand. This eliminates the time it takes to set up an automated run.
- Installing particular components is difficult to automate. Often larger, bulkier components such as coils, large capacitors, and lights are easier to place and attach to a printed circuit board by hand.
- Testing requires special connectors. For best results, test equipment that compiles PCB performance data must frequently be manually connected.
Manual Assembly Can Save Time and Money
The Green Circuits team chooses hand assembly only after we’ve carefully examined our options. Assembly by hand is done in cases when our employees are certain it will save time and money and when we can produce a printed circuit board that is equal or superior to a PCB manufactured on machines.
Regardless of the specific production method, Green Circuits has a proven ISO 9000 and ITAR Certified work process in place to ensure that we build every printed circuit board to the highest standards in the industry. Every PCB order shipped to a client must first pass stringent testing at our facility in San Jose.
Because our clients always seem to be in a hurry, time is a major consideration for Green Circuits. One of the reasons that we’re known for fast turnarounds of PCB orders is our ability to ship prototypes or small runs quickly, often within 24 hours or less.
Our international clients benefit from fast delivery times because our state-of-the-art facility is located just a few miles from Mineta San Jose International Airport.
If you think you have a project in which professional hand assembly of PCBs makes sense, let us know. Call 408-526-1700 to speak with a representative from Green Circuits, or ask for an online quote.