Low‑Volume PCB Assembly: Key Advantages and Why It Matters

Oct 09,2020

The printed circuit board (PCB) assembly is a comprehensive process comprising several steps such as designing, manufacturing, and testing. To improve the performance, and get electronics devices in small form factors, there is a huge demand for PCBs with complex designs and several components. Most of the PCB assembly and manufacturing processes are automated. As a result, these PCBs can be produced in bulk quantity and low volumes as per the requirement. Low volume PCB assembly is becoming a prime choice for many OEMs as it offers many advantages over the large volume production runs or prototypes. Would you like to know what they are? This post details what a low volume PCB assembly is and their benefits. So, stay tuned to know more.

What is a Low Volume PCB Assembly?

This is the process of mounting electronics components on a relatively small batch of bare boards, thus named low volume PCB assembly. Owing to small batches of the circuit board assembly, this is often called a small-volume PCB assembly. The number of circuit boards in a batch may range from a handful to 250 or even more than that.

There are mainly two types of low volume PCB assembly services that many manufacturers offer. Whether the size of the batch is small or large, the circuit board quality depends upon the synchronization of these processes.

• Design for Manufacturing (DFM):

  This service performs quality checks based on several engineering documents such as circuit diagrams and assembly files, Gerber files, Bill of Materials (BOM), and many more. This deeper analysis helps avoid any issues during a larger assembly process. The process also ensures the effective component placement on circuit boards.

• Design for Testing (DFT):

  This low volume PCB assembly service helps clients get deeper knowledge on the test points around the boards. The process validates the testing type to be performed with troubleshooting instructions.

What Are the Benefits of Low Volume PCB Assembly?

The following benefits of low volume PCB assembly make them ideal for complex or customized PCBs.

• Small Batch Assemblies:

  As discussed earlier, small-volume PCB assemblies may range from 25 to 1000 or sometimes 5000. These PCB assemblies are ideal for manufacturers building new electronic devices. Due to small quantities, OEMs will easily understand issues that may affect their products.

• Testing and Troubleshooting:

  Many OEMs apply the same testing and troubleshooting practices for big- and small-volume runs. As a result, they will understand whether certain components require repair or replacement. Most PCB assembly service providers offer ball grid array (BGA), or X-ray inspection for leadless part assemblies.

• Design Changes:

  These PCBs will not only allow their customers to get the final look at the board but also help manufacturers decide whether to proceed with the product or keep it on long production runs.

• Cost Benefits:

  Many circuit board service providers help their customers avoid additional charges by waiving off the stencil and non-recurring engineering (NRE) costs on repeat orders. Also, they buy part numbers in bulk quantities to achieve lower prices per part and reduce their overall production costs.

Regardless of the PCB design type and volume, it is important to get it done from a reliable, trustworthy PCB assembly service provider. This is because the circuit board plays a vital role in the functioning of their electronic devices. A small error during a circuit board assembly may lead to an expensive repair. Creative Hi-Tech provides low volume PCB assembly services at affordable prices. The company has been serving its clients across industries for several years.

Related Blog Posts:

• What are the steps involved in PCB Assembly Process?
• A 7-Step Guide to Choose the Right PCB Assembly Manufacturer