Contents
What is a turnkey PCB?
A turnkey PCB is a complete solution, ready for immediate use.
The supplier handles the entire manufacturing PCB process, from design and fabrication to assembly and testing.
This comprehensive approach offers numerous benefits, including streamlined production, reduced costs, and improved quality.
Essentially, though, full turnkey solutions enable designers to have the freedom of focusing on PCB design as the supplier takes care of the rest of the applications. Lately, turnkey PCB seems to be gaining popularity like never seen before.
The necessary process of Turnkey PCB
Below are some of the most critical stages that manufacturers use in making PCBs by use of turnkey manufacturing：
The Sourcing of parts
Parts sourcing is the first step in turnkey manufacturing. Here, you need to source all the features you’ll require in your board’s assembly. For the best results, make sure that you source such parts from reputable suppliers.
Design assistance
Immediately after you’ve sourced your parts, design assistance soon follows. Design assembly is critical for manufacturers who get to outsource PCBs for design and manufacturing. If done correctly, it minimizes development costs, shortens the product cycle, and ensures a smooth transition from prototype to full production.
Assembly
Assembly follows immediately after the design assistance stage. The moment you get to achieve design for assistance, you now have to assemble the board. Board assembly brings the best results when done using specialized machines right for the job.
Testing
Now that you’ve created your board, you need to test it for functionality. You need such tests to ensure that you don’t roll out faulty products to the market.
Prototyping
Before you roll your products to the market, you must do what many call product prototyping. Mostly, you’ll need to develop a few products first to test the proof-of-concept before producing more complex finished products.
Obsolescence management
The moment you finish prototyping, you now move to obsolescence management. Obsolescence management analyses the fundamental components that manufacturers use in creating and their boards. It helps create a management plan to replace the parts of the board before becoming obsolete.
Aftermarket services
Lastly, aftermarket services follow obsolescence management. Aftermarket services help offset pressures on original equipment margins since changes in the external environment less typically affect these services. It better provides stable cash flows, especially in times when the economic activity tends to be slow.
(Turnkey SMT). This will make it easy for a pick and place machine to easily pick and place the components on the PCB (PCB assembly stage)
Partial turnkey and complete turnkey
Are you on the hunt for a PCB assembler for a new product? If that’s the case, then you may require either partial or full turnkey services. The moment you call you’re your PCB manufacturer, the first question that you’ll undoubtedly get is, “Do you require full/complete turnkey services or just partial turnkey services?” Mostly, you’ll be wondering whether there’s a difference between the two. What’s the difference then?
Suppose you happen to choose partial turnkey services; you’ll have to supply your PCB maker with the circuit board and some of its components. Your vendor will then find the rest of the parts and proceed with the full printed circuit board production. Partial turnkey is relatively cheap and ideal if your desire to save a lot of money and time.
Full or complete turnkey is just as it sounds. Your PCB assembler will take care of everything as you wait for your board. They’ll provide all the circuit board parts and the go-ahead to manufacture it as you wait. What you’ll require is to put in the order. Your manufacturer may also help you develop the necessary plans or the parts list to ensure that your project gets off to a good start right from the ground.
(An engineer performing full turnkey)
What are the advantages of Turnkey PCB?
Several merits come with turnkey PCBs worth noting, and a reason as to why many manufacturers prefer this method when manufacturing circuit boards. The following are some of the advantages that accompany turnkey PCB.
Shorter production times
If you choose to work with a reputable turnkey manufacturer, then you’ll notice that they’ll have a streamlined process that brings about shorter production times during assembly. Some ways in which turnkey PCB speeds up many things include the following:
Production channels
The moment you choose to work with a single company, it means that your engineer won’t have to initiate contracts with several firms. This way, you get to avoid inevitable stress if you attempt to keep in contact with several individuals or organizations. Much better, it also minimizes the possibility of incompatibilities during product manufacture.
Purchasing components should be simple.
For a single designer or engineer, attempting to source parts may end up being time-consuming and highly tedious. Much worse, it also increases the chances of errors and incompatibility. If you happen to order the wrong component, you’ll not realize that problems await you until you try assembling your prototype. But with a turnkey maker, running into this kind of irritating situation isn’t on the high side. It’s because most of them have relationships with some of the most established names in the industry.
Reduced transportation time
Having to shuffle your products from one firm to the next takes a lot of time. Do you require some tight turnaround? If that’s the case, then you may want to consolidate your services.
Fewer errors in the PCB assembly process
If you use several companies, you can experience many issues to do with mistakes during the assembly process. Again, such is unavoidable, mostly if you can’t communicate in the same language or there’s a time zone barrier. But with a turnkey SMT). This will make it easy for a pick and place machine to easily pick and place the components on the PCB (PCB assembly team, your project moves from one step to the next with little to no errors at all. The design and the manufacturing department work in unison here.
Attempting to produce PCBs by yourself amounts to high production costs. The entire transportation and shipping time doesn’t come cheaply. Turnkey makers are interested in matters concerning efficiency and cost-saving as they can attract many customers by doing so. You’ll benefit if you work with turnkey PCB makers, as you’ll save a lot on your end.
Easy to manage
Another advantage that comes with turnkey PCB is that it’s easy to manage. The only thing that you require here is that you only establish circuit board shopping, various things might get you confused. Whether you are going for a single-sided PCB, a double-sided PCB, or any other type of PCB, You can contact with just one partner. With turnkey PCB, you only work with one manufacturer, an aspect that will see you easily managing everything. You won’t have to move from one firm to the next. You’ll find everything relatively easy to work with such services.
Small batch or large batch assembly
Full turnkey suppliers will come with the promise of flexibility as they can combine several orders into one large order. Here, your supplier will be in a position to produce too many printed circuit boards as you require the moment they get to perfect your design. By using cloud-software, producers are in an excellent place to manage both small and large batch assembly. They can do all this fast and with convenience.
Transparent monitoring, tracking, and reporting
Transparent monitoring, tracking, and reporting are another advantage that comes with turnkey PCB. With turnkey, rest assured of transparent monitoring from your manufacturer. You’ll get a report of everything from start to finish. Here, you’ll also be able to track your orders in real-time. You also get the assurance of excellent reporting with turnkey PCB. If you want to benefit from all this, then you had better choose turnkey PCB.
Real-time quotation, online order
Finally, yet importantly, real-time quotation of online orders is a strong possibility. With a real-time quote, you get a display of the actual price of your products’ security at the very moment. You’ll find the costs of your deposit or stock on display on several websites and in ticker tapes too. Here, you get the assurance of a seamless online ordering process.
(Turnkey assembled PCBs ready for market)
Disadvantages of Turnkey PCB
Despite the numerous advantages that come with turnkey PCBs, you’ll undoubtedly experience some demerits with turnkey PCBs. The moment you choose to use a one-stop supplier, then some problems will soon arise. Even if you have a competent Electronic Contract Manufacturer, there will come a time when you’ll undoubtedly get low-quality products. Some of the notable demerits that come with turnkey PCB include the following:
Natural disaster
Natural disasters or matters to do with facility technical issues is a significant disadvantage that comes with turnkey PCB. Manufacturing PCBs under turnkey demands the use of several dangerous chemicals, some of which may end up causing natural disasters.
Facilities technical issues
Turnkey PCB demands a lot, and the moment you choose to use it, then there will come a time when you’ll have to deal with technical facility issues, much of which tends to be costly.
Legal Issues
Several legal issues come with turnkey PCB, legal problems being one of them. In many countries, respective governments don’t allow the use of individual products to manufacture turnkey PCBs. Those who get to use these products stand to face legal challenges, some of which may end up being costly. Again, this is another advantage that comes with turnkey PCB.
Unmanageable employees
Turnkey PCB comes with the disadvantage of having unmanageable PCBs. It’s not relatively easy to manage employees during turnkey PCB. There is too much involved here, and managing employees during this assembly type isn’t comfortable.
(An engineer pondering on the disadvantages that come with turnkey PCB)
How to get a turnkey PCB assembly service quotation
Getting a turnkey SMT). This will make it easy for a pick and place machine to easily pick and place the components on the PCB (PCB assembly is not a complicated process, as you may imagine. It’s relatively easy, especially if you happen to be technologically well informed. There are two main ways of doing this. If you cannot find such information on the internet, you have to access your manufacturer’s premises to get such details physically.
However, such may be time-consuming, expensive, and inconvenient, especially if the firm’s location is offshore. Additionally, if you happen to live far away from the company, then you’ll have to incur more costs. So, how do you go about getting a turnkey SMT). This will make it easy for a pick and place machine to easily pick and place the components on the PCB (PCB assembly service quotation? The process is quite simple, as you can read below.
Information you need to provide
The first process of getting a turnkey SMT). This will make it easy for a pick and place machine to easily pick and place the components on the PCB (PCB assembly quotation is by ensuring that you provide the essential information that your manufacturer needs. If you don’t give the required information, you won’t get the circuit as you need it to be. It would help if you took the time to ensure that you avail all the information that your maker needs. Make sure that you are precise when giving out this information.
Depending on how you want your printed circuit board, too much information may be a necessity. It makes it easy to provide you with the circuit the way you want it. Some of the most basic information that turnkey PCB makers demand from their manufacturers include the following:
Bill of materials
First, you’ll need to provide your producer with a Bill of Material. Of importance to note is that most manufacturers prefer bills of material in excel format or document format. Excel is fast and relatively easy to understand. With Excel, you can sort, search, and filter specific data quite fast. In your excel bills of the material sheet, you need to ensure that you provide component descriptions and reference designators.
Other information that you may have to provide here includes the manufacturer’s name, part number, and quantity of components. That’s not all about the bills of material information that you have to provide. In short, the BOM needs to contain information that manufacturers will use during SMT). This will make it easy for a pick and place machine to easily pick and place the components on the PCB (PCB assembly.
Gerber file
Gerber files are necessary and used mostly in the industry software for describing PCB images such as copper, drill data, and solder mask, among others. Many turnkey PCB manufacturers accept Gerber files in RS-247-D, RS-247X, DWG, and DXF formats. These Gerber files are a requirement before manufacturers can begin with the production of your boards. Some manufacturers will require design files for customers’ turnkey orders. Upon receiving the mandatory file, customers get an immediate quote for their perusal by SMT). This will make it easy for a pick and place machine to easily pick and place the components on the PCB (PCB assembly houses.
Product Size
Product size refers to the length, width, and height of the product. To others, product size means the actual number of products that need to be manufacturing. Again, information on product size is another information that you may need to provide to your manufacturer. With this information, you make things easy for your manufacture. They’ll have all the specifications regarding your product size.
If such information is missing, then more than likely, your board’s manufacturing may not be possible. How big or small do you want your panels to be? Do you require short or broad in size boards for yourself? If you want to ensure that everything goes as planned, make sure that product size information isn’t missing.
Packaging and shipping information
Lastly, packaging and shipping information is another requirement that you need to provide. In the manufacture of any product, contact the freight forwarder yourself. However, most Chinese PCB suppliers will provide packaging and shipping are essential. Proper packaging ensures that you protect your products from damage during transit. If you require top packaging services, you need to provide your turnkey PCB maker with such information during your ordering process.
The same is true regarding shipping information. After completing the manufacture of your products, your maker will want to know where to deliver them. When you give out the packaging information, then you must ensure that you get everything right. If you give the wrong word, you won’t be able to get your products on time. Much worse, your products may end up in the wrong hands.
Ways you can get a quote.
So, now that you are well aware of the information that you need to provide to your turnkey maker, what are the ways of getting a quote? There are several means of doing so, though the following two methods are some of the most efficient ways of getting a quote. Both are fast and elementary processes that won’t inconvenience you or take too much of your time.
PCB online quotation
The first means of getting a quote is by going online. With the internet, you can quickly find all the information that you need about PCB quotes. Most of those who want to get such a quote mostly rely on the internet to do so. There are plenty of PCB makers with user-friendly websites. Most of these websites display such information clearly for its visitors.
If you want one of the fastest means of getting a quote, then the internet should be your first choice. PCB online quotation is a highly popular method of choice for those looking for PCB quotation. With such, you’ll be able to find the price of a fully assembled printed circuit board.
Online PCB Assembly Quotation
Apart from PCB online quotation, another way of getting a quote is by online PCB assembly quotation. Online SMT). This will make it easy for a pick and place machine to easily pick and place the components on the PCB (PCB assembly assists you in finding the assembly charges that you’ll require to pay. Here, you’ll get the exact quote for ordering the parts of the board and assembly charges. Again, the best of doing this is searching for such information on the internet. Here, you’ll find vast details regarding how much you’ll have to pay for the assembly of your board.
(Highly costly turnkey assembled boards)
What can we offer you?
As a premier custom PCB producer in the industry, you can trust WellPCB for your entire turnkey PCB needs. Wne understand the challenges that come with manufacturing using different firms. So, we provide the best equipment, workers, and all the technology needed here under one roof. We can quickly help you to transition from product prototype to full production of your PCBs. We can offer you the following quite easily:
- Accurate quotes in less than a day
- Complete the turnkey process in not more than three days
- DFM to get rid of time-consuming and often back-and-forth design re-works
- The use of high-quality materials that we source from reputable suppliers
- Smooth transition from prototyping to full production
- Outstanding support through the entire turnkey PCB procedure
(Turnkey PCB assembly under one roof)
Summary
There’s nothing more costly and time-consuming than having the manufacture of your boards by different makers. You’ll be wasting too much time and money that you’d have otherwise used on other areas. Fortunately, solutions lie in the reliance on turnkey PCB production.
Besides being cheap, you’ll find the management of everything comfortable and few production errors. Still, you can get a real-time quotation in addition to transparency in monitoring and tracking your products. Are you in urgent need of such one-stop assembly services?
Call us today and let us more about such knowledge you have. We’ve helped thousands of people and companies. Make us your first choice, and we promise that you won’t regret doing so.
