PCB fabrication and PCBA are different deliverables
PCB fabrication creates the bare circuit board. PCB assembly adds components to produce an assembled board according to the approved design. PCBELEC offers both services; identify whether your quotation should cover fabrication, assembly or a combined project.
Prepare the assembly inputs
Keep the board revision, bill of materials (BOM), placement information and assembly drawing consistent. Identify any instructions that affect component orientation, population options or the required deliverable. If information is incomplete, mark it as open for review rather than treating it as an approved instruction.
- Board fabrication data or an identified board supply arrangement.
- BOM and component placement information for the same revision.
- Assembly drawing and special assembly instructions, when applicable.
- Quantity, destination and required ship or arrival date.
- Requested inspection, programming or functional-test scope, if applicable.
Define component and test responsibilities
State which component supply and verification activities you need included in the quotation. Requested programming or testing must be reviewed against the available instructions and equipment. These requirements are not automatically included simply because an order is described as PCBA.
Keep bare-board and assembly verification distinct
Bare-board continuity and isolation testing checks the unpopulated board. It does not establish the operation of an assembled product. Define assembly acceptance and any required functional verification separately, including the test method and required records.
SMT, through-hole and mixed assembly
Surface-mount assembly places components on board pads. Through-hole assembly inserts component leads through board holes before soldering. Some designs combine both technologies. Identify the component packages, board sides and special assembly instructions so the proposed route can be reviewed against the design.
| Assembly requirement | Information to include |
|---|---|
| SMT | Package list, placement data, orientation and populated board sides. |
| Through-hole | Lead and hole requirements, insertion details and soldering constraints. |
| Mixed technology | Which components belong to each assembly step and any sequence constraints. |
| BGA or hidden joints | Package datasheets, footprint requirements and requested inspection scope. |
Choose a component supply model
Clarify who supplies each part before comparing assembly quotations. Turnkey and customer-supplied arrangements allocate responsibility differently; a combined arrangement needs a line-by-line supply split.
| Supply model | Responsibility to define |
|---|---|
| Full turnkey | Fabrication, component sourcing and assembly within the agreed quotation. |
| Partial turnkey | Which components the customer supplies and which are purchased for the order. |
| Kitted / consigned | The supplied component kit, quantities, packaging and shortage handling. |
From file review to an assembly release
Align the BOM, fabrication revision and placement information before procurement and assembly. Resolve substitutes and shortages, confirm the assembly instructions, and agree on inspection and any functional test. Release the build only after open engineering questions affecting the deliverable have been answered.
Questions, answered
Before your next build
Can I request PCB fabrication and assembly together?
Yes. Select PCB + PCBA in the inquiry and supply the available fabrication and assembly requirements. The confirmed quotation defines the agreed scope.