Prototype & multilayer
Rigid PCB options include standard FR-4, high-Tg and halogen-free materials. Share your stack-up and impedance targets for review before releasing the fabrication data.
FABRICATION · ASSEMBLY · ENGINEERING REVIEW
PCB Manufacturer in China connects your design with PCB fabrication and assembly options for prototypes, low-volume builds and production. Explore rigid, flex, rigid-flex and HDI boards, then bring your files, quantities and test requirements together for a project-specific engineering review.
Rigid boards up to 56 layers. Components down to 01005.
Your design defines the final specification.
KEY FACTS AT A GLANCE
Start with the available fabrication and assembly scope. Engineering review confirms the combination of layers, materials, features and testing that fits your design, quantity and delivery requirements.
Capability limits depend on the selected construction and cannot be assumed to apply together. Review the full capability scope ↗
BEFORE THE NUMBERS
Price and delivery depend on the design and the supplier’s confirmed process. Gather the inputs below before comparing quotations. Avoid treating an unexplained online number as a production commitment.
Dimensions, layers, stack-up, material, thickness and finish.
Quantity breaks, assembly scope, component list and test requirements.
Ship-to location, delivery terms and the date you need the boards.
Confirm price and schedule with a project-specific quotation.
PCB MANUFACTURING & ASSEMBLY SERVICES
Choose bare-board fabrication, assembly or a combined project scope. Align materials, fabrication drawings, component sourcing and acceptance requirements before the first build, so the production package remains clear as quantities grow.
Rigid PCB options include standard FR-4, high-Tg and halogen-free materials. Share your stack-up and impedance targets for review before releasing the fabrication data.
Laser microvias, stacked or staggered structures and via-in-pad options support dense routing. Define the build-up and copper requirements together during design review.
Combine flexible connections with the structure your product needs. Include bend zones, stiffeners, mechanical drawings and installation conditions in the engineering package.
Turnkey and consigned assembly options cover surface-mount and through-hole components. Define sourcing permissions, placement data, inspection coverage and functional test requirements with your BOM.
MANUFACTURING CAPABILITIES
Use this capability overview to start the technical discussion. The final build specification is confirmed after DFM review of your board data, material, copper, via structure and assembly package.
Minimum feature sizes and maximum copper weights describe different process conditions. Do not combine every listed limit into one design rule; request written confirmation for the exact construction you intend to order.
| Capability | Overview |
|---|---|
| Rigid PCB | 1–56 layers |
| Flexible PCB | 1–12 layers |
| Rigid-flex PCB | 2–32 layers |
| Line / space | Down to 3 / 3 mil |
| Copper weight | Up to 12 oz |
| HDI microvias | Laser-drilled vias down to 0.1 mm |
| HDI build-up | 1+N+1 through 4+N+4 |
| Small components | Down to 01005 |
| BGA pitch | Down to 0.2 mm |
| Inspection & testing | SPI, AOI, X-ray, ICT & functional test |
LOOK AT THE WHOLE DECISION
Start with project fit: the supplier’s relevant board experience, technical communication, quality evidence and total delivered cost. Compare an actual quotation against your own requirements before drawing conclusions about value.
Review how different businesses describe their processes. For example, this PCB fabrication and assembly website is one external starting point for your research. Verify any capability directly with the provider.
Put engineering support, shipping, incoming inspection and rework responsibility beside the quoted board price. An incomplete comparison can hide the cost of a mismatched process.
Request documents for the legal entity and manufacturing site involved in your order. Agree on data handling, change approval and acceptance criteria before releasing production files.
MATCH THE MODEL TO THE PROJECT
Supplier categories are a useful first filter, not a ranking. Assess the actual business against the same design, quantities and acceptance criteria.
| Supplier model | A useful starting point for | Questions to resolve |
|---|---|---|
| 01 Online ordering platform | Standardized designs and defined ordering workflows | Which design rules, options and engineering support apply? |
| 02 Custom fabrication supplier | Projects needing a detailed technical discussion | Who performs the review and where will the boards be built? |
| 03 Volume-focused manufacturer | Programs with repeat builds and a qualification process | What qualification, capacity and commercial commitments are required? |
DUE DILIGENCE, MADE PRACTICAL
Use the same evidence checklist for every candidate. Keep dated documents and the supplier’s written answers with your project record so the decision can be reviewed by engineering and purchasing together.
Confirm the legal entity, address and whether the seller manufactures directly or sources elsewhere.
Request design-specific feedback and examples relevant to your board construction.
Check certificate scope, issuing body, validity and the site covered by each document.
Record inspection criteria, test coverage and what happens if a delivery does not conform.
Define a first-build review that reflects your application and the risks in the design.
Confirm pricing scope, delivery terms, data handling and approval of future changes.
QUALITY CONTROL & TEST PLANNING
Define quality requirements before production. A project inspection plan can combine bare-board checks, assembly inspection and product testing, with acceptance criteria and records agreed in the quotation.
Include design review, visual inspection and electrical connectivity testing in the fabrication discussion. Specify any impedance measurements, dimensional records or material documentation your product needs.
Available methods include solder-paste inspection, automated optical inspection and X-ray. Select the coverage for the package mix and solder joints in your design, then agree on reporting and acceptance.
In-circuit and functional testing need a defined test strategy. Supply test points, fixtures, firmware and pass/fail limits as applicable; confirm ownership of test development and approval of the final coverage.
For certification-dependent projects, request current documents for the legal entity, manufacturing site and scope required by your program. Review quality requirements ↗
FROM GERBER FILES TO DELIVERY
Define the scope at each handoff: engineering review, fabrication, assembly, inspection and delivery. The project schedule starts with approved files, confirmed materials and component availability; each order needs its own timeline.
Submit Gerbers, drawings and specifications. Add the BOM and placement file for assembly, then resolve manufacturability questions.
Review PCB fabrication and assembly services, then confirm the quoted scope, approved revision, sourcing permissions and acceptance requirements.
The approved construction guides imaging, drilling, plating, solder mask and surface finish, followed by bare-board checks.
Components are placed and soldered to the approved assembly package. Document substitutions and obtain approval before changes.
Complete the agreed inspection and test plan. Review results against documented criteria before release.
Confirm packaging, labels, shipment records and delivery terms. Retain build records for incoming inspection and repeat orders.
BEYOND THE UNIT PRICE
Keep the supplier’s quotation separate from freight, insurance, customs clearance and destination charges. Confirm the delivery terms and responsibility for each cost before comparing offers.
Import charges and classification depend on the goods and destination. Check current official information or obtain a customs specialist’s advice for your shipment; a generic PCB example cannot determine your liability.
Use current, shipment-specific amounts.
START WITH THE APPLICATION
The end application determines what to discuss with a supplier. These are planning topics, not a claim of qualification for a regulated industry.
Environment, continuity and service life
RF requirements and integration
Space, assembly and repeatability
Traceability and qualification scope
Reliability and customer-specific standards
Thermal design and electrical demands
MAKE PROJECT EVIDENCE USEFUL
When you request a reference build, ask for the construction, material, finish and inspection scope that make it relevant to your own design. Confirm permission to share any customer work, and separate sample photographs from verified production records.
Relevant evidence helps a technical conversation go further than a gallery of unidentified circuit boards.
A FEW GOOD QUESTIONS
Practical starting points for your engineering and purchasing conversations.
Begin with a design-specific capability review. Verify the business identity, manufacturing site, quality documents and relevant project experience. Compare written quotations using the same specifications, and define a first-build validation plan before committing to a larger order.
A meaningful quotation requires the board data and quantity. Ask the supplier to separate fabrication, tooling, assembly, components, testing and shipping where applicable. Compare offers only after checking that the material, construction, inspection scope and delivery terms match.
Minimum order quantities depend on the provider, construction and commercial terms. Include both your first-build quantity and possible repeat volumes in the RFQ. Ask whether panelization, components, tooling or a special material creates a separate minimum purchase requirement.
Request separate estimates for engineering review, material or component sourcing, fabrication, assembly and shipping. Confirm when the quoted production clock starts. Customs clearance and design changes can affect the delivery plan, so distinguish the ship date from the date required at your facility.
Prepare fabrication data, a board specification and relevant mechanical drawings. For assembly, include the BOM, component placement data and assembly instructions. Identify the design revision, requested quantities and test requirements, and confirm the provider’s preferred file formats before transfer.
Import charges depend on the destination, product classification, origin and current rules. Bare boards and finished electronic assemblies may require different treatment. Confirm the details using the destination’s current official customs information or a qualified customs specialist before calculating the delivered cost.
Clarify the legal entity receiving your files, who may access them, whether work is subcontracted and how files are retained or deleted. Agree on confidentiality and reuse restrictions before sharing sensitive design data. Obtain legal advice if the project requires contractual protection.
Choose quality and regulatory requirements based on the product and its application. Request current documents and check the legal entity, manufacturing site, issuing body and scope. A certificate should support the project’s qualification requirements; it does not replace a design-specific process and acceptance review.
THE SOURCING READING LIST
Use the sourcing guides to turn technical requirements into a clearer purchasing brief. Start with supplier selection, cost planning and the files needed for a useful quotation.
Compare supplier models against your project.
02 / DUE DILIGENCE
Six checks for a more informed decision.
03 / COST PLANNING
Gather the inputs before comparing prices.
04 / ENGINEERING HANDOFF
Align the design, BOM and test requirements.
05 / DELIVERY
Keep the full delivered cost in view.
06 / QUALITY
Match documents and testing to the project.
YOUR NEXT BUILD STARTS WITH A CONVERSATION
Bring your design files, specifications and quantities.
Start a fabrication or assembly review for your next build.