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Makers, developers And electronic enthusiasts who have been prototyping electronic circuits using breadboards, Raspberry Pi mini PCs, Arduino ’s and other hardware. Who would like to take the next step by creating their very own custom PCB boards, may be interested to know PCBWay offers a full manufacturing and assembly service and helped over 300,000 electronics engineers complete their projects.
Once you have your final circuit prototyped on a breadboard or similar and would like to create a small run of PCB boards to prototype further, launch your idea via crowdfunding websites. A wide variety of different free PCB design and circuit design applications are available to get you started. Freely available PCB applications include KiCad, PCBWeb Designer, ZenitPCB, TinyCAD, Osmond PCB, BSch3V, ExpressPCB, gEDA, Fritzing and DesignSpark PCB to name just a few.
Taking the first example of a PCB design application KiCad. This well known free software suite specifically created to cater for electronic design automation can help makers draw schematics for electronic circuits and aid in converting those sketches into fully working PCB boards. The free open source application features an integrated environment capable of schematic capture and PCB layout design. Together with tools to create a bill of materials, artwork, Gerber files and even 3D views of the PCB and its components. Once you have your PCB drawing ready the PCBWay website can help you take your concept into small-scale production and then scale with your needs when required allowing you to fulfil larger orders as they arrive and even sell your PCB within the companies online marketplace the PCBWay Bazaar.
The main benefits of using the PCBWay PCB manufacturing service is that it offers a one-stop PCB manufacturing and assembly service with stringent quality control. Together with additional services tailored to prototyping your first boards, offering low-volume production and easy scaling once your electronic design makes it to market. PCBWay market themselves as one of the most experienced PCB manufacturers and SMT Assemblers in China. Priding themselves on customer service and covering all areas of PCB manufacture and assembly including research and development to help you create the best possible product. Manufacturing PCBs is a complex process comprising of a wide variety of different steps but PCBWay removes all the worry for newcomers and experienced developers. For an insight into how PCBWay automates this manufacturing process check out the video below to learn more about the companies production line and see their PCB manufacturing and assembly machines in action.
Using the PCBWay online service you can quickly and easily order PCB boards and assemblies, receiving immediate updates of its production status once your order is placed. After your PCBs are manufactured, they can be sent directly to your preferred delivery address, and career tracking is available through your online account.
The PCBWay website allows you to order a minimum of five PCB pieces and offers a free file review service. During which its trained and professional technicians make sure your design is ready for manufacture before you part with any hard earned money.
PCBWay also offers 24-hour customer support allowing you to receive assistance whatever time of day or night thanks to its active customer service personnel who will respond to your emails or messages promptly. Enabling you to upload designs to suit your working day wherever you may be located in the world. “Our service people will follow your orders from the time you submit your Gerber file to the minute you receive your PCB boards or assembled PCBs in a satisfactory mood.”
To get started just fill out the PCB specification page on the PCBWay website, inputting the board type you require, sizes, quantity, materials and all the details needed to make sure your tracking solder mask, silkscreen and gold fingers are correctly positioned and manufactured. The website provides an instant quote allowing you to know exact costs before manufacture and plan for expansion. PCBWay will then place you in the PCBA order list allowing you to see the precise position of your order in the manufacturing manifest and track its progress.
PCBWay is continually improving its online customer service portal and also their manufacturing process and have recently launched the PCBWay Bazaar, an online PCB marketplace allowing you to sell your designs to other companies or individuals. The PCBWayer Bazaar has been created thanks to a “profound friendship” between PCBWay and PCBWayers offering an online shop for PCBWay customers where they can purchase and sell PCB boards, manage stock levels and pricing direct from the online administration panel. Customers can upload photographs, product details and once an order is generated PCBWay will ship your product directly to your customer, as well as providing after sales service if required. There are two options available within the PCBWayer Bazaar depending on your requirements :
– Pricing right (including promotional price reduction or price increase in the future) and stocking quantity are decided by supplier. The payment will be done on a monthly period. One month after the product goes online, PCBWay will feedback the sales data, including sold quantity, inventory and actual sales revenue to the supplier, and then the money (Last month’s actual sales revenue) will be paid to the supplier after mutual agreement.
– Pricing right (including promotional price reduction or price increase in the future) and stocking quantity are decided by PCBWay. The payment will be done as soon as PCBWay purchases the products from supplier. However, PCBWay and supplier need to discuss the reseller discounts in advance.
PCBWay is also currently running its “I Can Solder 2019” competition at the moment to help teenagers learn more about electronics and building PCBs. Submissions are now being accepted and prizes include :
– Gold Award: $500 In Cash + 5,000 Beans + M5Stack M5GO ($65 Value)
– Silver Award: $200 In Cash + 2,000 Beans + 5,000 Beans + M5Stack M5FIRE ($49 Value)
– Bronze Award: $100 In Cash + 1,000 Beans + 5,000 Beans + M5Stack M5Basic ($28 Value)
The winning project will be produced by PCBWay and packaged into a kit that will then be listed as a finished product in the PCBWayer Bazaar. For purchase by all PCBWayers and will be permanently advertised as Designed by …(Winner’s Name)”. Winners will also receive a further 10% commission on all sales generated from the PCBWayer Bazaar. For more details on the PCBWay, I Can Solder competition and how to enter jump over to the official competition page on the PCBWay website here.
Disclosure: “This is a sponsored post. Geeky Gadgets has been compensated for this post. All opinions are that of the editor and were in no way influenced by the company.”