In electronics manufacturing, PCBs (Printed Circuit Boards) are a crucial part of the process, while PCBAs are the finished product after PCB assembly. For many electronics engineers, entrepreneurs, or those interested in this field, it is imperative to understand the cost of PCB manufacturing production and its composition. Below, we will explore this issue in depth.
In the process of making PCB boards, the main cost comes from the mold, this cost is about $ 200 or so. The exact cost of making a PCB board, on the other hand, depends largely on the area of the board, which is about 10 cents per square centimeter. Therefore, whether you make one board or three, the difference in terms of production costs alone is not that great.
Taking a standard 10x10 cm PCB board as an example, which has an area of 100 square centimeters, for 10 cents per square centimeter, this board would cost about $10 to make. If three such boards were to be made, the total cost would be just $30, which is comparable to the cost of making one board.
It is worth noting that this price is based on simple single-panel fabrication. If more complex multi-layer boards are involved, or if specific materials, processes, etc. need to be added, the cost will increase accordingly.
Components of PCB board production cost
In addition to the way the PCB board is quoted, the production cost is also one of the factors that companies and individuals need to consider when purchasing PCB boards. The following are the factors that affect the cost of PCB board production:
1. material costs: PCB board production materials include substrate, copper cladding, chemical coating, etc., the price of different materials varies, and the cost is also different.
2. specifications and process difficulty: PCB board specifications and process difficulty also have a greater impact on the cost. Generally speaking, the greater the board thickness, the finer the line width, and the shape of the more heterogeneous PCB board production costs will be relatively high.
3. processing: PCB board production methods are two, respectively, fixed die-cutting and punching, different processing methods will also lead to different costs.
4. the number of PCB boards: the number of purchases will also affect the cost of its production, in general, the more the number of orders, the lower the price will be correspondingly.
PCB manufacturing cost breakdown
- the cost of the board
First of all, the basis of the PCB is the board, commonly used FR4, CEM-1, aluminum substrate, and so on. For different types of plates, the price difference is large. For example, the FR4 plate is widely used because of its excellent electrical properties and processing performance, but its price will be affected by the international price of copper, epoxy resin, glass fiber cloth, and other raw material price fluctuations. The aluminum substrate is favored for its good thermal performance in some specific applications, but its price is usually much higher than the FR4 plate. - processing costs
PCB manufacturing process involves several processing links, such as the inner layer of line production, press fit, drilling, plating, the outer layer of line production, anti-soldering, text printing, and surface treatment (such as spraying tin, chemically gold, OSP, carbon oil) and so on. Each step requires specialized equipment and technicians to operate, and these will incur corresponding costs. Among them, the cost of drilling plating and other steps will vary according to the number of holes, plating area and thickness, and other factors. - test costs
PCB in the completion of the production of a series of tests needs to be carried out to ensure its quality. These tests include but are not limited to, electrical tests (such as conduction test, insulation test, etc.), reliability tests (such as thermal shock test, vibration test, etc.), and appearance inspection. These tests require not only professional testing equipment, but also experienced testers to operate and analyze the results, and thus will also incur certain costs. - Other additional costs
In addition to the main costs mentioned above, there are some additional costs to be considered. For example, if the customer needs special design or modification services, the PCB manufacturer may charge additional design fees. In addition, some additional costs such as packaging, transportation, and taxes need to be taken into account.
Therefore, the cost of PCB manufacturing and production is made up of several aspects, including the cost of the board, processing costs, testing costs, and other additional costs. The amount of these costs can be affected by a variety of factors, such as the type of board, the complexity of processing, the test program, and customer demand. Therefore, it is difficult to give a specific cost figure. If you need to manufacture and produce PCBs, we recommend that you have a detailed consultation and quotation with a professional PCB manufacturer to ensure that you can get the most accurate pricing information.
How to control PCB board procurement costs
Understanding the components of PCB board production costs is not just to let you know how the price of PCB boards comes, but more importantly to help you master how to reasonably control the PCB board procurement costs. Here are some effective ways to control PCB board procurement costs:
1. choose the right manufacturer: when choosing a PCB manufacturer should not only consider the price, but you should also pay attention to the quality and reputation of the manufacturer. If you are greedy for cheap and choose poor quality manufacturers, the final cost savings may be due to product quality problems and suffer greater losses.
2. optimize the PCB board design: According to the PCB board production cost components, a reasonable PCB board design can reduce production costs. Design, you can try to take the conventional line width and board thickness, reducing the demand for shape.
3. optimize the processing of PCB boards: fixed die-cutting is cheaper than punching, so if you slightly adjust the shape of the PCB, you can use a cheaper way to make PCB boards.
4. reasonable control of the number of orders: the larger the number of PCB boards purchased, the lower the price, but if the number of orders is too large, it will increase inventory costs and processing costs, affecting the control of PCB board procurement costs. Therefore, the a need to reasonably control the number of purchases based on actual demand.
In short, understanding the PCB board quotation method and production cost factors, to master the reasonable control of the PCB board procurement cost method, is conducive to the user choosing more cost-effective PCB board products, but also conducive to the PCB board production manufacturers to master the cost optimization method, improve product quality and efficiency.
The cost of PCB production varies by material, process, design complexity, and batch size and cannot be generalized. Cost considerations include substrate material, number of layers, copper thickness, number of holes drilled, etc. In batch production, the unit cost decreases as the quantity increases. When choosing a PCB manufacturer, in addition to the price factor, you also need to consider its technical strength, production capacity, and service quality. An excellent PCB manufacturer can not only provide high-quality products and services but also give you professional advice and support during the project process to help you better complete the design and manufacturing of electronic products. Topfast provides a one-stop service from design to production to meet your different needs. Welcome to contact us, our professional team will provide you with accurate quotations and optimized solutions according to your specific needs.