Technological requirements

In order to prepare a pricing proposal, we need the following information:

• Size of the order (number of PCBs to be assembled/number of PCBs taken into account in valuation.)
• Planned date of production.
• SMT assembly, THT mounting, programming, testing, varnishing, potting, ultrasonic cleaning, comprehensive assembly.
• PCBs (laminates provided by Electro Bee or delivered by the client.)
  Components (provided by Electro Bee or delivered by the client.)
  Other additional services.
• Production documentation.
• Bill of Materials (BOM); the list should include:
• Component specification, e.g. 100μF 10% 25V
• Component enclosure (footprint), e.g. 0402
• Component ID, e.g. C1
• In case of ambiguous components, there is a necessity to provide a catalogue number/symbol.
• Pick&place for all assembly layers.
• Descriptive layers or a block diagram showing symbols and distribution of elements on PCB (graphic symbols for cathodes of LEDs, minus sign for electrolytic capacitors, plus sign for tantalum capacitors, pin 1 in integrated circuits.)
• PCB documentation (Gerber format RS-274-X) – at least paste layer, in case of gerber file penalization (required for PCB valuation.)
• Any comments concerning surface-mount technology (e.g. do not assemble), through-hole technology mounting (e.g. assemble from Top side, elements that require special handling.)

In order to ensure the fastest possible assembly time and minimize its costs, we recommend the following guidelines on optimization:

• in case of 220R 1% and 220R 5% resistors, it is recommended to use 220R 1% resistors in both cases;
• in case of 10R 1206, 10R 0805, 10R 0603 resistors, it is recommended to choose one package (unless some aspects of construction and design, e.g. load capacity, don’t allow to do this);
• in case of 10 nF 16V and 10nF 25V capacitors, it is recommended to use a capacitor with a higher voltage rating (unless other aspects of construction and design don’t allow to do this);
• in case of 220k 5% and 221k 1% resistors, it is possible to use only 221k 1% resistors because their resistance value, with tolerance included, is well within the resistance range of a 220k 5% resistor.
• Values provided above serve only as an example and show possibility of optimization of assembly time and costs.

Useful additional documentation:

• Design file, e.g. created in Altium Designer, Eagle.
• Assembly instructions (especially useful for comprehensive assembly.)
• Clear and legible documentation may speed up the process of project realization and lower its costs.

In order for us to start production process, the customer is obliged to send an order confirmation via e-mail or fax.

We reserve the right to charge the customer with additional costs if, at the time of assembly, the documentation or provided components significantly differ from the project for which the pricing was prepared.

Our valuation of assembly is prepared on the assumption that the components provided by the client are well-arranged (in reels, tubes, trays), accurately described, and their quantity (together with surplus) is sufficient for fulfilling the order (as discussed in section D: Assembly of components.)

We also assume that documentation is clear, legible, and complete. If, however, the documentation or elements needed do not allow us to fulfill the order efficiently, or significantly differ from the documentation provided for the purpose of preparing the pricing, then, we can charge the customer with costs connected with performing additional activities which were not taken into account earlier, but are necessary for the purpose of fulfilling the order.

Depending on the arrangements made with the client, it is permissible to use components provided by the client in the assembly process (unused components are given back to the customer; we may also store them in our warehouse for the purpose of fulfilling the next order.)

• Well-arranged components should be sent in original packaging and laid in the same direction (tubes, reels, JEDEC trays.) RLC elements from the first and the last 5cm of tape are lost. Therefore, the client should provide sufficient quantity of backup elements.
• In case of expensive components, this requirement is not valid. We can assemble these components in an individual mode, but we charge the client with costs of additional labor.
• Due to possible defects of packages (damaged edges, bent pins), the elements found to be defective may be rejected as unusable during optical verification and other tests, that is why the client should provide backup elements (2-5% of supplies, at least 10 items.)
• In case of components with atypically marked polarization, that do not comply with the standards (e.g. LEDs with marked anode, instead of cathode), please, provide us with relevant information.
• Components sensitive to humidity should be tightly sealed.
• Components (with sufficient amount of back up elements) necessary for order fulfillment are bought by Electro Bee.

BOM in the form of a spreadsheet (created in Excel or Open Office) which includes:

• basic information, such as component full name, its specification and footprint, which uniquely identify the component;
• detailed information about components, such as tolerance, operating voltage, brightness, and color (for LEDs.)
• If you provide the name of the manufacturer of a part or catalogue number of a product, we always look for the components indicated by you. If a particular component is not easily available, we will contact you in order to agree on possible substitute part.

If you do not specify your requirements concerning a component, we assume that we can make a decision in this regard on our own (e.g. laconic description: “green LED 0805” means that we can choose luminous intensity value, wavelength, beam angle, and type of lens at our discretion.)

We reserve the right to recalculate prices in case of material price changes or more than 1% change in the currency exchange rate.

1. Layers:

• path layers (all layers with paths)
• solder mask layers (top, bottom)
• descriptive layers (it is recommended to provide element name on a
• descriptive layer, especially in case of THT assembly)
• mechanical layers (every operation, e.g. milling,
• cutting, etc., should be marked on a separate layer)
• other additional information layers

2. Drilling files (Excellon)
3. Information on PCB technology of production, i.e.:

• type of laminate (FR-4 by default) aluminum…
• PCB thickness (1.55mm by default)
• thickness of the cooper foil (35um by default)
• type of coating (HAL-tin by default), other: HAL SnPb, gold coating, organic coating
• solder type (lead-free solder by default)
• color of solder mask (green by default)
• color of descriptive layer (white by default)

4. Any comments regarding milling, via metalization, etc.

In order for the PCB to be assembled by a machine, there are some conditions to be met. It is worth taking these rules into account while designing PCB boards, so as to send the final production version for valuation and pricing.

The PCB board designer should take the following into consideration:

The most important issues

• Technological margins: 3mm between the edge of the board/panel and PCB elements.
• The so called panel (i.e. several boards placed on one panel) is often used.
• Depending on their shape, panels are cut through the entire length (so called v-cut), or outline lines of the boards are milled for the purpose of breaking the panels into individual boards at the end of production stage.
• It is worth to use technological margins when it is necessary to put PCB elements near the edge of the board (thanks to this fact, it is possible to avoid manual soldering and potential damage to the machine.)
• Reference points in the form of round or square symbols (1-5mm) placed in the corners of the board, and in the corners of the whole panel, if the board is a part of the panel. Pads should be tinned and should not be coated with solder mask.
• It is recommended to use 4 reference points for each panel and each board.
• Due to some limitations connected with conveyors, reference points should be placed at least 3.5mm from the edge of the board. If there is no other option, a pad or a path can serve as a reference point.
• A note on designs made in Protel/Altium Designer: Do not create reference points with the use of ARC object. Use PADs as reference points.
• Max. dimensions of a PCB: 260×300 (500*)mm
• Boards/panels should not be larger than A4 format.
  *or longer (individually priced)

More detailed hints

• In case of double sided PCBs, final diameters of the holes should be provided.
• Outlines of the boards should not be drawn on copper layers (markers and paths should not be located on the outlines of the PCB.) It is acceptable to place such markers on the solder mask and descriptive layers.
• In case of double sided PCBs, the size of pads for non-metalized vias (e.g. base holes) should be 0.
• Do not place descriptive lines on pads. They can cause soldering defects.
• While making designs in PROTEL, filling angles other than 0 and 90 degrees should be avoided. During the conversion, such fillings can be easily distorted. We recommend conversion to version 2.8.
• We reserve the right to recalculate prices in case of changing dimensions or layout of boards on the panel.

Please, provide the following documentation (it should be as detailed as possible):

• Technical drawings, photos in scale, 3D models;
• Information about the material;
• Technological comments, if any.

Accuracy of valuation depends on accuracy of documentation.

If valuation is based on incomplete documentation, the price offered can be changed at a later time, e.g. due to operations (not included in the initial documentation provided by the client) that need to be taken in order to make the product.

At your request, our experts can design or redesign a device, a board or mechanical elements. We have been providing technical solutions and assistance in designing, testing, and producing industrial devices and consumer electronics for over 15 years so far.

Our company offers a whole range of external additional services depending on your needs. Some of them are recommended for certain kinds of production.

X-ray scanning
X-ray scanning is recommended for mounting BGA components. X-ray scanning is offered as a separate service and as a part of the production process. In this case, the cost of X-ray scanning may be added to the cost of the service; the cost is determined individually with our sales representatives.

Environmental test
We have modern and precise testing equipment to simulate environmental conditions: temperature and humidity.

Production and Service Departments
Our company boasts about fully equipped production and service departments. We can deal with the whole production process – from production, through activation, testing, to warranty and post-warranty service.