Guides
PCB fabrication guides
Plain-English guides for first-timers: how each process works, what it costs, and how to work with factories in Shenzhen.
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01Basics · 10 minWhat is PCBA? PCB vs PCBA explained
The difference between a bare circuit board (PCB) and an assembled one (PCBA), how boards are made and assembled in Shenzhen, and what first-timers need to know before ordering.
02Design · 9 minHow to order PCB assembly: Gerber, BOM and pick-and-place files
The three files every PCB assembly order needs, how to prepare them so your quote is fast and your boards come back right, and the questions factories will ask.
03Cost · 7 minHow much does PCB assembly cost?
What makes up a PCBA quote (setup, boards, components, assembly and testing), why prototypes cost more per board, and how to bring the price down.
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