1. What do I need to give you so that you can quote my PCB assembly?
2. How long does a quote take to prepare?
3. What do I need to give you so that you can start my PCB assembly?
4. What are the steps in the PCB assembly process, in simple terms?
5. Is there anything I need to do while you are are assembling the PCB boards?
6. What will you deliver to us when the project is completed?
7. Do you fabricate and layout PCBs as well as PCB assembly them?
8. We're still engineering the project. Is that a problem?


1. What do I need to give you so that you can quote my PCB assembly?

You need to provide us with:

• The general size of the board, the expected number of layers, and the quantity of boards you expect to have assembled and fabricated (if different).
  •The type and quantity of each component, in the form of a Bill of Materials (BOM). Manufacturer's name and manufacturer's part numbers MUST be included for every line item. THIS IS THE BIGGEST CAUSE OF DELAYED QUOTES.
• An assembly drawing for BOTH the top and bottom side with notes.
• Any electronic data is helpful, but not required (Gerbers, assembly drawings, etc.)
• What general assembly standard shall your boards meet (IPC Class 2 or 3, internal standards, etc.)
• Also, any special requirements that might increase the complexity of the PCB assembly( odd components, who will supply what components for a partial turnkey, etc.)

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2. How long does a quote take to prepare?

Quotes for fabrication and 100% consignment assembly will usually take 1 day, while 'turnkey' quotes will take 2 to 3 working days (depending on supplier availability of components when quoting partial or full turnkey).
If parts have longer lead times or are not available we will notify on you with in the quotation.

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3. What do I need to give you so that you can start my PCB assembly?

We need:

• a detailed assembly drawing for top and bottom sides showing the board outline, the location of cutout areas or height-restricted zones and the placement of components. We prefer .DXF format, but a print will also do. ALL notes pertinent to assembly should be in the assembly drawings
• a final Bill of Materials (BOM), listing all components including bypass capacitors, test points, etc. Manufacturer's name and manufacturer's part numbers MUST be included for every line item.
• a final solder paste Gerber file file for top and bottom sides
• centroid data and a netlist file for assembly

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4. What are the steps in the PCB assembly process, in simple terms?

A. A program manager is assigned to act as a single source point of contact at Optimum to the customer.
B. At Optimum we perform a Design For Assembly (DFA) analysis of all your data. This will verify that the Gerbers, BOM and centroid data are all correct to each other so your job starts on time.
C. Any components to be supplied by Optimum are ordered.
D. Stencils are made to allow exact solder placement for surface mount devices.
E. PCB fabrication is ordered (optional)
F. Surface mount parts are placed
G. Surface mount parts are soldered in our reflow oven
H. Any through hole components are placed and soldered.
I. Any press fit components are inserted
J. Special operations for odd shaped components are attached
K. Mechanical operations add things like heat sinks, stiffeners, etc.
L. Final quality control is verified to the customer's specifications
M. Any box build items are assembled (optional)
N. Pre shipment documents are gathered and completed
O. Shipment to our customer

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5. Is there anything I need to do while you are PCB assembling the board?

You need to be available to answer the program manager's questions during the course of ordering components and PCB assembly. Most questions will be at the beginning of the order and will reside around issues on the BOM.

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6. What will you deliver to us when the project is completed?

PCB assemblies will be delivered to the customer or to a drop ship address. All required documentation will be in or on the box. All assemblies will be in anti static bags but should still be considered fragile.

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7. Do you fabricate and assemble the PCBs as well as PCB assembly them?

We can provide complete 'turnkey' services for your project from PCB assembly, through fabrication and assembly. We work with several fab and assembly houses that are geared for various types and sizes of projects, in order to match your needs with the most appropriate supplier.

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8. We're still engineering the project. Is that a problem?

Yes and no. Continuing to engineer the project while we QUOTE the PCB assembly the board is an open ended proposition if changes are made. There may be extra costs involved, because of component price and/or availability. Also, since the schedule is dependent on the amount and type of components involved, the due date may change depending on what changes are made from the quoted data to the final data. We're up to the challenge if you are.

Any changes made after we start assembly will cause everything to stop. If the changes can be incorporated into the current build then a revised quote will sent with a separate line item for the Engineering Change Order (ECO). On ECOs that need a complete restart then customers will be liable for any PCBs, stencils, programming, labor or components that have been ordered or completed. We will do everything possible to minimize any costs at this point and we will show all options and costs.

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