Whether you’re looking to buy printed circuit boards (PCBs) from a printed circuit board PCB manufacturer, sell your circuit boards or build a circuit board, you’ll want to know the printed circuit board industry up to date.
A good way to know the industry is to get involved in an association offering the opportunity to meet with other printed circuit board design professionals.
There are other considerations that engineers and designers may have some first hand experience about in regard to your PCB production. While manufacturing overseas is a budgeting solution for many companies, other companies may wish to consider the quality of the product. Keep these resources from "Advanced Circuits" in mind when considering printed circuit board (PCB) manufacturers.
- Request a detailed graphical report and instant quote for your printed circuit board design.
- Identify problems associated with trace width, annular ring, inner clearance, and missing files.
- Compare prices with other vendors.
Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done
Talk to professionals in the printed circuit board industry
The printed circuit board industry is growing rapidly overseas, but there are still manufacturers in the United States making quality PCBs. The key word here is "quality."
I recommend: Meet other designers and evaluate suppliers of printed circuit boards (PCBs). Apply for membership in
IPC, the Association Connecting Electronics Industries. You will find this association a useful tool for networking with other designers, as well as learning and weighing the benefits of purchasing your circuit boards from suppliers in the printed circuit board industry.
Get ceramic circuit boards for best curing of your PCB
Ceramic circuit boards are by far the best printed circuit board PCB to work with if you are looking for a less conductive surface for your printed circuit board design. The application of epoxy, diodes, gold, wire bonding leads and other essential components of your PCB, are easy to cure on ceramic circuit boards. Ceramic circuit boards tend to handle heat very well.
I recommend: Purchase
ceramic circuit boards at Global Sources. Global Sources has multisided and double layer PCBs of all kinds available for your circuit boards.
Shop for other PCB resources
Thomas Global has an extensive directory of industrial suppliers. You shouldn't have any trouble locating a PCB manufacturer on their search page.
I recommend: Locate a PCB manufacturer and compare shipping methods with other businesses.
Thomas Global Guide is a great tool to get you started in the printed circuit board industry.
Tips & Tactics
Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide
- Ask if the PCB manufacturer is willing to sell to you directly. You can save a lot of money by cutting out the middle man.
The official source of Printed Circuit Boards (PCBs) is
the Printed Circuit Boards (PCBs) page at Business.com
Featured Vendors
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