There are few steps involved in quoting a PCB which must be taken care of to ensure accurate pricing and will save you the time to get all the details sorted quickly. By relying on accurate information and preparation, manufacturers can quote quickly, saving customers up to 30% in wait times for complex projects. Some best practices can expedite the quoting process even more, reducing that quote to as little as minutes from automated online platforms.
Firstly, all design files are available right down to Gerber files and the BOM (Bill of Material) along with any special requirements. They tell the manufacturers about layer details, drill files, and other specifications critical to PCB fabrication. Without these, manufacturers would receive this quote later as they would need further clarifications. Being able to give full files cuts the quoting time in half, and industry experts argue that this helps manufacturers get all of the needed information upfront.
Making specs uniform can also speed up quotes. Commonly used parameters—such as board thickness, copper weight, and layer number—allow designers to ensure PCB requests are processed in a timely manner through standard templates and practices. Choose a standard PCB board thickness and copper weight specification, for example, 1.6mm board thickness and 1oz copper weight makes the quoting more efficient since these specifications mostly use in house stock materials which means less time spent to quote as well as cooling down those SMT components time reduced too when producing them together first, then assemble later Why is that important? Initial estimates suggest standard specs pass through a quoting system 25% faster than custom materials specs.
The other great way of getting fast quotes online is the use of an online PCB quote calculator. Now, most PCBs manufacturers will have these online PCB quote engineers where users can upload the files and select specific specifications and simply get a rough estimation on it online. As these tools give prices in seconds, they are great for designers with tight timelines. According to a 2021 report from bitteleelectronics.com on PCB manufacturing, Lead time for initial estimates has been shortened by as much as 40% thanks to the implementation of online quote systems that help eliminate endless emails or calls.
Also, quoting an order in the correct order quantity will speed up the process. Designers can receive faster turnaround times for estimates by requesting a quote for a smaller batch compared to bulk quotes or large production runs which may require further verification. For instance, a quote for a 10-unit prototype will probably take much less time to process than 10,000 unit production order. Scaling the order is easier once pricing adjusts.
Finally adding key metrics like turnaround time constraints and further finishing specifications, such as HASL or ENIG plating, or silkscreening helps manufacturers to provide an accurate quotation without needing to ask detailed questions. For example, turnaround times can undoubtedly affect pricing, so mentioning if a project requires standard lead time or an urgent schedule would help them avoid delay in quoting.
Preparing complete design files, choosing standard specifications, using online calculators and defining clear order requirements will help you to easily expedite quoting. By taking these steps, PCB designers are able to receive the right pcb quote in a timely fashion that allows them to proceed with confidence.