Wagner,

Our quantities are much smaller and we have most of our assemblies
produced by local outside contractors on automated equipment.  In side
by side cost comparisons of more than a few (say 5) units with
complexity as you describe it's not even close.  Of course, you have to
be honest about your in-house costs.  Just send it out for a quote.  Try
these guys:  mehta@silitronics.com or prasad.rao@adec.com .

Best luck,

Dave

Wagner Lipnharski wrote:
>
> This case should be somehow not rare, and it is important to contribute for
> a decision about the issue.
>
> We have a partner company that produces several small quantity SMD boards
> by hand (50 mils pitch). Mostly related to calibration and small production
> portable physical variables generator.  Those products did show a great
> potential for the market, so some money will be invested for a production
> of 500 units, some sales ad will be produced, finally the company will bet
> on some good profit with this product.  The main idea is to produce 500
> units and if the sales would answer as expected, they will double
> production and sales effort every some time.
>
> The point is;
>
> This actual small quantity boards, are being assembled by hand, SMD
> positioned, soldered, etc.  They asked me to develop a tactical plan to
> show them when and for what quantity justify to use outsourcing contractor
> to assemble the board in automated machines.
>
> This is really a time consuming research, since every contractor will
> demand analysis of the job, several items to discuss and probably they will
> not be interested in such quantity of only 500 units.
>
> I may be wrong, but previous experiences shows that there is a large GAP
> between the maximum quantity hand production, and the minimum automated
> machinery production.  This GAP can kill a product, since or you have
> enough money to invest in a big jump in quantity production, or you will
> not be able to supply your growing demand.
>
> I also understand that may have around people with small machines doing a
> good automated job, but exactly because they are small, they do not
> advertise, so one can not find them.
>
> Some hints about what kind of quantities in SMD components can be
> considered for a small machine production?  Suppose  15 SMD ICs, 25
> resistors and capacitors, few leds, and around 15 some mixed thru-hole
> components, in a board lets say 3 x 4 inch, who can produce it around in
> 500 quantities?  Location can be anywhere in US, of course it would be nice
> to have or in Houston or in Orlando.
>
> I would like also to discuss if someone have personal experience in
> situations like that, problems, solutions, hints, tips, alerts, etc.
>
> Before someone asks, the SMD being assembled by hand is exactly the path
> from small to higher production, somehow they believe that the product
> shouldn't change (thru-hole to SMD), just production quantity will change
> in time.
>
> Thank you.
> Wagner.
>
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