The website isn't much, but they were pretty organized in dealing with them. I see that Hopewell junction is about 15 miles from Poughkeepsie and also very close to Fishkill. Alden Funny NYPD wrote: > I checked their web site, basically a single page web. The address listed are very close to east fishkill on the google map. > > Funny N. > Au Group Electronics, http://www.AuElectronics.com > > > > > ________________________________ > From: Alden Hart > To: Microcontroller discussion list - Public. > Sent: Monday, November 24, 2008 9:12:38 AM > Subject: Re: [EE] Market for low-volume PCB assembly? > > I believe they are in Poughkeepsie, NY. I first heard of them via > PIClist discussion about a year and a half ago. > > Alden > > > Funny NYPD wrote: > >> That's a place very close to IBM headquarter, and not so far from New York City, isn't it? >> >> Funny N. >> Au Group Electronics, http://www.AuElectronics.com >> >> >> >> >> ________________________________ >> From: Alden Hart >> To: Microcontroller discussion list - Public. >> Sent: Monday, November 24, 2008 8:28:48 AM >> Subject: Re: [EE] Market for low-volume PCB assembly? >> >> I just did a project using Mettrix Technologies >> (http://www.mettrix.com/) for short run PCB and manufacture - 200 units. >> They were quite good and reasonably priced, with fast turn as well. We >> had some component problems (my supplier, not theirs) that they helped >> me work through. They are located in New York state and can do offshore >> as well. >> >> Alden >> >> >> John Day wrote: >> >> >>> At 11:21 PM 11/23/2008, you wrote: >>> >>> >>> >>> >>>> Ack!... I was posting this from Nabble in the [EE] sub-forum, but changed the >>>> tag to [OT], and forgot to change to the other sub-forum. >>>> >>>> China still does not seem to be a good option for the low-volume folks, such >>>> as myself. My usual batches are ~500 pcs at a time, but I find that lately >>>> I'm doing specialized versions of my products to specific customers' >>>> requests -- mostly just different layouts, but very short runs of under a >>>> couple hundred pieces each. >>>> >>>> >>>> >>> I have had a lot of success, as have clients, with http://myropcb.com >>> who have offices here in Canada to support the North American market >>> with seemingly knowledgeable production and engineering talent. Just >>> recently they did a series of jobs for me, including a 150 piece >>> fab/assemble run and a 200 piece fab/assemble along with another >>> longer run. We supplied the parts. Total time from "soup to nuts" was >>> under 4 weeks including shipping to North America. >>> >>> Their on-line quoting system seems to work well and in fact so far >>> they have always billed us the price that system generated. Unless it >>> is an unusual quote requirement the system generates the quote in moments. >>> >>> I supply gerbers, NC drill files and pick-place files, all generated >>> automatically by Altium Designer which is my choice for EDA software >>> and a box of components. They like things in reels but are happy to >>> handle cut tape. >>> >>> >>> >>> >>>> Part of the reason I'm looking into my own >>>> equipment is that the quote cycle time for each product or even each version >>>> of a product is significant and it makes short runs very painful. It's >>>> amazing how much time I can waste just going back and forth with CEMs trying >>>> to get quotes. >>>> >>>> >>>> >>> That is certainly true with CEMs in North America. Most of them >>> really don't want to do the low volume, price sensitive jobs. >>> >>> However just recently these people: >>> http://www.electrocircuit.com/index.html have done a job for me with >>> 100 of one board (through hole hand soldered, 100 pieces), 650 of >>> another (2 sided, SMD components on both sides) and 150 of another >>> with components on one side only. Price was in fact competitive with >>> China. End to end time was about two weeks, we supplied parts, they >>> supplied everything else. >>> >>> For another client I have used: http://bramtronics.com also. They did >>> an excellent job, very knowledgeable staff and pricing for fab and >>> assemble was not out of line with Chinese prices. >>> >>> >>> >>> >>>> I'm thinking I can cater to those in a similar situation -- >>>> at least for a short time to help offset the machine costs. >>>> >>>> >>>> >>> I know folk who have tried the same thing. Usually they have ended up >>> costing me more to use! They require a lot more hand-holding from me, >>> have less experience and detailed knowledge about the processes >>> involved. And in the end most of them have regretted the decision not >>> to use CEMs, whether local or Chinese. Because they end up spending >>> far more time and effort doing what they are not so expert at. >>> >>> Regards, John >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>>> Cheers, >>>> -Neil. >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> Apptech wrote: >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>>> Posting guide: >>>>> This had a valid [EE] and valid [OT] tag. >>>>> Only one tag should be uised per post. >>>>> I've made it [EE]. >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>>> But is there really a market for this? I've know of product >>>>>> manufacturers >>>>>> doing this to offset the cost of their very expensive equipment, and >>>>>> allegedly it works for them. But I also hear there's an increased rate >>>>>> of >>>>>> CEM failures nowadays, so I have to question the market nowadays. >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>> I don't know about your market. BUT if you look at how much people in >>>>> China >>>>> will do the same thing for it may give you some idea. Figure their semi >>>>> skilled labout rate at maybe under $1 /hour and their charge out labour >>>>> rate >>>>> at maybe under $5/hour. And maybe free. >>>>> >>>>> GMail recently popped up an ad for the following people in the depths of >>>>> China (OK - only 4 hours from Beijing by road). Possibly because I had >>>>> been >>>>> to Shijiazhuang recently and was discussing PCBs. Power of the hive mind. >>>>> >>>>> www.ourpcb.com >>>>> >>>>> They SOUND extremely good and extremely cheap. They may prove to be >>>>> neither, >>>>> but who can say. >>>>> Statements like "parts for prototypes free" may scare off some of their >>>>> competition. >>>>> NEVER ask for a level playing field. >>>>> >>>>> In the same city I saw a rather neat pick and place machine. It was about >>>>> 30 >>>>> feet long and 6 feet wide and used about 20 pairs of hands working at >>>>> stunning speed to populate SMD PCBs with parts. Probably cost under >>>>> $20/hour >>>>> to run and probably ran 10 hours/day. They also had a "real" one in an >>>>> adjacent room, but thte fact that they ran that and the manual one >>>>> suggests >>>>> it was better/cheaper/faster (choose any 4) for some tasks. >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> Russell >>>>> >>>>> -- >>>>> http://www.piclist.com PIC/SX FAQ & list archive >>>>> View/change your membership options at >>>>> http://mailman.mit.edu/mailman/listinfo/piclist >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>> -- >>>> View this message in context: >>>> http://www.nabble.com/-OT--Market-for-low-volume-PCB-assembly--tp20652930p20654686.html >>>> Sent from the PIC - [EE] mailing list archive at Nabble.com. >>>> >>>> -- >>>> http://www.piclist.com PIC/SX FAQ & list archive >>>> View/change your membership options at >>>> http://mailman.mit.edu/mailman/listinfo/piclist >>>> >>>> >>>> -- >>>> No virus found in this incoming message. >>>> Checked by AVG. >>>> Version: 7.5.549 / Virus Database: 270.9.9/1807 - Release Date: >>>> 11/23/2008 10:59 AM >>>> >>>> >>>> >>> >>> >>> >> >> > > -- http://www.piclist.com PIC/SX FAQ & list archive View/change your membership options at http://mailman.mit.edu/mailman/listinfo/piclist