When prototyping as low as 5 pcbs, we usually assembly manually. But when the PCB has BGA, QFN, LGA, we use a CEM and ask them to just assembly the BGA, QFN and LGA components. All the other components we assembly manually after the reflow. You will need to manufacture disposable brass stencil and your components would need to be pick & placed with a tray though. Usually the CEM has trays that they can fit you components in. As expected the prices are not low, but it's lower than assembling the whole board. On Thu, Feb 9, 2017 at 10:29 AM, peter green wrote: > On 08/02/17 22:06, Neil wrote: > > What do you guys (in the U.S.) do about one-off prototypes which you > > can't make in-house? To date I've made all my own prototypes manually, > > but I've now got a board with BGA's and other very small components on > > them, which I can't reliably and really would not prefer to attempt to > > make here. Especially because I have limited sample parts on hand, and > > beyond that would have to be a large-volume order. I was assuming it's > > just a matter of having a CEM do it, but so far I'm running into issues > > where they're all saying they really do one-offs, and if so, they'd mak= e > > a handful and I can use just one, but they'd have to charge me for all > > that the make. Is this common? Or have I just not found the right CEM > > yet? Or do all of you have in-house capability to assemble yourself? > I think you need to look for providers that specialize in low volume work= .. > > Here in the UK I have successfully used the following providers for > complex boards. > > ASK technology > Newbury Electronics > LEF circuits > > I usually send out an email to all of them with design files attached > asking for a quote and take whichever one looks best. Generally I have > found it best to get both fabrication and assembly done by the same > provider, that way they can panelize the boards in whatever way suits the= ir > assembly process. > > Component presentation wise they don't seem too fussy. I expect they > wouldn't like it if you gave them a bagful of tiny loose parts, but cut > tape for the small parts and whatever packaging the distributor used for > the larger parts seems fine. > > Even with providers that specialize in low volume work expect the price > for say ten to be only be of the order of twice the price for one. > > Unfortunately I don't have experience with providers in the US > > > > -- > http://www.piclist.com/techref/piclist PIC/SX FAQ & list archive > View/change your membership options at > http://mailman.mit.edu/mailman/listinfo/piclist > --=20 http://www.piclist.com/techref/piclist PIC/SX FAQ & list archive View/change your membership options at http://mailman.mit.edu/mailman/listinfo/piclist .