Low-volume PCBA
Low-volume PCB assembly without volume penalties
Ten boards get the same process controls as ten thousand. Setup, stencil and programming appear as separate line items, so you can see exactly what the small batch costs and what disappears on the reorder.
Service window
| Parameter | Scope |
|---|---|
| Batch size | 10–1,000 pcs per release |
| Assembly | Single or double-sided SMT, THT, mixed technology |
| Smallest package | 01005 chip, 0.3 mm pitch BGA, QFN and LGA |
| One-time setup | Stencil, line setup and programming quoted per build; reusable for 12 months |
| Test | 100% AOI; X-ray on BGA; FCT against your test plan |
| Lead time | 7–12 working days after BOM clearance |
| Reorders | BOM, stencil and program cached; reorder from your order history |
How small batches stay affordable
Panel area, not panel count
Boards are panelized to fill the machine window so you pay for the area you use instead of a full production panel.
Reusable tooling
Stencils and pick-and-place programs stay on file for 12 months; repeat releases skip most of the setup charge.
One-pass DFM
Footprint, courtyard and paste questions are raised in a single review round instead of drip-fed emails.
Where it fits
Pilot production
The run between prototype sign-off and volume tooling, where the design is frozen but demand is not.
Service and spare boards
Long-life industrial products that need small, repeatable replenishment builds.
Niche instruments
Products whose annual demand simply never reaches mass-production quantities.
Low-volume FAQ
- Is there a minimum order quantity?
- Ten boards for a standard SMT release. Below that, use prototype assembly: same process, pricing tuned for single-digit builds.
- Do small batches get worse quality?
- No. The same AOI coverage, solder profile validation and first-article check apply; only the panel size and setup amortization change.
- Can I split one order into scheduled releases?
- Yes. Tell us the release dates in the RFQ notes and we hold the tooling and the cleared BOM between shipments.
- How is the setup cost handled on a reorder?
- If the stencil and program are still valid, the reorder quote carries assembly and parts only. Any board revision resets the tooling line.
Price a small batch
Send Gerber, BOM and centroid; the quote separates parts, assembly and one-time setup.