Whether you have a parts kit already or prefer to supply parts to be sent directly to us, we make the process as easy as possible. Our dedicated audit team will ensure a quick and thorough component check-in, and will compile a report with any issues.

Why choose Colorado PCB Assembly for your consignment PCB assembly?

At Colorado PCB Assembly, we ensure your order is tailored exactly the way you need it. We offer:

• RoHS or leaded assembly services
• 1-Day turns through 10-day turns
• Complete DFA (Design for Assembly) analysis
• Fast kit audit for accuracy and completeness
• Reliable processes to install surface mount components

While the majority of the builds at Colorado PCB Assembly are turnkey (which means that we supply the parts for the build), we have many customers that prefer to supply their parts kit. We will work diligently to ensure your build is a success. Below are some guidelines to help ensure accuracy and timeliness on your consignment order.

Keep components in the original manufacturer packaging and add labels or notes

While parts can be supplied in many formats including cut tape, tubes, reels, and sometimes loose, your assembly house verifies the components you send against the Bill of Materials in the system. We are checking many aspects of each part, including:

• Manufacturer part number
• Description
• Quantity
• Reference Designator
• Job number

If all five of the above pieces of data are on the packaging, our inventory team can begin and complete inventory very quickly. Most of our customers don’t know the job number when they order parts or place their order, so this is usually added on our end. The other four items, however, are critical to the success of your build.

Supply one kit per job

If you have placed two or more jobs to run simultaneously, please provide separate parts kits. It’s not possible for a part to physically exist in two kit boxes, so supplying one bag of parts for two jobs causes some logistics issues, which could potentially delay your order. In the event that one or two parts must be shared between two kits, please clearly indicate on the part packaging that the component is shared and what the reference designator is for each of your boards.

Try to use new parts, or take some minor precautions with used parts

Used parts bags come with a few issues. First, the quantity on the outside of the bag does not match the quantity inside the bag. Because of this, the parts must be hand counted. If utilizing parts from a previous build, ensure that you have written the new quantity on the bag to clearly indicate the quantity of parts you have supplied.

The next consideration when supplying used parts is moisture. Once the bag has been opened, atmospheric moisture can enter the component causing it to fail. There are two ways to remedy this issue. First, keeping the moisture desiccant and moisture card inside the bag can prevent any issue from occurring. Second, prebaking the parts at a low temperature will allow the moisture to escape without damaging the fragile internal parts of the component.

One other consideration is general parts integrity. This includes ESD concerns (how many people have touched these parts, and in what facilities?). It also includes damage to the containers that hold the parts.

Supply all parts, especially passives, on continuous strips.

We all know that loading a machine means you lose a few parts, especially on passives. The smaller the part, the higher the number that will be lost. Therefore, if parts are supplied on more than one piece of tape, even more parts will be lost. We have even seen instances of vendors sending ten strips of ten parts each for an order of one hundred parts.

Send your parts before PCBs if you have them

While we also offer turnkey PCB fabrication, we know many customers like to supply their own circuit boards. If you’re planning on supplying both parts and boards, it would seem to make sense to send everything in together. However, if you do have a full parts kit available prior to bare fab completion, it can be helpful to send it in ahead of time. That way, we can begin the kit audit, machine loading, and verification. If there’s an issue caught prior to bare boards arriving, it helps your order stay on track.

Talk to your assembler prior to ordering parts

We know assembly companies can have some weird requirements. Some require bar codes, some need their internal part numbers on parts, some even have you send parts on reels, even if it’s just ten pieces of a component. In any of these situations, it’s helpful to simply have a conversation with your assembly company prior to placing your order with them or with your parts vendors. This can help save time over the course of your build.