What is the cheapest type of package to assemble?

Most microcontrollers come in several different packages. Assuming all the packages cost the same, what typically would be the cheapest one to use in terms of board assembly?

PCB Assembly
November 24, 2023

Depends on the assembly house. If they have to make special arrangements for the particular package, then it could be significantly more expensive.

These days, many assembly houses are set up to do mostly surface mount, so through-hole stuff could be significantly more expensive. Especially if you’re mixing surface mount and through-hole or have a through hole on both sides. As for SMT packages, the costs will be similar, though they could charge more for parts like QFN and BGA.

Oliver Smith

Oliver is an experienced electronics engineer skilled in PCB design, analog circuits, embedded systems, and prototyping. His deep knowledge spans schematic capture, firmware coding, simulation, layout, testing, and troubleshooting. Oliver excels at taking projects from concept to mass production using his electrical design talents and mechanical aptitude.

Oliver Smith

What Others Are Asking

How do components not get knocked off or fall off during reflow?

Last week we visited a PCBA factory. We were looking at reflow ovens. A lot of them have a metal conveyor belt the boards sit on. On a double sided board, when you put the board on the metal belt, won’t the metal belt knock components off as they are only held on by paste?

Oliver Smith November 6, 2023

How do you hold SMD part in place while soldering?

I go through this every time I have PCBs I need to populate with SMD parts, and this has become more an issue as pin spacings have gotten tighter, and my hands have become less steady with age. How do you hold SMD part in place while soldering?

Oliver Smith November 22, 2023

Are the two modules interfering with each other in a PCB with GSM module and the gp-635t GPS?

In my current prototype, I have a SIMCOM GSM module and the gp-635t GPS. They are both in an enclsoure including antennas (gps antenna is integrated). What I experience is sometimes poor GSM and GPS connectivity and sometimes GPS doesn’t get any fix (in the 2 minutes of time i allocate for it) and the GSM fails to send data sometimes. Any tips on this case?

Oliver Smith November 29, 2023