I’ve been designing electronics since the days when PCB layout was often done by hand with black tape and etch resist pen. And I don’t create particularly complicated designs, but I have a hundred or so completed designs under my belt. I design things and sometimes take advantage of the fact that I work for an electronics manufacturer to get some of my boards built. I also hand assemble many of them for fun (I have hand soldered 0201 passives).
When it comes time to get something built here at Screaming Circuits, I almost always use our online quote and order system. I could just mosey a few cubes over and hand off my order in person, but I like doing things online. I also like to know how well our website works in the real world. I’ve been here since 2005, just a few years after Screaming Circuits was started up, and have been designing circuits and writing code for much longer than that. You would think that I have this system well rehearsed. Right?
I always seem to make some sort of error. I send in an old rev BOM, or I forget to double check the part numbers in the bill of materials. I make a last-minute change to the layout that should have no impact, but does, in fact, have an impact. I could go on, but thinking about how many mistakes I have made is giving me PCB assembly indigestion.
What that means is that when I hit save for the last time, I start to get increasing anxiety about what I may have done wrong. When I load my manufacturing files set into a .ZIP, that anxiety grows. When I log on to our website and fill out the quote form, that anxiety increases. When I submit the order, I am filled with a level of angst that should be reserved for people with real problems.
There are two things at the basis of this angst. 1) the fear that I have now added time to my project due to whatever mistake I’m pretty sure I have made, and 2) that I will have to ask for help from our customer service folks and I know they are really busy. I don’t want to make their day worse. That is my anxiety. However, every time I make a mistake, they jump in to help me out. I can be an idiot with (apparently) no attention to detail and they make me look like I have talent or something.
I really do hope, and assume, that you are all far better at this than I am, but I know that PCB assembly anxiety is fairly common. I should not worry about calling our customer service people, because I know they will do everything within their power to make my day better, and you should also not worry. They are great folks and are here for you.
With that in mind, jump over to our PCB assembly quote page and quote your assembly. And don’t stress too much. We are here to help.
Duane Benson
I am a legend in my own mind
Of course, I am also a goat in my own boat (that doesn’t really make sense, but it rhymes and it’s late, so cut me some slack)