Cheap PCB Assembly from China [Test & Tutorial]

This video shows how to use JLCPCB's cheap assembly service.
Sponsor: $2 for 5 PCBs (Any Color): jlcpcb.com
Since I'm developing boards on a weekly basis I had to test JLC's new service and show how to easily use it with EasyEDA online design tool.
The results are surprising and you can get off really cheap using basic components. I hope this quick tutorial will help to handle the limitations and get you first assembled boards from china really cheap.
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#electronics #diy #maker

[@stephen_hawes]

I'm so excited that this is becoming such an inexpensive service. Thanks for showing us the process!

[@UnexpectedMaker]

I stayed until the end just for the music! Took me to my happy place!

Is there any longer version somewhere? :) I guess it's composed by bitluni so only he can release it.

[@SianaGearz]

@ No no, it's Powerup! by Jeremy Blake (aka Red Means Recording), royalty-free music, available from KZbin Music Library.

[@CruzMonrreal]

Sounds a bit like Celeste music

[@linagee]

Use reverse LEDs that shine downward and put holes in the PCB. Then you can have a one side SMD load. :-D

[@jordanwaeles]

I checked but I didn't find any reverse-mount LED in their library of placeable parts. Let me know the LCSC reference if you find some in their JLCSMT parts library...

[@marvinblue6825]

Custom Esp32 boards, here we come 😁 I hope they make connectors available.

[@bergamt]

I wish they allowed ESP32 modules rather than just the chip

[@Really2950]

Bitluni always has super great videos. But this one has his best news ever. I’ve been waiting so long for surface mount options

[@p_mouse8676]

I personally do an hybrid between the two. So all less (simple) important components are already being assembled. Only a few high quality/special or big/heavy components I do myself. Depending on the size of the batch obviously. That way you don't have a better control over quality, but shipping is also a lot less (because of the weight)

[@maxhouseman3129]

Good idea! I will test this method for myself. In particular because I have a lot of very expensive and seldom chips that I want to use. Better I solder them on my own.

[@simsung321]

Try PCBway. Prices are similar usually for the most part and they do assembly on both sides and any color pcb!

[@MakerFabio]

Thanks for sharing

[@Paul_VK3HN]

Just starting to do this, thanks for sharing your customer experience report.

[@JeremyCook]

Thanks for the video. Very cool, hope to try this kind of service soon!

[@syspcb]

SysPCB is also a good choice for those who has higher requirement in assembly

[@andymouse]

The future looks good !

[@donaldklopper]

Exciting times ahead!

[@DangerousPictures]

I tried it out a couple of weeks ago and now they support kicad and Connectors

[@BurkenProductions]

What's that cool 8-bit tune at the end of the video called??

[@joey3291]

I've used their service in and out of china, the slow international price is almost as cheap as the domestic shipping, although it's much slower, but considering the price it's still unbeatable...

[@topfastpcbs1512]

sure,Every extra penny deserves its value

[@witawat]

6:58 what use clean pcb , this normal water ? thankyou

[@83hjf]

usually isporpoyl alcohol

[@Epsicronics]

You technically can use water but as someone stated they use isopropyl alcohol

[@alexloktionoff6833]

Using AVR, why not to switch to CH32V003 RICV?

[@HandFromCoffin]

This stuff is simply mind blowing.. How can they do this for these kind of prices? Amazing.

[@ZaPpaul]

So the first thing you do is export the bom. How did you get the bom in the first place and set that up? I load the kicad pcb in and have no idea how to place the components from the library to the pcb.

[@gkelly]

Loved the video! Which UPDI programmer do you use?

[@envt]

Great video. I hope they add connectors soon!

[@lightdark00]

Merry Yule!

[@oxenforde]

4:56 “Nooooooo” *facepalm*

[@umarsajan5454]

If i want make new baord pcb where should i contact

[@powil4ss]

what kind of ultrasonic cleanser are you using? and in what media? thanks!

[@sharedinventions]

I don't get how to combine panelization with SMT assembly in my order.

[@fluiditynz]

The name "Charlieplexing" annoys me because I published before him on piclist and I wasn't even the first! I went a bit retro last week and should have 10 small round black PCBs on courier setting out from JLCPCB today, a CH32V0003 8 pin chip driving 20 leds in a heart shape with battery clip on back, test touch sense points going back to 4 pins and ISP clip points. My first one was a circle with 12 LEDs on 5 pins of a PIC12C508 and the reset pin configured to cycle between off and 3 display series. It will be interesting to see if I can do touch sense between LED driving without annoying flicker.

[@fluiditynz]

I'm curious as to your component on the other side from the reset switch BITLUNI? I got my boards last week and assembled a few of them, killed a few CH32V003 getting my code to not kill the SWDIO pin and now have some software doing patterns on my 20 LEDs off 5 pins, looks pretty eye catching, the battery clips arrived yesterday and that was even better to have them mobile from my ISP clip. I'm going to try touch as input to control the chip but need to look up the data sheet again, I need to find lowest standby current and pop the micro into sleep every time it's not busy which is most of the time.

[@lorenzoporciani]

I was thinking, what if you could replace the button by exposing some copper on the front side (maybe the dot?) so that when you touch it you ground it and it acts as a switch?

[@SeanChYT]

Which chemical or cleaning liquid do you use in your ultrasonic cleaner? I have not been able to find Branson EC in Europe.

[@HamzaHajeir]

Nice explaining video! How about KiCAD sketches ? Would there be problems in ordering from lcsc too ?

[@santopino2546]

I discovered you through a Keysight video. I was tempted to use the PCB assembly a few months ago, unfortunately nearly all my components where: not available, no substitute or not on the basic list. So for my needs it's totally useless.

[@avejst]

Great video and walk-through Thanks for sharing :-)

[@TheEmbeddedHobbyist]

I don't know why but i find soldering very relaxing and can sit for hours a day soldering SMD's. properly less stress after doing the design is good for you. Or was it the room was quite a way from the boss's and you could have the radio on loud. i did manage to keep the room telephone free for 2 years :)

[@smtfabpcba9630]

great work!

[@ein57ein]

AWESOME! This could make getting some QuinLED-Dig-Uno boards MUCH easier

[@gameofpj3286]

Damn, thats an amazing feature :O

[@alissonneres5067]

Why do you cook the pcb at the end? It is for cleaning right? I want to know more about the process or what is that machine

[@Davedarko]

that's an ultra-sonic cleaner filled with alcohol, to get rid of the soldering residues :)

[@alissonneres5067]

@@Davedarko thank you

[@alissonneres5067]

@@Davedarko I checked your channel and liked the content. That was unexpected for me. Well now you have a new subscriber

[@Davedarko]

@@alissonneres5067 thanks! I need to publish some more videos again, I'm currently doing most of my videos for "element14 presents" right now.

[@belaterjek2635]

How can you get such a low price for shipping? I live in Hungary, and DHL starts from $23 and up for our JLCPCB orders, depending on the weight. As most of the boards we order are just plain pcbs, this adds a considerable amount to the total cost. If you order a best $2 offer, the final price-tag is about $25, which is ridiculous

[@jvqn6581]

It's basically subsidized. I think this dates back to a time when China as a developing country got foreign aid from (Western) European countries, both directly and indirectly as in this case (many European postal services were state-owned back then). There are now huge rows internally because the European postal services that do the final mile get significantly less for something posted from China than they would for a similar item posted domestically. I guess at some point the relevant contracts will be re-negotiated and shipping costs from China will rise to normal levels.

[@arduinomaker7210]

wow, nice work

[@robb233]

What was that bath thing for, you used at the end of your assembly? Thanks.

[@MrVolt]

Rob B It's an ultrasonic cleaner with isopropyl alcohol

[@linagee]

Where is the checkbox to automatically lay out your board for you, automatically make a case for you, automatically do FCC testing, automatically make a product box, automatically list it on Amazon and ship it to their factory, and automatically count all the $$$ coming in, lol. (Soon I hope, although I'd guess that would put many people out of a job!)

[@Davedarko]

let them first do other colored PCBs and dualsided production, please :D

[@NonExistChannel]

Can someone tell me what kind of solution he is using with his ultrasonic cleaner?

[@vivekanandottalingam]

Probably isopropyl alcohol with a little swig of acetone. Acetone optional.

[@rmawatson]

What flux are you using ?

[@zeverox1]

Kanst du mal zeigen wie man ein Schritt motor antreibt mit wifi

[@oscarilmio7148]

Hello Luni. I have a .dip file for you,how can i send it?

[@catafest]

this is a little confuse to me because you come with many changes... can you provide a correct video tutorial about how can use this online tools from design to the last step product made by jlcpcb factory. thank you!

[@samjones6464]

what's the outro music?

[@samjones6464]

Jeremy Blake - Powerup!

[@manibharathy1994]

The 8 bit sounds at the end

[@Anticitizen666]

This is interesting! I have ben using PCBWay for small run SMA (50 units at a time) and they take much longer per run - around 4 weeks. They do hand-hold quite a bit though, sourcing parts they don't stock when I supply part numbers, and also fixing some issues in centroid files (pick and place files). I'll definitely be trying some smaller boards with JLC though, to see how the process goes. I use Eagle though, not EasyEDA, so just need to compare the centroid files I guess!

[@MetalheadAndNerd]

Unfortunately the portfolio of components is extremely limited. If you only need LEDs and resistors it works but as soon as you need not any diode but a specific diode the service isn't for you anymore.

[@josefaschwanden1502]

Also they dont do BGAs

[@sustainableecoengineering6666]

Most funniest part 05:08 🤦‍♂️ :D

[@WhaleMo]

我一看到标题就认为是JLC,结果果然是 JLC喵（X When I see the title of this video, I thought that may be JLCPCB did this...and, yep.

[@TBL_stevennelson]

Thank you guinea Pig Lab.

[@808GT]

This is slightly related only but I am looking for somebody to reverse engineer a simple PCB on a gaming controller and then make my own PCB with a different layout. Any ideas who I can employ for this job?

[@MeisterQ]

Wait Kassel-DEU? Where are you from (Nur grob) Iam from Kassel!

[@Davedarko]

I was once told and forgot it about a minute after that :D

[@MeisterQ]

@@Davedarko Not what i was expecting :D

[@MeisterQ]

bitluni! Pls answer :D

[@Friendroid]

Hi

[@certified-forklifter]

nice

[@marcinwitkowski6443]

6:50

[@manofmesopotamia7602]

Are you German?

[@luaxlab]

China... I feel bad about that

[@Digithalis]

haha..cool video :-)

[@sourfruit]

Second

[@xdevs23]

first

[@Nono-hk3is]

Trash channel?