Custom PCBA & EMS
What To Prepare For A Custom PCBA Quote
Gerber, BOM, CPL and test requirements that help a manufacturing team understand your board data, production intent and project risk.
A custom PCBA quotation becomes more accurate when the manufacturing team can understand both your board data and your production intent. Sending only a screenshot or a bare Gerber file may be enough for an early conversation, but it rarely answers the questions that affect component sourcing, assembly setup, testing, and production risk.
This checklist helps hardware teams prepare a quote package that supports a practical review. It also makes the handoff from design to electronic manufacturing services easier to manage.
PCB Fabrication Data
Start with the files needed to manufacture the bare PCB:
- Gerber files or an agreed intelligent manufacturing format such as ODB++ or IPC-2581
- NC drill files
- Board outline and dimensions
- Layer stack-up, material, copper weight, finished thickness, surface finish, and controlled-impedance requirements where applicable
- Panelization requirements, if you already have them
Gerber and drill data describe the physical board. A complete package lets the manufacturer review the layers, holes, routing, and mechanical outline before assembly begins. Modern design tools can also generate ODB++ or IPC-2581 packages that combine more fabrication and assembly information, but confirm the format your chosen manufacturer can accept. Altium’s manufacturing-data guide explains the role of Gerber, drill, ODB++, and IPC-2581 outputs.
A Usable Bill Of Materials
Your BOM is the purchasing and assembly map for every component on the board. At a minimum, include:
- Reference designator, such as R12 or U3
- Quantity per board
- Manufacturer name and manufacturer part number
- Component description and package
- Approved alternatives, if any
- Customer-supplied or consigned parts
- “Do not populate” items
- Notes on critical components or preferred distributors
A complete part number is more useful than a generic value. For example, “10 kΩ resistor” does not identify tolerance, package, power rating, or approved manufacturer. If substitutions are allowed, define the decision boundary: can the assembler approve equivalents, or must every alternative be confirmed by your engineering team?
The BOM and pick-and-place file are the basic assembly outputs; an assembly drawing adds orientation and mechanical context. Altium’s assembly-output reference gives a helpful overview.
CPL Or Pick-And-Place Data
CPL, centroid, and pick-and-place files usually describe where each component belongs on the board. Check that the file includes:
- Reference designator
- X and Y coordinates
- Rotation
- Top or bottom side
- A stated origin convention and units
Before sending the package, compare a few critical parts—connectors, polarized capacitors, IC pin 1 markers, and unusual footprints—against the assembly drawing. A wrong rotation or side setting can create unnecessary review cycles.
Assembly Drawings And Manufacturing Notes
Assembly drawings communicate details that files alone may not make obvious. Include board views, reference designators, polarity markers, pin 1 indicators, mounting hardware, special keep-out areas, and revision identification.
Use a separate note section for requirements such as:
- Lead-free or specified solder process
- Cleaning requirements
- Inspection points or acceptance criteria
- Programming, labeling, or serialization
- Depanelization limits
- Conformal coating, potting, staking, or adhesive needs
- Packaging and ESD handling instructions
If environmental protection is part of the product requirement, describe the operating conditions rather than simply writing “coating required.” For background, review conformal coating and potting options.
Project Context For A Meaningful Quote
A manufacturer also needs to understand what you are building and where the project is in its lifecycle. Add a short project brief covering:
- Prototype, pilot, or production stage
- Expected quantity for this order and likely future demand
- Required delivery date or target window
- Whether PCB fabrication, component sourcing, assembly, test, and packaging are required
- Any enclosure, cable, or final-integration scope
- Key reliability, regulatory, confidentiality, or traceability needs
This is not a request for a long business plan. It helps the manufacturing team propose the correct review and production approach. If your scope includes a finished device rather than PCBA alone, clarify whether box-build assembly is needed.
Test Requirements: Define The Result You Need
“Please test the boards” is not a complete instruction. Define what should be checked, who provides the fixture or firmware, and what record is expected.
- Visual inspection requirements
- In-circuit, flying-probe, boundary-scan, or functional testing where applicable
- Programming files and programming instructions
- Test fixture ownership and revision control
- Pass/fail limits
- Serial-number or test-record requirements
- Rework authorization and failure-report expectations
The correct test plan depends on the product, volume, accessibility of test points, and risk profile. A layered approach can combine inspection and functional verification, but it should be defined for the actual design—not copied from another project. See ANZ Electric’s PCBA testing overview for related considerations.
Final Pre-Quote Check
Before uploading or sharing files, ask:
- Are all files from the same revision?
- Does every BOM reference match the placement file?
- Are alternates and customer-supplied parts clearly marked?
- Have critical polarity, orientation, and mechanical details been reviewed?
- Are test, programming, coating, and packaging requirements explicit?
- Does the quote request state quantity, delivery expectations, and required scope?
A clear package does not eliminate engineering review, but it gives that review a reliable starting point. When you are ready, submit your latest controlled file package through the ANZ Electric Request Price Quotation form and state which items remain open for engineering discussion.