WellCircuits can provide rapid PCB prototyping as well as small-volume production for your research work. In addition, WellCircuits offers comprehensive assembly services for both prototypes and small-volume production, ensuring a complete solution from fabrication to assembly.
After being involved in the PCB sector for a decade, WellCircuits prides itself as the leading supplier of PCB prototyping and production in low volume around the globe. Quick turn pcb prototyping is a key offering, enabling faster project turnaround and efficient prototype development. Turn times are as quick as 24 hours from the time your Gerber file is submitted and checked and accepted by our engineers, thereby helping you save time during the process.
It is possible to choose different timings that fit your budget if you’re not too limited. We provide 48-hour and 72-hour shipping, too.
Speedy delivery of your order never sacrifices quality. Through our rigorous testing procedures, we can assure you that you’ll be happy with our PCBs to complete your work with high-tech. In addition to the excellent high-end quality, we can surpass all other manufacturers in terms of price, which is essential for your job since you might require many hundreds of PCBs to finish your designs and research. If you know of any manufacturers that have lower rates, please inform us, and we’ll outdo their prices!
Check out our instant quote online system to find out how affordable our PCBs are. PCB prices are calculated based on the square inch size and board layer count, so you can see exactly how these factors affect your quote. Begin today!
Introduction to PCB Prototyping
PCB prototyping is a foundational step in the journey from concept to finished electronic product. For engineers and designers, it’s the stage where ideas are transformed into tangible printed circuit boards that can be tested, refined, and validated before committing to full-scale production. In today’s fast-paced markets, US PCB manufacturing facilities play a pivotal role by offering quick turn PCB prototyping services, enabling rapid iteration and reducing time-to-market for innovative designs.
When embarking on PCB prototyping, several technical factors must be carefully considered to ensure a successful outcome. The minimum trace width, for example, determines how closely electrical paths can be routed without risking shorts or signal integrity issues. Solder mask application is another critical aspect, as it protects underlying copper layers and prevents solder bridges during assembly. Managing solder mask swell and ensuring precise alignment with copper pads are essential for high-quality results, especially when working with fine-pitch electronic components.
Lead time is often a decisive factor in project planning. Quick turn PCB prototyping services can deliver boards in as little as 24 hours, but achieving such speed requires meticulous preparation of design files and clear communication of requirements. The plated drill layer and non plated drill layer must be distinctly defined in your Gerber files to avoid manufacturing errors, while the board layer count and copper weight directly influence the board’s electrical performance and mechanical strength. Non plated holes should be placed on a separate layer, such as ‘NonPlatedDrills’, to ensure proper manufacturing handling and to clearly distinguish them from plated holes.
Advanced features such as plated cutouts layers, non-plated internal cutouts, and flexible PCBs introduce additional complexity. These require careful attention to internal edges, minimum radius specifications, and the use of the default rout tool diameter to achieve the desired board outline and internal features. It is important to clearly define internal cutouts—including both plated and non plated cutouts—by specifying their shapes, sizes, and layer placement in the design files. Accurately representing internal cutouts using polygons or traces helps ensure the correct manufacturing of both plated and non plated internal cutouts. For designs with slot cutouts, be sure to define their precise dimensions and indicate their layer placement, distinguishing between plated and non-plated slot cutouts for proper processing. For designs with controlled impedance requirements, a well-planned layer stack up is essential to maintain signal integrity, particularly in high-speed or RF applications.
The choice of materials and finishes also impacts the prototype’s performance and appearance. Green solder mask remains the industry standard for its reliability and ease of inspection, while options like immersion gold provide superior surface quality for assembled boards. Silk screen layers add critical labeling and orientation information, with silk screen features sized to ensure readability and durability.
Ordering your prototype is straightforward with modern PCB manufacturing facilities. By submitting well-prepared Gerber files, specifying mm PCB quantity, and detailing requirements for separate layers, plated cutouts, and assembly services, you can streamline the process and minimize the risk of delays. Many manufacturers offer same day or next day shipping for standard square inch size boards, and can accommodate irregular or round boards with precise diameter rout bits.
Ultimately, successful PCB prototyping hinges on collaboration with an experienced board manufacturer who understands the nuances of quick turn production, assembly services, and the unique demands of your application—whether it’s aerospace, automotive, medical, or IoT. By considering all these factors from the outset, you can ensure your circuit board prototype meets the highest standards of quality, reliability, and performance, setting the stage for a smooth transition to mass production.
Below is the current lead times for Standard PCB manufacturing orders.
| PCB Order Quantity (m2) | Original Lead Time (Days) | Current Lead Time (Hours) |
|---|---|---|
| 0- 50 pcs & < 1m2 | 2 – 3 Days | 24 Hours |
| 1m2 – 5m2 | 5 – 6 Days | 3 – 4 Days |
| 5m2 – 10m2 | 6 – 7 Days | 4 – 5 Days |
| More than 10m2 | 8 – 10 Days | 5 – 6 Days |
Our delivery times are reduced and guarantee the quality of our products, produced using chemical processes to make pads and via metallization. We do not use the conductive adhesive to cut expenses; each order has to go through a 70-minute copper plating process, AOI and probe testing, and is also electrically tested to ensure quality and reliability, taking the benefit of world-class base materials. In addition to the decrease in time to lead, WellCircuits also decreased the cost of PCBs in small batches, but it also reduced the freight costs for DHL parcels that are less than 1KG.
Here is the most up-to-date lead time timeline for Advanced PCB orders.
| Layers | PCB Order Quantity (m2) | Build Time (Days) | Extra Urgent (Hours) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 Layers | < 1 m2 | 5 Days | 48 Hours |
| 1-5 m2 | 7 Days | ||
| >5 m2 | 8 Days | ||
| 4 Layers | < 1 m2 | 5 Days | 48 Hours |
| 1-5 m2 | 7 Days | ||
| >5 m2 | 12 Days | ||
| 6 Layers / 8 Layers | < 1 m2 | 7 Days | 72 Hours |
| 1-5 m2 | 9 Days | ||
| >5 m2 | 12 Days | ||
| 10 Layers | < 1 m2 | 10 Days | 96 Hours |
| 1-5 m2 | 10 Days | ||
| >5 m2 | 15 Days | ||
| 10 or more Layers | < 1 m2 | 10 Days | 96 Hours |
| 1-5 m2 | 10 Days | ||
| >5 m2 | 15 Days |
Advanced PCBs are often employed in the manufacture of high-precision electronic devices. With the ever-growing advancements in technology, the need for them increases. In this regard, a distinct sophisticated PCB manufacturing facility is now open for our customers to ensure the fastest speed to market and gain competitive advantages by manufacturing PCBs that are sustainable with the cheapest cost by utilizing our fabrication capability, speedy delivery, and high-quality products. For advanced PCBs, proper layer stack up is critical to ensure controlled impedance and manufacturability, especially for high-density and multi-layer designs. It is also essential to specify requirements for both inner layers and outer layers, including minimum trace width and clearance, to ensure manufacturing quality and reliability.
Proven TechnologyProfessional R&D in high-density HDI multi-layer PCBs and rigid-flex PCBs. The technology is embedded in a tiny core, large GEM PCB, and other special needs from different industries, such as Telecom and medical, automotive, and so on.
Qualified MaterialsFinding high-quality products from Rogers, Shengyi, Wazam, Dupont, Rohmhass, Atotech, as well as other top sources to select the most effective materials.
Surface Finish Options In addition to immersion gold, we also offer immersion silver as an advanced surface finish option. Immersion silver provides excellent solderability and corrosion resistance, making it ideal for fine-pitch components and high-reliability applications.
Independent Production LineWhen you buy high-end PCBs from WellCircuits. You are purchasing high-quality products that will pay for themselves over the course of time. The chart below compares the two PCBs, and you will see the areas where the PCB with advanced features is distinctive or exceeds that of the IPC standard.
Benefits of quick turn pcb prototyping
Quickturn PCB prototyping offers a host of advantages for engineers and businesses aiming to accelerate their electronic product development. One of the most significant benefits is the dramatic reduction in lead time, allowing you to move from design to functional circuit board in as little as 24 hours. This speed is crucial for companies looking to outpace competitors and bring innovative products to market faster.
Flexibility is another key advantage of quickturn PCB manufacturing. Whether your project requires a simple 2-layer board or a complex multilayer stack-up, quickturn services can accommodate a wide range of board layer counts and configurations. This includes support for rigid, flexible, and rigid-flex PCBs, making it easier to prototype everything from traditional circuit boards to advanced designs for IoT, medical, or automotive applications.
When designing for quickturn PCB prototyping, attention to technical details is essential. Adhering to minimum trace width and minimum gap requirements—often as low as 0.005”—ensures reliable signal integrity and manufacturability. For silk screen markings, the recommended silk screen feature size is a minimum of 0.007 inches, with an absolute minimum for legibility at 0.005 inches; features below this threshold may not be reliably manufactured. The use of a green solder mask not only provides a professional finish but also helps visually distinguish soldered areas from copper pads. Managing the solder mask layer and ensuring solder mask swell is slightly larger than the underlying copper elements is important to prevent coverage issues and bridging between adjacent pads. Ensuring a minimum annular ring around vias and maintaining proper copper lands are critical for robust connections, especially during outer layer etching. Insufficient pad size can lead to plating voids during outer layer etching resulting in defects.
Quickturn PCB manufacturing facilities in the US are equipped to handle a variety of board outlines, including irregular board shapes and round boards. For accurate routing, a continuous unbroken path is required, especially for complex or non-standard board outlines. The default diameter rout tool determines the minimum radius achievable on internal edges. Typically, a 0.0625-inch diameter rout bit is used for most features, while a 0.03125-inch diameter rout bit is used for smaller internal features; selecting the appropriate diameter rout bit ensures precise edge quality and manufacturability. When defining internal cutouts, it is important to draw the exact shape using traces or polygons—complex shapes can be defined with zero width polygons or width trace as needed. Internal cutouts should be defined on the appropriate layer: plated cutouts must be placed on the plated cutouts layer (such as ‘PlatedInternalRouts’), while non plated internal routs should be placed on their respective layer (such as ‘NonPlatedInternalRouts’). A cutout plated has its internal edges finished with the desired plating, such as Tin/Lead HASL, ENIG, or immersion silver. Slot cutouts and other internal features should be clearly defined in the design files, specifying whether they are plated or non-plated, and placed on the correct layer.
The ordering process for quickturn PCBs is designed for efficiency. Most manufacturers offer online quoting systems where you can upload your Gerber files, specify the mm PCB quantity, select between bare boards or assembled boards, and choose advanced finishes like immersion gold. This streamlined approach minimizes delays and ensures your circuit board is produced to your exact specifications.
For projects requiring rapid assembly, quickturn PCB services can include full PCB assembly, allowing you to test electronic components and system functionality without delay. This is especially valuable for prototyping with flexible PCBs, rigid flex, or when working with advanced materials and controlled impedance requirements.
While quickturn PCB services may carry a premium compared to standard production, the ability to rapidly iterate, test, and refine your designs often results in significant cost savings over the full product development cycle. By leveraging the capabilities of modern PCB manufacturing facilities, you can confidently submit round boards, specify the default rout tool diameter, and ensure your design files meet all requirements for minimum width, minimum web, and minimum radius.
In summary, quickturn PCB prototyping empowers engineers and OEMs to innovate faster, reduce development risk, and maintain a competitive edge in fast-moving markets. With WellCircuits’ expertise in rapid PCB manufacturing and assembly, you can trust that your next project will move from concept to reality with unmatched speed and quality.
Flexible PCB Options
Flexible PCBs, or flex circuits, represent a transformative advancement in circuit board technology, offering unparalleled versatility for modern electronic designs. Unlike traditional rigid boards, flexible PCBs are constructed using flexible substrates such as polyimide or polyester, allowing the finished circuit board to bend, twist, and conform to complex shapes without compromising electrical performance. This flexibility makes them an ideal solution for applications where space constraints, weight reduction, or dynamic movement are critical design factors.
Engineers turn to flexible PCBs when developing products for industries like aerospace, medical devices, automotive, and consumer electronics—sectors where compact form factors and reliability under mechanical stress are essential. Flexible PCBs are commonly found in wearable devices, foldable smartphones, implantable medical equipment, and automotive sensors, where traditional rigid boards simply cannot meet the demands of the application.
From a manufacturing perspective, flexible PCBs require careful attention to design parameters such as minimum trace width, copper weight, and layer stack up to ensure durability and signal integrity. The ability to integrate multiple layers, including both signal and power planes, within a single flexible circuit board enables complex functionality in a lightweight, space-saving package. Additionally, flexible PCBs can be combined with rigid sections to create rigid-flex designs, offering the best of both worlds for advanced assemblies.
WellCircuits specializes in the fabrication and assembly of flexible PCBs, supporting rapid prototyping and low-volume production with the same commitment to quality and speed as our rigid board offerings. Our expertise in flexible PCB manufacturing ensures that your designs are optimized for manufacturability, reliability, and performance—no matter how challenging the application. Whether you need a single-layer flex circuit for a simple interconnect or a multilayer flexible PCB for a sophisticated device, we provide the technical support and manufacturing excellence to bring your vision to life.