PCBWay — PCB Fabrication & Assembly

PCBWay is a PCB fabrication and assembly service based in Shenzhen, China. It is an alternative to JLCPCB with similar capabilities and pricing.

Typical usage: Order bare prototype PCBs + framed stencil from PCBWay during prototyping (parts sourced separately from DigiKey/Mouser, hand-assembled in lab). For production runs (100s qty), order fully assembled boards from PCBWay using turnkey component sourcing (PCBWay sources parts by MPN). JLCPCB is the primary alternative. For BOM management, gerber/CPL export, and stencil ordering, see the bom skill.

Related Skills

Skill	Purpose
kicad	Read/analyze KiCad project files, DFM scoring
bom	BOM management, gerber/CPL export, stencil ordering
digikey	Search DigiKey (prototype sourcing, primary — also preferred for datasheet downloads via API)
mouser	Search Mouser (prototype sourcing, secondary)
lcsc	Search LCSC (production sourcing, JLCPCB parts)
jlcpcb	JLCPCB PCB fabrication & assembly (primary alternative)
emc	EMC pre-compliance risk analysis — run before fab to catch EMC issues
spice	SPICE simulation — verify analog subcircuits before committing to fab

Key Differences from JLCPCB

Feature	PCBWay	JLCPCB
Component sourcing	Turnkey (PCBWay sources by MPN)	LCSC parts library (you provide LCSC PNs)
Parts library	No fixed library — sources globally	LCSC library (basic/extended parts)
Assembly fee model	Quote-based per project	Per-part fees (basic free, extended $3 each)
Pricing turnaround	Manual quote, 1–2 business days	Instant online pricing
BOM format	MPN-based (manufacturer part numbers)	LCSC PN-based

Plan around manual quoting. PCBWay assembly requires a human-reviewed quote before you can place the order — typically 1-2 business days after uploading files. JLCPCB shows assembly pricing instantly at checkout. If you're prototyping and need to iterate quickly, the JLCPCB feedback loop is much tighter. PCBWay's value is in sourcing parts JLCPCB can't, not in turnaround speed.

When to use PCBWay over JLCPCB:

• Parts not available on LCSC — PCBWay sources globally by MPN
• Need turnkey sourcing — provide MPNs, PCBWay handles procurement
• Prefer quote-based pricing over per-part fee model
• Need consigned/kitted assembly (you ship parts to PCBWay)
• Timeline allows for the manual-quote turnaround

Assembly Options

Option	Description
Turnkey	PCBWay sources all parts by MPN — you just provide the BOM
Partial turnkey	PCBWay sources some parts, you supply others
Consigned/Kitted	You supply all parts, PCBWay assembles

BOM Format for Assembly

PCBWay accepts XLS, XLSX, or CSV BOMs.

Turnkey / Partial Turnkey BOM

Line#,Qty,Designator,MPN,Manufacturer,Description,Package,Type
1,3,"C1,C2,C5",GRM155R71C104KA88D,Murata,100nF 16V X7R MLCC,0402,SMD
2,1,U1,ESP32-S3-WROOM-1-N16R8,Espressif,ESP32-S3 WiFi/BT module,ESP32-S3-WROOM-1,SMD

Required columns:

Column	Description
Line#	Row number
Qty	Quantity per board
Designator	Reference designators (comma-separated)
MPN	Manufacturer Part Number — PCBWay sources by this
Manufacturer	Manufacturer name
Description	Part description
Package	Footprint/package name
Type	SMD, THT (through-hole), or Hybrid

For turnkey, the MPN is the critical field — PCBWay uses it to source parts from their global supply chain.

KiCad BOM Export for PCBWay

1. In KiCad, ensure MPN and Manufacturer fields are populated in symbol properties
2. Export via Edit Symbol Fields > Export CSV
3. Reformat columns to match PCBWay's expected format (add Line#, Qty, Type columns)

For gerber export settings and CPL format, see the bom skill — both JLCPCB and PCBWay use the same formats.

PCB Design Rules (PCBWay Capabilities)

Standard PCB (1-2 layers)

Parameter	Minimum
Trace width	0.1mm (4mil)
Trace spacing	0.1mm (4mil)
Via diameter	0.3mm
Via drill	0.15mm
Annular ring	0.15mm (6mil)
Min hole size	0.15mm
Board thickness	0.2-3.2mm (default 1.6mm)
Min board size	3x3mm
Max board size	600x1200mm (1-2 layer)

Multi-layer (4+ layers)

Parameter	Minimum
Trace width	0.09mm (3.5mil)
Trace spacing	0.09mm (3.5mil)
Via drill	0.15mm
Layer count	Up to 14 layers (standard), 24+ (advanced)
Max board size	560x1150mm

Additional Capabilities

Feature	Specification
Copper weight (outer)	1oz-8oz
Copper weight (inner)	1oz-4oz
Solder mask colors	Green, Red, Yellow, Blue, White, Black, Matt Green, Matte Black, Purple
Silkscreen colors	White, Black, Yellow
Surface finishes	HASL (leaded/lead-free), ENIG, OSP, Hard Gold, Immersion Silver/Tin, ENEPIG
Impedance control	+/-10% tolerance
Castellated holes	>=0.4mm diameter

Importing DRU into KiCad

If you have a PCBWay .kicad_dru design rules file, import it in KiCad Board Editor > Board Setup > Design Rules > Import Settings.

Assembly Constraints

• Minimum order: 5 PCBs
• Sides: Top, bottom, or both
• Component types: SMD, through-hole, or mixed
• Fine-pitch: BGA and QFP supported
• Assembly drawings: recommended (photos/diagrams of special placement)
• Special instructions: add notes for polarity, orientation, or non-standard placement

PCBWay Partner API (Approval Required)

Contact PCBWay for partner API access. Partner API at https://api-partner.pcbway.com.

Available endpoints:

• PCB Quotation — POST api/Pcb/PcbQuotation — get PCB price
• Place Order — POST api/Pcb/PlaceOrder — add to cart
• Confirm Order — POST api/Pcb/ConfirmOrder — finalize and pay
• Query Order — POST api/Pcb/QueryOrderProcess — track order status

Documentation: https://api-partner.pcbway.com/Help

Ordering Workflow

Prototype Order (Bare PCB + Stencil)

1. Export gerbers from KiCad (see bom skill for export settings)
2. Upload gerbers to https://www.pcbway.com/orderonline.aspx — configure layers, thickness, color, qty
3. Order a framed stencil separately at https://www.pcbway.com/stencil.aspx
4. Order — PCBs and stencil typically arrive in ~1 week

Production Order (Assembled Boards)

1. Export gerbers from KiCad (see bom skill for export settings)
2. Export BOM as CSV with MPN, Manufacturer, Description, Package, Type columns
3. Export CPL (centroid/placement file) as CSV (see bom skill for format)
4. Upload gerbers to PCBWay — configure PCB specs
5. Select "PCB Assembly" — choose Turnkey, Partial Turnkey, or Consigned
6. Upload BOM and centroid files
7. Add assembly drawings/photos if needed (recommended for complex boards)
8. PCBWay reviews files and provides quote
9. Confirm and order

Tips

• MPN is what matters — unlike JLCPCB (LCSC PNs), PCBWay sources globally by Manufacturer Part Number
• Turnkey is easiest — just provide MPNs in BOM, PCBWay handles sourcing
• Assembly requires manual quoting — unlike JLCPCB's instant pricing, PCBWay reviews your files and provides a custom quote (typically 1-2 business days). Factor this into your timeline.
• Assembly drawings help — submit photos or annotated PDFs for complex placement
• Lead time varies — turnkey assembly depends on component sourcing time; check with PCBWay
• Rotation offsets — PCBWay may have different rotation conventions than KiCad; verify with assembly drawings
• Solder mask colors — more options than JLCPCB (includes purple, matt variants)
• Edge clearance — keep copper >=0.3mm from board edge