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

Key Differences from JLCPCB

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)

Assembly Options

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:

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)

Multi-layer (4+ layers)

Additional Capabilities

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