Wiki
A Cake for no Mistake
Is your first proto PCBA right at the first time, we'll send you a cake!. Very Good!
Addresses
We distinguish the use of different adresses. The 2 bases addresses are your company address and the invoice address, which in most cases is an email address. But for your project purposes you might want to use a different address. Therefore, you have the option within the project to add or change every upcoming shipments address. this way your proto.
Our preferred Supplier
Arrow. Distribution centre situated in the USA. Average delivery time: 5-7 working days.
BOM
The Bill of Material or BOM is one of the 3 central data elements we use to manufacture your proto PCBA's. And although we are quite capable in handling a variety of BOM formats, we encourage you to keep it simple. A BOM without redundant information reduces the risk of mistakes or misinterpretations. To simplify matters we have created a Standardised BOM which you can download
BOM Search Tool (BST)
Our online software tool that checks availability and price of components at all our preferred supplier.
We check real time stock levels at all our preferred suppliers. This way we are sure all components are available the moment we order.
Centroid
The Centroid (or Pick & Place) file indicates where on the PCB every individual component must be placed. It describes the precise location based on an X and Y coordinate. The centroid file is used for both automatic and manual smt placements as well as for tht placements. So the centroid file is, together with the Gerbers and the BOM one of the tree essential production files.
Component
When we use the term component it (most always) refers to a electronic items. When the term part is used it refers to all kind of small technical items. So not only components but als screws, nuts, etc.
Consignment list
To simplify shipping of to be consigned parts, in the Project a Consignment List is generated. On this list every part that should be sent to DeltaProto by the customer is indicated. The reference used is the designator and if available the MPN. Also indicated is the quantity needed.
DeltaProto Chocoloto
Celebrate your working PCBA or get some comfort while you're searching for an issue on your proto.
Design for Prototyping or DFP
Most of us are familiar with concept such as Design for Manufacturing and de Design for Testing. We would advice you to first focus on the basic functions and worry about DFM and DFT when you 'cross that bridge'. We call this Design for Prototyping and its aim is to iterate more, make more samples and test more ideas. Once you are happy with the proto implement DFM and DFT even when this means changing your design again.
Digi-Key
Preferred Supplier. Distribution Centre situated in the USA. Average delivery time = 3 working days
Farnell
Preferred Supplier. Distribution Centre situated in UK. Average delivery time = 1 working day!
Field test
A series of (partly) end-user based tests with prototypes or more commonly 0-series products.
Files
The files needed for us to make your proto and test series PCBA's are the Gerbers, Centroid (or Pick&Place file) and the BOM. It is helpfull if you would also be able to provide us with an ODB++ file, but it is not necessary.
First Proto
For every project, we make one (or more) samples up front. We call this 'First Proto'. This way you can check and modify and avoid your whole order to be just not what you wanted. And it is quite effiective since more than 90% of our customers want to make all kind of changes between the first and the next samples.
Free Return
If you want your PCBA to be modified, use our free return shipping voucher.
Gerber
A file format especially developed for the transfer of PCB production data.
Good Old Stock
If you still have a scarce component on an old PCB, we will desolder it for you free of charge. This way you can continue testing in the event of temporary shortages.
LCSC
Preferred Supplier. Distribution Centre situated in HongKong. Average delivery time = 3-5 working days.
List of Change (LoC)
Use the List of Change to indicate what we need to change for your next PCBA sample. At the end of the project you have a comprehensive overview of all changes during the development.
Modify my Proto
If you want us to modify your proto instead of making the next one, sure. Just click on ‘Repair the Sample’ in the LoC and ship it back.
Mouser
Preferred Supplier. Distribution Centre situated in USA. Average delivery time = 3 working days
New website?
Right! ✊ We have a new website! We have given the website a new look and the front page is now also suitable for mobile devices. We have also made the website a bit faster so that Google likes us more. We hope you like the new website and that you enjoy it.
We have opted for the latest trendy front end techniques such as Next.js and TailwindCSS.
And the nice thing is that our colleagues from the mechanics department also helped create the website, so if there is a screw loose in the software, you know why. Please let us know! Contact
Non Disclosure Agreement (NDA) download here
Naturally, all information you provide will be treated confidentially. To underline this, we have drawn up a standard NDA in which we record this agreement. You can download it, rate it and, if it suits you, return it to us. We countersign and send you a copy. If you wish to apply your own NDA, we may charge costs for the legal assessment. We will indicate this in advance.
Offer
Once we've received your gerbers, BOM and centroid, we start analysing your data. We send the Gerbers to one of our PCB manufacturers in Europe or Asia, we analyse the paste layer and optimise the paste layer for prototyping, and we check the availability of the components in your BOM. If all is well, we set your request to 'Ready to Order'.
Planning
The project, and therefore the planning, starts as soon as you click on the 'Order' button. The delivery time is based on working days and refers to the day your first sample is dispatched.
If you order 10 proto PCBAs with a delivery time of 10 working days, we will ship your first sample 10 working days after the initial order date.
Price
We want you to get our price as easy as possible. Just fill out the calculator and you will have a 95% correct price. Based on your files with the actual data we'll make the price final and sent you our offer. If you want help with the calculator, you can watch our video tutorial. if you still don't understand, you give us a call. If you do not know the price of your components, you could fill out 0. We'll correct that field while analysing your request.
We would love to welcome you as a new customer. If you think our price is not ok, give us a call. We always work something out and get going.
Proces steps
The 4 proces phases are subdevided in smaller steps. A step describes one specific activity mostly done by one engineer.
Project code
the project code consists of the 4-letter company code plus the project sequence number.
Proof of Concept (PoC)
a Proof of Concept aims to validate the practicality and potential value of implementing an idea in a real-world scenario.
Proof of Principle (PoP)
A Proof of Principle is a preliminary test to determine if the functional model idea is technically viable, providing insights into potential obstacles and required resources.
ProtoFoto
The ProtoFoto is a High resolution photo of every PCBA we manufacture.
ProtoType
A prototype is the first release of a product built to test a concept or process and typically not produced on the final manufacturing equipment.
The production of your prototype PCBA's is divided into 4 steps. After each step we need your input for the next step.
The first step is trivial, it is the step where you (hopefully) place your order.
Step 2 is where we purchase the PCB and components and assemble your first sample PCBA. We send it to you for analysis. You have found some problems and made some changes to the BOM and completed the 'List of Changes' on the website. If all your improvements are clear, you tell us to build the next sample.
The 3 step process starts when we analyse your LoC, possibly buy a new component and in some cases buy a new PCB and make your 2nd sample. Again we send it back to you for analysis. If it is ok, you indicate in the LoC that you want us to make the rest of the prototypes.
The 4th and final step is when we make all your prototypes and ship them to you.
RS
Preferred Supplier. Distribution Centre situated in UK. Average delivery time = 1 working day!
Technical Project Questions
In the scope of our processes we refer to the term 'Technical Project Questions' when we have questions regarding your Gerbers, BOM and Centroid, your List of Change (LoC) and/or other unforeseen technical issues we come across while manufacturing and modifying your proto PCBA.
TME
Preferred Supplier. Distribution Centre situated in Poland. Average delivery time = 3 working days