PCBWay PCB fabrication and assembly — turnkey/consigned assembly, design rules, ordering workflow. Alternative to JLCPCB for manufacturing. Use with KiCad. Use this skill when the user mentions PCBWay, needs turnkey assembly (PCBWay sources parts by MPN), has parts not available on LCSC, needs assembled boards with non-LCSC components, wants to compare PCBWay vs JLCPCB, or needs assembly with parts sourced globally rather than from LCSC only. For gerber/CPL export, stencil ordering, and BOM management, see the `bom` skill.
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.
| 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 |
| 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) |
| BOM format | MPN-based (manufacturer part numbers) | LCSC PN-based |
When to use PCBWay over JLCPCB:
| 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 |
PCBWay accepts XLS, XLSX, or CSV BOMs.
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.
For gerber export settings and CPL format, see the bom skill — both JLCPCB and PCBWay use the same formats.
| 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) |
| 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 |
| 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 |
If you have a PCBWay .kicad_dru design rules file, import it in KiCad Board Editor > Board Setup > Design Rules > Import Settings.
Contact PCBWay for partner API access. Partner API at https://api-partner.pcbway.com.
Available endpoints:
POST api/Pcb/PcbQuotation — get PCB pricePOST api/Pcb/PlaceOrder — add to cartPOST api/Pcb/ConfirmOrder — finalize and payPOST api/Pcb/QueryOrderProcess — track order statusDocumentation: https://api-partner.pcbway.com/Help
bom skill for export settings)https://www.pcbway.com/orderonline.aspx — configure layers, thickness, color, qtyhttps://www.pcbway.com/stencil.aspxbom skill for export settings)bom skill for format)