While you might not be in the habit of buying a lot of circuits, many companies need to invest in these small pieces of tech to get their products on the shelves and into the homes of many. Of course, this is a little more expensive than you think – but why is that the case?
In this article, we are going to look at some of the reasons why circuit boards are so expensive to buy when they are so small. Keep reading to find out more.
The Designers
One of the essential reasons why circuit boards are so expensive to buy is that these designers put a lot of time and effort into making sure that they are perfect. Designing a PCB is not an easy task, and it requires knowledge and skills that cannot be learnt overnight. PCB designers deserve to be paid a fair wage for their work, and this is the case in this industry.
The Software
Did you know that circuit boards are designed on specialist software? Even the most competitively-priced PCB software from providers such as Altium costs a lot to buy and maintain, and this can add to the total price of the circuit board. This software comes with so many tools, including 3D views and simulations to make sure that the circuits are perfect before they get sent on to the buyer. Without this software, there would be a lot more problems that would cost even more money.
Components
Every circuit board is different in the way that it has been designed, and so, often, there are different parts used. These parts can get very expensive if they are not as standard and a little harder to find. Circuit boards that are complicated and have many parts are also more likely to be costly, but this is something which you would discuss with the manufacturer beforehand.
The Other Stages
The design part is not the only expensive part of creating a printed circuit board as there are so many other people involved. Once the designer, or the team of designers, have finished the circuit board, it is then sent on to be fabricated and manufactured. This can be expensive, depending on the company that you choose to do this, so make sure to consider this carefully.
Final Verdict
As you can see, there are many reasons why circuit boards are expensive to make with the main reason being the skills required to come up with a design that is going to work. Even competitively-priced PCB software is going to cost a lot of money once the free trial has expired and this is going to eat into your budget.
It is important to remember that it is often better to go for quality over price, even if you have to spend a little more than you planned on your circuit board. Hopefully, they will become cheaper to produce in the future as technology advances.
