pcbway

The PCBWay skill is an integrated electronics manufacturing assistant designed to streamline the transition from KiCad PCB design to full-scale production or prototype assembly. It specifically addresses the needs of engineers and hardware developers who require turnkey manufacturing services beyond the limitations of regional component libraries. By leveraging global component sourcing based on Manufacturer Part Numbers (MPNs), this skill enables users to seamlessly manage bills of materials (BOM), handle non-LCSC components, and automate assembly documentation for PCBWay's specialized quoting platform.

• Automated BOM preparation for PCBWay using specific columns like Line#, Qty, Designator, and critical MPN fields.

• Comparison and decision-support between PCBWay and JLCPCB regarding cost, component availability, and sourcing flexibility.

• Support for diverse assembly models, including full turnkey, partial turnkey, and consigned/kitted parts management.

• Integration with project documentation and production workflows, ensuring gerber files, stencil requirements, and CPL exports align with manufacturer specifications.

• Access to PCBWay partner API documentation and workflow guidance for programmatic interaction with quoting and order status systems.

• Use this skill when your design includes specialized components not available in common regional distributors like LCSC.

• Ideal for users transitioning from prototype hand-soldering (using DigiKey/Mouser) to professional assembly (turnkey or consigned).

• Ensure your KiCad symbol fields are populated with accurate MPNs before executing assembly exports.

• Follow the provided layout and design rule tables to ensure your board is manufacturable within PCBWay’s standard production tolerances (0.1mm trace/spacing for 1-2 layers).

• While the bom skill handles generic file formatting, use this pcbway skill specifically when defining sourcing strategies, managing MPN-based procurement, or interfacing with the PCBWay quoting engine.