How to Order PCBs from JLCPCB: From KiCad Upload to Delivery

Introduction

JLCPCB is the world's most popular PCB prototyping service, offering 2-layer boards starting at $2 for 5 pieces, 4-layer boards at competitive prices, and full SMT assembly services. For makers and hardware startups, JLCPCB is the fastest path from a KiCad or Eagle design to physical boards in hand. This guide covers the complete JLCPCB ordering workflow from Gerber upload through option selection, SMT assembly, payment, and tracking. You will learn how to avoid common ordering mistakes, choose the right stackup and surface finish, prepare for assembly, and inspect your boards when they arrive.

What You Need

• Complete Gerber files (.gbr) and drill file (.drl) from KiCad, Eagle, or Altium
• BOM (Bill of Materials) spreadsheet if ordering SMT assembly
• Pick-and-place file (.pos / .csv) if ordering SMT assembly
• JLCPCB account (free registration)

Step 1: Prepare Your Files

Before uploading, verify your files are complete and correct:

Gerber File Checklist

• Top copper (GTL / .CuTop)
• Bottom copper (GBL / .CuBottom)
• Top solder mask (GTS / .MaskTop)
• Bottom solder mask (GBS / .MaskBottom)
• Top silkscreen (GTO / .SilkTop)
• Bottom silkscreen (GBO / .SilkBottom — optional)
• Board outline / Edge cuts (GML / .Outline / .BoardOutline)

Drill File

• Excellon drill file (.drl or .txt)
• Plated through-hole (PTH) and non-plated (NPTH) should be included

Zip Everything

1. Place all Gerber and drill files in one folder
2. Zip the folder (not individual files — JLCPCB needs a single zip)
3. Name it descriptively: "LED_Driver_v1_Gerber.zip"

Step 2: Upload and Verify

1. Go to jlcpcb.com and click Quote Now
2. Drag and drop your zip file or click Upload
3. JLCPCB automatically parses the Gerber and shows a preview

Verify the Preview

• Board outline: Check the purple outline matches your intended shape
• Holes: Verify all mounting holes and through-holes appear
• Layers: Toggle top and bottom copper to verify traces
• Silkscreen: Check text readability and orientation

If anything looks wrong, go back to KiCad, fix it, re-export, and re-upload.

Step 3: Select PCB Options

Base Material

• FR-4 (Standard): Default, cheap, good for most projects
• FR-4 (High Tg): Better for high-temperature applications
• Aluminum: For LED boards and power applications (heat dissipation)
• Rogers / Taconic: For RF and microwave (expensive, special order)

Layers

• 2 layers: Standard, cheapest, handles 95% of maker projects
• 4 layers: Adds internal power and ground planes, better for high-speed or compact designs
• 6+ layers: Advanced — only for dense or high-speed designs

Dimensions

Auto-detected from your Gerber. Verify the dimensions match your design. JLCPCB charges by area, so smaller is cheaper.

Quantity

• 5 pieces is the sweet spot for prototyping
• 10 pieces is often barely more expensive than 5
• Order extras — you will make mistakes

Thickness

• 1.6mm: Standard, most common
• 1.0mm or 0.8mm: For flexible or space-constrained projects
• 2.0mm: For heavy connectors or mechanical strength

Color

• Green is standard and cheapest
• Black, white, red, yellow, blue are cosmetic upgrades
• Purple is popular among makers
• Matte black and matte green look premium

Surface Finish

• HASL (Hot Air Solder Leveling): Cheapest, good for most projects, slightly uneven surface
• ENIG (Electroless Nickel Immersion Gold): Flat surface, excellent for fine-pitch QFN/BGA, longer shelf life, costs slightly more
• OSP (Organic Solderability Preservative): Very flat, short shelf life, requires quick assembly

Recommendation: HASL for prototypes, ENIG for fine-pitch or if you need long shelf life before assembly.

Copper Weight

• 1 oz (35μm): Standard, handles up to ~2A on 1mm trace width
• 2 oz (70μm): For power applications, higher current capacity

Silkscreen and Solder Mask

• Silkscreen: White (default, best contrast)
• Solder mask: Match your color choice

Step 4: SMT Assembly (Optional)

JLCPCB offers automated SMT assembly for one side of the board (top or bottom). This is a game-changer for surface-mount projects.

Assembly Options

1. Check SMT Assembly box
2. Select which side to assemble (usually top)
3. Select Economic (no X-ray, cheaper) or Standard (full inspection)

Upload BOM

1. Upload your BOM as CSV or Excel
2. Required columns: Designator, Comment/LCSC Part #, Footprint
3. Use LCSC part numbers for best results — JLCPCB stocks these in their warehouse

Upload Placement File

1. Upload your .pos or .csv placement file from KiCad
2. Verify component positions in the preview
3. Check rotation — common source of assembly errors

Part Selection

1. JLCPCB shows which parts they can source (Basic parts = in stock, Extended = longer lead time)
2. If a part is unavailable, substitute with an equivalent or order parts separately
3. Remove parts from assembly if you will hand-solder them later

Assembly Cost Factors

• Setup fee: ~$7 per unique part value (one-time per order)
• Component cost: Listed per piece
• Placement fee: ~$0.0017 per pad
• Minimum: 2 boards for assembly orders

Step 5: Review and Order

1. Review the PCB preview one final time
2. If doing assembly, review the component placement preview
3. Check the total price breakdown
4. Select shipping method:

• Standard: Cheap, 2-4 weeks
• DHL/FedEx: 3-7 days, more expensive

1. Enter shipping address
2. Pay with credit card, PayPal, or other available methods
3. Save the order number for tracking

Step 6: Design for Manufacturing (DFM) Tips

Minimize Cost

• Keep board under 100x100mm for cheapest pricing tier
• Use 2 layers instead of 4 unless absolutely necessary
• Choose green solder mask and HASL finish for prototypes
• Order 5 pieces instead of 10 if budget is tight

Improve Yield

• Keep traces ≥0.25mm wide for reliable etching
• Keep annular rings (pad around hole) ≥0.15mm
• Drill holes ≥0.3mm for standard pricing
• Keep silkscreen text ≥1mm height for readability
• Include fiducials (1mm copper circles) for assembly alignment

Avoid Common Mistakes

• Mirrored boards: Always verify top/bottom layer orientation in preview
• Missing holes: Ensure drill file is included and named correctly
• Wrong footprint: Verify footprint matches actual component size before ordering
• Power traces too thin: Calculate trace width for your current using online calculators
• No test points: Add exposed pads for debugging — you will need them

Step 7: Inspection on Arrival

When your boards arrive, inspect them before soldering:

1. Visual inspection: Check for scratches, discoloration, missing solder mask
2. Dimensional check: Verify board size and mounting hole positions
3. Continuity test: Use a multimeter to verify ground plane continuity and no shorts
4. Assembly test: If you ordered assembly, check component values and orientation
5. First power-up: Use a current-limited power supply for the first test

Conclusion

JLCPCB has democratized PCB manufacturing, bringing professional-quality boards within reach of any maker with a $2 minimum order. The key to a successful order is preparation: clean Gerber export, correct drill files, and careful option selection. For SMT assembly, using JLCPCB's LCSC part library and verifying placement in the preview eliminates most assembly errors. With this workflow, you can iterate from schematic to assembled boards in under two weeks and under $50 for most hobby projects.

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