Grid Proto

Grid Proto is a special Priority service for small prototype builds assembled on The Grid at our factory in Massachusetts, USA. When offered in your quote, it includes a 25% assembly discount for a qualifying build.

What qualifies?

A Grid Proto build must meet all of these requirements:

• Ten boards or fewer.
• ProtoBoard-compatible fabrication specifications. Check the ProtoBoard requirements in your project's Board settings; see also ProtoBoard service.
• No fitted through-hole or hybrid parts. Hybrid parts combine surface-mount and through-hole connections. This check includes fitted Mechanical parts; Cosmetic features are excluded.
• No fitted 0201 or 01005 packages, including approved substitute parts in those sizes.
• No consigned parts. CircuitHub must purchase the parts for this build instead of using customer-supplied stock.

Using an approved supplier or a custom purchase source does not add a separate Grid Proto restriction. Unmatched parts, parts that cannot be purchased, and quantity shortfalls still need resolving for a valid quote, even when the build meets the manufacturing requirements above.

Reviewing your project

Use the requirements shown with the Grid Proto promotion to review what needs attention. Board requirement links open the relevant board settings; part requirement links filter the relevant lines in the Parts tab. A review link does not change your design or automatically mark parts DNP (Do Not Place).

If appropriate for your prototype, choose a quantity of ten or fewer, adjust the board specifications, replace unsupported parts, or change consigned parts to purchase sources. You can deliberately mark parts DNP when you want them left unassembled; check that the resulting prototype will meet your needs. See marking references as DNP.

Some requirements need a design change rather than a board setting change. Review the updated quote after making changes, including any remaining sourcing issues.

Understanding the price

The 25% discount applies to the Grid Proto assembly calculation only. The savings shown compare the resulting price with Priority for the same build and quantity. Priority also reflects current manufacturing capacity, so the assembly price difference is not necessarily exactly 25%. Board fabrication, parts, and other costs contribute to the total; use the quote for the actual price and total savings.

A promotion may show what a qualifying build would cost at ten boards, with disqualifying parts omitted, or with compatible board settings. That comparison describes the build shown in the promotion, not necessarily your current project. Review its quantity and requirements before comparing it with your existing quote. Your project changes only when you make those edits yourself.

We show a promotion only when we can calculate an exact comparison. A board that needs geometry changes or has an unresolved CAM restriction may not have a Grid Proto promotion.

Assembly time and shipping

Grid Proto has a one-business-day assembly duration after boards and parts arrive. That is the assembly stage, not the total time from placing an order to delivery. Board fabrication, component sourcing, and shipping take additional time.

Use the specific ship date in your quote to plan your order. Grid Proto does not guarantee an earlier ship date than every other option, and a ship date is when the order leaves our factory, not when it arrives with you. See ship dates and service options.

Availability, price, and ship timing are determined by your current quote. A promotion explaining how to qualify is not itself an orderable offer.