How to Specify a Semi-finished USB Board Order
The semi-finished board is the USB flash PCBA without a housing, and it is ordered by buyers who supply their own shell and do their own assembly. Six things set the quotation: capacity, interface version, controller solution, whether you take it as a panel or separated, the acceptance test you test to, and whether branding is applied on the board or left to your line. Because you are responsible for the shell, the mechanical interface is your decision rather than ours — which is the main thing to settle before ordering rather than after.
The board itself
| Property | Value | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Size | 12 × 44 × 4.5 mm | The bare PCBA envelope |
| Weight | 3.2 g | Varies once your housing is added |
| Interface | USB 2.0 or USB 3.0 | State the version in writing |
| Capacities | 128MB to 128GB | Same range as the finished drive |
| Controller packages | QFN, 24-pin, 48-pin, COB | Chosen against your host and capacity |
Panel or separated — match it to your line
Boards run in panels during production. If your assembly line handles panel-level work, take them as panels and your throughput follows the line. If you separate before fitting, say so and we supply them separated. The wrong choice shows up as a stoppage on your floor rather than as a problem with the product.
- Panel supply — faster for lines that place multiple boards at once
- Separated supply — easier for low-volume or manual assembly
- Say which before production starts; it changes how the order is packed
Acceptance testing — agree it now, not on arrival
Testing is part of our production flow — capacity and read/write verification happens before packing. Tell us the criteria you work to and we will confirm how the batch is checked. The value is that both sides already know what a pass looks like before money changes hands.
- Capacity write-and-read-back across a random sample from the batch
- Sustained read and write on your own host hardware, if you have a test rig
- A stated pass criterion and a stated action when a sample fails
Branding position
A semi-finished board is normally unmarked, because the marking belongs to whoever supplies the housing. If you want the flash marking applied on your behalf, tell us at quotation stage — it changes the flow rather than being added afterwards.
When the finished drive is the better order
If you have no housing design and no assembly capability, a finished custom drive is the cheaper path overall. The board only makes sense once you can answer the mechanical question — what the core sits inside, and who puts it there.
Send your requirement
We reply to business enquiries within 1 business day. If you are comparing suppliers, send the specification you were quoted — it makes the comparison meaningful.
Request a quoteFrequently asked questions
What is the difference between this and a finished USB drive?
A finished drive includes the housing, branding and packaging. This is the bare PCBA — the same electronic core without a shell — for buyers who do their own assembly.
Can I specify the controller solution?
Yes. We work with Alcor, ITE, Xinbang and Micov in QFN, 24-pin, 48-pin and COB packages. Tell us your host requirements and we will propose a matched solution.
Are the boards tested before shipping?
Testing is part of the production flow — capacity and read/write verification happens before packing. Confirm the acceptance criteria you want and we will state how the batch is checked.
Do you supply branding on the board?
Only if you ask at quotation stage. It changes the production flow, so it is not something that gets added to a finished order by surprise.