Ordering from JLCPCB¶

Step-by-step instructions for ordering the dowjames v5.1 from JLCPCB with full SMT assembly.

Files¶

Download splitflapv5.1-pcb.zip from the custom-pcb/dowjames-v5.1/ folder of the repository and unzip it. Inside you'll find a splitflapv5.1-pcb/ folder with three files:

File	Purpose
`gerber.zip`	Gerber + drill files — upload as the PCB manufacturing file
`bom.csv`	Bill of materials with LCSC part numbers
`positions.csv`	Pick-and-place / CPL file for component positioning

Step 1: Upload Gerbers¶

Log in before uploading

Upload while logged in to your JLCPCB account. If you upload the gerber while logged out, the site may not auto-populate the PCB dimensions and you'll be left with blank X/Y fields.

Unzip splitflapv5.1-pcb.zip — the three files are inside the splitflapv5.1-pcb/ folder
Go to https://cart.jlcpcb.com/quote
Click "Add gerber file" and upload gerber.zip
JLCPCB will parse the files and show a PCB preview

Step 2: Configure PCB Options¶

Setting	Value
Quantity	10 (minimum for assembly — a good number for a display)
PCB Color	Your choice (black and green are popular)
PCB Thickness	1.6mm — don't change this
Surface Finish	Default (HASL) is fine

Leave everything else at defaults.

Step 3: Enable PCB Assembly¶

Scroll down and toggle "PCB Assembly" to ON
Select "Assemble top side"
Set assembly quantity to match your PCB quantity
Click "Confirm" or "Next"

Step 4: Upload BOM and Positions Files¶

Click "Upload BOM/CPL"
Upload bom.csv as the BOM file
Upload positions.csv as the CPL file
Click "Process BOM & CPL"

Step 5: Review Matched Parts¶

You should see 12 parts detected, 12 parts confirmed:

Only 3 parts matched?

If you see only 3 matched parts and many unmatched components, you uploaded the wrong files. Make sure you're using bom.csv and positions.csv from inside the splitflapv5.1-pcb/ folder within the zip — not any other folder.

Make sure all parts are selected. The two bypass capacitors — C1 and C2_BYPASS1 — may show quantity 0 and be unselected by default. Select them. Despite the BYPASS name they're capacitors, not resistors.

Step 6: Review Component Placement¶

On the placement review page JLCPCB shows a 3D render of component positions. Some components may appear rotated — this is a known issue with their visualizer.

Compare each component to the PCB silkscreen
Rotate any components that appear sideways using the Rotate button
The WSH130 hall sensor connector may need rotation
The DIP switch will look "upside-down" — this is intentional. dowjames mounted it this way so the 1, 2, 3 labels read correctly when installed. Don't try to fix it.

"I think they get confused because I mounted the dip switches upside down.. but because they're labelled 1,2,3 it would look stupid if they were mounted the other way round" — dowjames

Step 7: Review Pricing and Checkout¶

Review the order summary
Change the shipping method — JLCPCB defaults to the fastest (most expensive) option. Pick something more economical if you're not in a rush.
Check the JLCPCB coupons page before placing your order.

Price reference as of Nov 2025 — 10 assembled PCBs shipped to Germany

Confirmation Emails from JLCPCB¶

JLCPCB may email you within a few hours with questions about component placement. This is normal for SMT orders.

"Are the polarities and placements correct?"¶

Reply: Yes, the placement and polarities are correct.

"Do you want the header pins at a right angle?"¶

Reply: Yes, that is correct. The right-angle headers are how the boards daisy-chain together.

Quick Reference¶

Item	Value
Gerber file	`gerber.zip`
BOM file	`bom.csv`
CPL file	`positions.csv`
PCB quantity	10 (minimum for assembly)
PCB thickness	1.6mm
Assembly side	Top
Polarity email	Reply "Yes, correct"
Header pin email	Reply "Yes, right angle is correct"