u/Ordinary_Law6907

Hi everyone,

I’m working on a small aesthetic display clock that I’m planning to sell as a premium-looking product.

The BOM alone is around ₹3,000, and I’m targeting a selling price of ₹5,000+. The electronics are mostly sorted, but I’m struggling with the enclosure/packaging.

Since this is a small-batch product, I can’t really justify injection moulding yet.

I’ve considered a few options:

FDM 3D printing – inexpensive, but the layer lines are visible and the parts can feel somewhat brittle/cheap.

Resin printing – much better finish, but the cost becomes quite high.

Injection moulding – ideal for production, but the tooling cost doesn’t make sense at my current volume.

I’m looking for a way to get a clean, premium-looking enclosure at low volume and reasonable cost, preferably something that doesn’t scream “3D printed prototype.”

What techniques/materials would you recommend for this?

For example, would SLA/resin + sanding/painting, CNC-cut acrylic/wood, vacuum forming, laser-cut sheet material, 3D-printed parts with post-processing, or something else work well?

If you’ve actually manufactured small-batch consumer electronics/products, I’d really appreciate hearing what worked for you and roughly what it cost.
Thanks!

Hi everyone,

I’m designing a small custom PCB based on the TP4056 for a battery-powered product. The board will have a push-button ON/OFF function along with the charging circuit.

I’m planning to make an initial batch of around 20 PCBs, but I need to keep the manufacturing/assembly cost as low as possible because these boards will eventually be part of a product that I want to sell.

I’m comfortable designing the PCB, but I’m not sure about the most economical way to handle SMD assembly for such a small quantity.
For those who have experience with this:

Is it worth using a PCB assembly service for only ~20 boards?

What would be a reasonable PCB + SMD assembly cost per board at this quantity?

Would hand-soldering/reflowing the components myself be significantly cheaper?

Are there any cheap PCB assembly services you would recommend, especially in India, Bengaluru?

For a simple TP4056-based board, what approach would you use to keep the BOM + assembly cost very low?

I’m mainly looking for real-world experience with small-batch production, rather than large-volume manufacturing quotes.
Thanks!

I’m a 2025 ECE graduate (also have a Diploma in ECE). During college, I worked as an embedded systems consultant on multiple projects, so I graduated with solid hands-on experience in embedded firmware, software development, and system engineering.

After graduation, I joined Synopsys as an apprentice. Unfortunately, there was a hiring freeze, so I couldn’t get converted to a full-time role. If I had been converted, the package would have been around ₹21 LPA, which was disappointing to miss.

I’m currently working at Honeywell as an Embedded Engineer (₹11 LPA). The company is good, but I feel like my current team isn’t helping me grow technically. Most of my work involves debugging existing code, procedural analysis, documentation, Six Sigma activities, and maintenance. I rarely get to write new firmware or work on feature development, which is what I enjoy the most.

I’ve been here for about 8 months, and my manager appreciates my work, but performance and recognition are generally standardized across the team. I don’t feel like I’m building the kind of experience that will help me move into top product companies.

I’ve been consistently applying for embedded firmware roles, but I’m hardly getting interview calls. That’s what worries me the most.

For those who’ve been through a similar situation:
Should I keep applying and switch as soon as I get a good opportunity?
Or is it better to complete at least one year before trying to move?

How do I improve my chances of getting interviews for embedded firmware roles at companies like Qualcomm, Apple, NVIDIA, AMD, or similar product companies?

I’d really appreciate any advice or experiences you can share.