PCBWay’s New Student Program Takes 50% Off 3D Printing, CNC, and PCBs
Students can claim up to $200 per project, and schools up to $2,000 per purchase, provided you run the gauntlet of an application review and don't mind a mandatory PCBWay logo on your PCBs.
Newly launched this month, the Future Innovators Program places a particular focus on full manufacturing services for students and educators, cutting the cost of hardware for projects in a way that goes beyond the service’s existing circuit board programs.
A 15 September blog post explains that, in short, PCBWay will take 50% (up to a cap) off eligible charges for 3D printing, CNC machining, sheet metal, PCB fabrication, and PCBA assembly labor. Individual students can claim up to $200 per approved project, while institutional purchases get up to $2,000 off.
This program is distinctive for PCBWay, stretching beyond its typical PCB-focused programs – which part- or fully cover boards for approved students and engineers – to offer other materials and mechanical fabrication methods.
The support applies only to the raw manufacturing or assembly – electronic components for printed circuit board assemblies are excluded, as are shipping, insurance, customs duties, taxes, payment fees, and third-party purchases unless explicitly approved.
The individual track is open to enrolled students personally working on coursework, research prototypes, theses, competitions, capstones, maker or open-source builds, and social-impact projects. The application form also lists secondary-school students as an option, and there’s no geo-restriction on where applications can come from. School purchases must be made or formally approved by the institution and put toward teaching, lab training, workshops, or student projects.
Conditions Attached
This is a sponsorship with some strings, though. The checklist of criteria to apply include a PCBWay quote, an official school email, and at least one supporting document such as a student ID or proof of enrollment. Once PCBWay is satisfied the project is authentic, applications are scored on five weighted criteria:
- Educational value (25%)
- Completeness and feasibility (25%)
- Innovation and student involvement (20%)
- Social value (15%)
- Budget reasonableness (15%)
If your projects include PCBs, there’s an additional string in that supported PCBs must carry a clearly visible PCBWay logo or text on the silkscreen, built into the production files.
PCBWay stipulates that splitting a project to dodge the cap, duplicating team submissions, and products intended for sale are all ruled out from support.
Head to the PCBWay Future Innovators program page for more details and to apply.
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