How a Custom LCD Module Is Developed, Step by Step
Most 'custom' display projects are not custom glass at all - they are an existing panel with a different FPC, connector, backlight or touch stack, which needs no tooling and starts at 100 pcs. Genuinely custom glass - a new size, shape or segment layout - needs a mask, a sample cycle and 1,000 pcs. Knowing which of the two you are asking for is the single biggest factor in how long and how much.
Written by the Junxian applications engineering team. Figures quoted for “our models” are calculated from the 103 models on this site that carry a full parameter set, so they change when the catalogue changes.
What counts as customisation without new tooling?
FPC length, pin order and exit direction; connector type; backlight brightness and colour; touch panel and cover glass; driver IC selection within what the glass supports; and, on smart serial modules, the on-board firmware and screen layout. All of these start at 100 pcs because the glass already exists. This covers the large majority of enquiries that arrive describing a 'custom display'.
What genuinely needs tooling
A new glass size or outline, a non-rectangular shape, and any custom segment layout. These need a mask, so they carry tooling cost and 1,000 pcs. The tooling charge is quoted separately from the unit price, so you can see what is one-off and what is per-piece rather than having it hidden in a piece price that looks high. The table below is the whole decision in one place - find your change in the first column and you have your MOQ tier.
| Change | Needs tooling? | MOQ tier | What to watch |
|---|---|---|---|
| FPC length, pin order, exit direction | No | 100 pcs | Cable and layout change on your side only |
| Connector type | No | 100 pcs | Confirm mating part and pitch on the drawing |
| Backlight brightness or colour | No | 100 pcs | Affects power budget and lifetime |
| Touch panel added or changed | Sensor may need tooling | 100 pcs - 1,000 pcs | Existing sensor pattern keeps you in the lower tier |
| Cover glass outline and printing | Yes, cover glass tooling | 100 pcs | Quoted per drawing |
| Driver IC selection | No, within what the glass supports | 100 pcs | May change the init sequence in firmware |
| Smart module firmware and screen layout | No | 100 pcs | Applies to UART smart modules |
| New glass size or outline | Yes, mask | 1,000 pcs | Tooling quoted as a separate line |
| Non-rectangular or round glass | Yes, mask | 1,000 pcs | Confirm visible area against the bezel first |
| Custom segment layout | Yes, mask | 1,000 pcs | Send the layout or a photo plus a sketch |
The six stages
Requirement and feasibility
Size, resolution, interface, brightness, operating temperature, touch, mechanical constraints and annual quantity. We come back with either an existing model number, an existing model plus changes, or a tooling proposal - and say plainly which of the three it is.
Specification and drawing
You get a specification sheet and a 2D outline drawing to check against your enclosure. Mechanical fit is confirmed here, on paper, because it is free to change here and expensive to change later.
Sample
10-15 days for samples from stock glass. Sample quantity is normally 5 pcs, which is enough for electrical bring-up and a mechanical fit check.
Design-in and revision
Your firmware and mechanical teams work with real hardware. Changes at this stage are normal; changes after this stage are not, so we would rather spend an extra round here.
Pre-production approval
A golden sample is agreed and becomes the reference for incoming inspection on both sides. Everything that is checked at outgoing inspection is fixed at this point.
Production
10-20 days for production runs. Packing is anti-static bag + foam tray + export carton, shipped EXW, FOB Shenzhen, CIF.
What we need from you to quote in one round
Seven values: size, resolution, interface, touch or no touch, brightness, operating temperature range and annual quantity. A photo or drawing of the enclosure opening helps more than a paragraph of description. Missing any of the first four means the quotation comes back with assumptions in it, and assumptions are what later turn into 'that is not what we quoted'.
Where custom display schedules actually slip
Three places, in order of frequency. Mechanical fit found late, because the outline drawing was not checked against the enclosure before samples. Interface changed after the carrier board was laid out, which is a board respin. And approval samples sitting on someone's desk - the sample cycle is only as fast as the slower party, and it is not always the factory.
Commercial terms in one place
Sample MOQ 5 pcs in 10-15 days. Catalogue production 100 pcs in 10-20 days. Tooled custom glass 1,000 pcs. Payment T/T, L/C, PayPal. Incoterms EXW, FOB Shenzhen, CIF. Origin Shenzhen, China. These same figures appear on every product page and in our llms.txt - if you ever see two different numbers on this site, the one on the product page is the one to trust and we want to know about the other.
Models that typically start as a tooling project
Published models that illustrate the point above - full specifications on each page.
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Questions engineers ask us about this
How long does a custom LCD project take?
From an existing panel with changes: samples in 10-15 days, then 10-20 days for production. With new glass tooling, add the mask and sample cycle - we give a date per project rather than a generic figure, because it depends on the glass.
What is the tooling or NRE cost?
It depends entirely on what is being tooled - a segment layout, a new outline, a touch sensor pattern. We quote it as a separate line rather than burying it in the unit price. Send the requirement and you will get the number with the quotation.
Can I get samples before committing to production?
Yes - 5 pcs is the sample MOQ and that is the point of it. Electrical bring-up and mechanical fit should both be checked before any tooling is cut.
Do you sign an NDA?
Yes. Send yours or ask for ours before you share drawings. Enclosure drawings and protocol documents are treated as confidential either way.
Who owns the tooling?
Tooling paid for by the customer is dedicated to that customer's part. Confirm the arrangement in writing with the quotation rather than assuming it - this is worth five minutes at the start of a programme.
Need a quote or a datasheet?
Send us size, resolution, interface and annual quantity. Our engineers reply within one working day. Sample MOQ 5 pcs, lead time 10-20 days.