PCBs! And where to get them!

[McSpunckle]

Anyone have a place they recommend for PCBs? Or maybe someone here has experience with them?

I found a site that did 100 for like 2.50 a piece, which doesn't seem too bad, but I don't need that many right now.

I'd make 'em myself, but I don't have a laser printer or access to one, and I'm not sure if cheap laser printers work as well (which I haven't googled yet-- so don't answer that.)

[deadbeatriot]

Anyone have a place they recommend for PCBs? Or maybe someone here has experience with them?

I found a site that did 100 for like 2.50 a piece, which doesn't seem too bad, but I don't need that many right now.

I'd make 'em myself, but I don't have a laser printer or access to one, and I'm not sure if cheap laser printers work as well (which I haven't googled yet-- so don't answer that.)

as for laser printing, couldn't you run down to a kinko's or something?

then again, i don't know if you can buy the necessary chemicals in containers small enough that you can just make a few pcbs, and not three million.

[Scruffie]

Anyone have a place they recommend for PCBs? Or maybe someone here has experience with them?

I found a site that did 100 for like 2.50 a piece, which doesn't seem too bad, but I don't need that many right now.

I'd make 'em myself, but I don't have a laser printer or access to one, and I'm not sure if cheap laser printers work as well (which I haven't googled yet-- so don't answer that.)

as for laser printing, couldn't you run down to a kinko's or something?

then again, i don't know if you can buy the necessary chemicals in containers small enough that you can just make a few pcbs, and not three million.

Yeah printing places should be fine for having the transfers done and you can buy DIY quantities of Ferrich Chloride pretty easily... it's alotta work printing, ironing, drilling & cutting all those boards though.

I saw this site... it may be of some interest - http://www.dorkbotpdx.org/wiki/pcb_order
Basically, they group aload of orders together at once and make them all at once to cut the costs, probably the best bet for a small run of small boards.

[cloudscapes]

I got a cheap black and white laser printer for this purpose. samsung ML-2240. it was like $79 canadian. cheapest I could find. PCB toner transfers turn out wonderfully on it! it was cheap liek that because toner carts included with printers are generally only half-full. even half full, I still havent run out a year and a halfl ater. it's already paid for itself and then some.

when I get bulk PCBs done, I get em from futurlec. they have an online calculator. prices are decent though ship time can be a little over a month (always 4-5 weeks for me). if you can afford it, double-sided boards are a time-saver and help with the layout! plus because component holes are tined all the way through with the double-side option, the solder catches much more cleanly! silkscreen is also useful but not essential. solder mask IMO is absolutelly essential. its the green stuff. it prevents solder bridges and whatnot.





I've found that I need to make traces and pads slightly thicker when I'd doing the PCB myself. so that the etch doesnt eat away too much or the copper unstick from the board. I prototype the board with DIY etching and when I'm ready to give futurlec the order, I reduce trace and pad size to try and squeeze components more tightly together. no rerouting since you've already tested the prototype. smaller board makes for much easier placement inside the box and small price! I keep pads for wires large, though, so that wire stress won't accidentally tear the copper pad off the board. never happened to me on pro-fabbed boards, but two or three times with DIY. larger pad means it's less likely to happen.

[McSpunckle]

The process of making the boards seems like it'd almost take as long as doing stuff on perf, especially since each perf gets easier and easier (for a given design). Pro boards have the solder mask too... I don't know how to do that DIY. o.O.

Imma look into futurelec.

*edit*

Any experience with this site: http://www.pad2pad.com/ ? Prices seem similar to futurelec, but they have moar options (Like different colours of solder mask)

[culturejam]

Pro boards have the solder mask too... I don't know how to do that DIY.

You can do a work-alike to silkscreening the same way you make the toner transfer. You can print it on glossy paper/PnP and then iron it on to the fiberglass side of the board once the etching is done. I've not done it personally, but I've seen some really nice results by other DIYers.



For mass production, I really like these guys:
http://www.custompcb.com/

Easy to work with from a customer service standpoint, and the pricing is hard to beat. Also, you can upload just an Eagle layout file; no need for all that gerber file business.

I've done three decent-sized runs of Muff clone boards with these guys, and I've been thrilled with the product and service each time.

[smallsnd/bigsnd]

i use www.goldphoenixpcb.biz
they're reasonably priced, quick to ship and i haven't had any issues with them whatsoever.