Anybody sent off for a custom PCB for projects/etc? If so who did you use and how were the results . . . . I need a 2 sided board with silkscreen and soldermask, so the laser printer and iron method unfortunately won't quite cut it.

3/19/2007 9:20:09 PM

http://www.pcbexpress.com/

You just need to make sure you follow everything on the checklist because they make it exactly as it is in the file, like if you have your via clearances too low they dont check it for you etc. All the boards I have had done turned out well.

3/19/2007 9:25:52 PM

They want $200+, which is FAR too much for one PCB.

3/19/2007 9:30:05 PM

that isnt expensive at all for a high accuracy custom PCB. weigh the 200 bucks against what it would cost you in equipment to do it yourself.

http://www.custompcb.com/get_quote.html
http://www.pad2pad.com/ (I know people who've used these guys before, and said good things)
http://www.4pcb.com/500free.asp

[Edited on March 19, 2007 at 11:33 PM. Reason : more options to try]

3/19/2007 11:32:09 PM

I always wanted to get into to PCB's, maybe one day

3/19/2007 11:37:03 PM

I'll see if I can get the 4pcb.com offer . . . . getting my boards for free would be damned nice, heh.

3/19/2007 11:45:45 PM

http://www.expresspcb.com

3/20/2007 12:18:03 AM

youre going to pay a decent amount.

take off the silkscreen and soldermask and it should not be too bad.

[Edited on March 20, 2007 at 7:27 AM. Reason : .]

3/20/2007 7:24:11 AM

How closely spaced do you need? I'm surprised you haven't moved on from the iron transfer method yet.

Get yourself some photo sensitized boards and you can laser onto transparencies to get your tracks. I was able to expose with just a fluorescent light and was only doing single sided. If you think you'll be doing PCBs regularly enough, you could get a double sided lightbox for $150 or less.

It will be work to get comfortable with doing it, and if this is a one off, I probably wouldn't suggest it.

3/20/2007 7:45:21 AM

I use futurlec.

http://www.futurlec.com/index.shtml

Never had a bad experience with them.

For prototype boards, i built my own lightbox and do my own etching.

3/20/2007 7:54:27 AM

i've used http://www.expresspcb.com with good results

[Edited on March 20, 2007 at 8:34 AM. Reason : they weren't soldermasked though]

3/20/2007 8:33:45 AM

Wolfmarsh: Thanks, Futurlec's prices are FAR better than anythign I've seen so far for a double-sides board with soldermask and silkscreen.


The boards I'm making are well beyond what I can accomplish even with a home photo-negative etching system, even without the silkscreen and soldermask. Multiple fine-pitch SMT parts, and its not worth risking $200 worth of components because the board has problems.

3/20/2007 5:18:01 PM

The only downside ive found with futurlec is the shipping time.

The boards are made in Taiwan i think, then get shipped to someone in new york who then reships them out to people in the US.

It takes about 2 weeks to get a board back once you submit it, but i can say that ive never gotten a flawed board from them (and ive ordered hundreds). Also, the guys that answer the email there are pretty knowledgeable, and ive even gotten their opinion on some design issues before.

3/21/2007 5:52:52 AM

Advanced Circuits.

https://www.33each.com/!33each1.asp

they're located in Minnesota, handle all orders online, and do a good job. I use them a lot at my work for prototyping.

their special is $33 each, but you have to buy at least 3. so you're gonna spend $100 for 3 boards. which is good, because you'll probably fuck one of them up anyhow.

youre not going to find anything cheaper than that. however be sure to plan for 2 weeks. 5 days lead time, plus UPS standard ground delivery, unless you want to pay for expedited shipping costs.






[Edited on March 22, 2007 at 12:17 AM. Reason : ]

3/22/2007 12:15:42 AM

4pcb.com gave me the $500 offer . . . . being an incorporated company DOES have its advantages! Not only to I get 10 boards, with soldermask and silkscreen on both sides, but I get stencils too . . . ALL FOR FREE! Fucking awesome.

3/22/2007 11:17:39 PM

your welcome

3/22/2007 11:21:05 PM

^^ 4pcb = 33each = AdvancedCircuits

they're a good company to work with for basic 2- and 4-layer boards. the $33 each deal is really good for prototyping, and as you see they have other specials for more production runs.

i think you'll also really like that they include a bag of popcorn with every board shipment

3/23/2007 10:55:15 AM

Well, here I was all hyped about it, and then I go to order the boards and put in the promo code they gave me. It said the code was invalid . . . . and now the sales rep who gave it to me isn't returning e-mail or phone calls. Oh, well.

3/23/2007 6:00:00 PM

make your own with a laser printer. i saw it somewhere once. omgoogle it.

3/23/2007 8:25:08 PM

oh man youre totally gonna get your balls chewed off for making that comment in this thread

3/23/2007 8:37:21 PM

^ good lord, no kidding.

^^ hey. you. shut the fuck up.

3/23/2007 10:05:21 PM