Is there a cheap way to make extender PCBs? - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: dazz1
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 10, 2025, 07:46:10 am
content: HiI designed an extender card for my Electro-Metrics EMC30 emc test receiver.I was planning to have a card (or 5) made by one of the Asian PCB manufacturers, but the price is eye-watering, or at least more than I'd like to pay.I now have at least one fault that would be a lot easier to fix if I had an extender card.I sort of feel that I have to get gold plated edge connectors so I don't contaminate the instrument edge connectors that are MilSpec gold.Is there a cheap way to get extender cards made?

author: tooki
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 10, 2025, 08:40:21 am
content: Cheaperthan the Chinese PCB houses?!? That sounds… impossible.

author: Chalcogenide
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: January 10, 2025, 08:48:07 am
content: If you don't plan on connecting and disconnecting the extender more than a couple of times, you could get away with ENIG plating on the edge connector instead of hard gold.JLC makes edge connectors with ENIG plating for quite cheap. I can't see the size of the board, but a 200 x 200 mm board with 2U'' ENIG, edge connectors with edge chamfer is 100$ shipped for 5 pcs. It won't get cheaper than this.

author: Kean
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: January 13, 2025, 08:59:46 pm
content: I don't know if the edge chamfer adds much cost - easy enough to do yourself for a one (or two/five) off.

author: dazz1
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 17, 2025, 02:05:50 am
content: HiI am repairing vintage gear so the cost of proper extender cards is close to the value of the gear. What is worse is that I may only ever use an extender card once, and never again.I looked at the JLCB option, but they only seem to stock the female edge connectors, not the pcb side. I can get suitable connectors as a low price from Aliexpress.OK so it seems I will just have to keep making do without extender cards.

author: Matt-Brown
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: January 22, 2025, 03:19:02 pm
content: Would this workhttps://www.digikey.com/en/products/detail/vector-electronics/3690-2/134137

author: dazz1
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 22, 2025, 11:31:57 pm
content: Quote from: Matt-Brown on January 22, 2025, 03:19:02 pmThat is exactly what I need, but at $NZD142 (~$USD80) the price kills it.

author: themadhippy
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 22, 2025, 11:53:26 pm
content: bodge idea,make 2 small boards with the wanted edge connector on,join the 2 boards with wire,use a bit of plastic to space the boards apart and give it rigidity

author: coppercone2
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 23, 2025, 12:03:52 am
content: i have a feeeling greased mirror polished copper is gonna contaminate less then whatever they come up with.

author: dazz1
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 23, 2025, 04:53:12 am
content: Quote from: coppercone2 on January 23, 2025, 12:03:52 amI have considered double sided veroboard, but that is even more expensive than custom pcbs.https://nz.rs-online.com/web/p/stripboards/0434122

author: edpalmer42
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 23, 2025, 06:21:51 am
content: There's a guy on ebay who makes extender boards. They look rather basic, but might be worth considering. He says that if he doesn't already have the ones you need, he can make them. YMMV.https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_ssn=sparko6079&store_name=sparko6079

author: dazz1
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 23, 2025, 08:35:23 pm
content: Quote from: edpalmer42 on January 23, 2025, 06:21:51 amOn close inspection, these look like home made DIY boards with no gold.For comparison, PCBway will make 5x extender cards 150mm x 115mm including shippingbare copper $77immersion gold $86hard gold $284So custom PCBs are the cheapest option, and for light duty work, immersion gold would be the best value for the money.I'd never need 5x extenders and it is unlikely I would be able to sell any of the unwanted 4x.These prices make the DIY e-bay seller, and all other options look really expensive.