JLCPCB Price 'hack'  - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: mrpackethead
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 27, 2019, 09:49:36 pm
content: So, I have some small PCB's that i need to prototype and they will easily fit on a 100x100mm template.. Given lots of the PCB fabs 'special' the 100x100 size, i'll panelise them onto the 100x100 board.. It makes it easy to to handle and proceess.. ( 17x10mm pcbs are not easy to handle.. )..Anyway.. I discovered that if you just upload the gerbers, and let their system autopopulate you get one price ( more expensive ).. if you enter the dimensions in, and then add your gerbers you get a differnet price. ( cheaper )..On y order, the price difference was $12 out of a $35 PCB.. ( 4 layer, Gold ENIG ).

author: thm_w
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 27, 2019, 10:43:09 pm
content: So was the autopopulated dimensions the same as what you entered manually?There is a big price difference if you go from say 10x10 to 10.4x10.Makes me also wonder if you entered it as 20x20 and the gerber was 10x10, would they refund you anything or not.

author: Reckless
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 27, 2019, 10:59:02 pm
content: Awesome Tip!

author: mrpackethead
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 27, 2019, 11:02:26 pm
content: Yes, my gerbers are exactly 100x100mm :-)The difference is that it seems to apply a 'special' price to the manually entered one, but not the ones where uploaded the gerbers first.If you want the special it seems you have to manually put in the dimensions.

author: T3sl4co1l
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 28, 2019, 12:10:15 am
content: I wonder if the gerber step is truly automatic or if they need to add some labor for review. It's not unusual to find gerbers with sheet graphics around the board, I think.Tim

author: jmelson
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 28, 2019, 07:19:40 pm
content: Quote from: T3sl4co1l on August 28, 2019, 12:10:15 amYup, my CAD system always specifies a larger Gerber plot size than the actual PC board dimensions. That may throw off the program that "reads" the Gerber to compute the board size. I always have a plot date / plot file name / layer name that is outside the board outline, too.Jon

author: thinkfat
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: August 28, 2019, 07:51:30 pm
content: Quote from: T3sl4co1l on August 28, 2019, 12:10:15 amThey do some bit of reviewing, and transferring your Gerbers onto the large panels they run through manufacturing also isn't fully automated. I infer this from the factory tours that are floating around on YouTube and from interactions I had with their support when something odd came up during approval.Gesendet von meinem Nokia 6.1 mit Tapatalk

author: TheHolyHorse
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: August 29, 2019, 04:23:27 pm
content: Does the price still stay if you actually go through with the order or is it just happy numbers showing up. Has anyone tried ordering something with this "hack".

author: mrpackethead
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 29, 2019, 10:34:32 pm
content: Quote from: TheHolyHorse on August 29, 2019, 04:23:27 pmYes, i did. I only picked it up, because i was doing a quick price check between them and another Fab. ( wqhich i do every 3 months or so, just to double check it ).. I entered in my 100x100 4 layer, ENIG.. without sending a gerber. When i went to actually place the order, i just uploaded the Gerber.. ( 100x100 ) and it was different.. so i thought. weird.Went back and manually entered the data, and then uploaded the gerber.. and the prioce was as per the orginal quote.. Ordered, paid, delivered.

author: MarkF
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 30, 2019, 12:00:17 am
content: I am mystified by their pricing too.I just order 3 PCBs: all 2 layer HASL - 74x74mm, 70x50mm and 60x30mm.The largest was $2.00 for 5 pieces and the other two where $4.00 for 5 pieces.I expected all three PCBs to be $2.00 for 5 pieces each?I will probably go back to Elecrow.

author: thm_w
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 30, 2019, 12:47:34 am
content: Quote from: MarkF on August 30, 2019, 12:00:17 amThe $2 is a promo for the first board. But yeah its not very clear.If you want to make three separate orders you can get the PCB for $2, but then you pay a lot more in shipping.

author: OwO
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 30, 2019, 04:02:48 am
content: It's because the width of your outline "traces" also count towards the board dimensions in their software. When I upload my 100 x 100 mm panels it always shows up as 100.3 x 100.3 mm because my outline layer is drawn with 0.3mm traces.