Itead PCB service now only $5..New and improved? - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: FreeThinker
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 31, 2011, 06:17:07 pm
content: Just read this on the Itead site.http://iteadstudio.com/service/ultra-low-cost-pcb-prototyping-start-at-5/Do you think it is an improvement or a step back? I'm reserving judgement for the moment but feel slightly nervous

author: Chet T16
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 31, 2011, 07:31:11 pm
content: I used to be able to get 10 5x5 boards with 50% tested for $9.90. Now i can get 5 for $5 with no test?Am i missing something?

author: FreeThinker
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 31, 2011, 09:57:01 pm
content: Quote from: Chet T16 on August 31, 2011, 07:31:11 pmYep , 5 boards and a test.Seriously, I think they are asking for your opinions on possible changes to the present system. My own take on it is that the present system is starting to go into overload possibly due to demand and yhey need to increase throughput ( they could process twice the number of orders in the same time if each order was half the size) It would appear that the testing is a bottleneck as 100% testing costs an extra $8 or $9 over the standard 50% so not testing would be a big saver in both time and money. From the users view point if you only need one board the chances are that 1 of the 5 will be ok and you save $5 and only throw away 4 instead of 9. I don't know if both systems will run side by side (best option) or one will replace the other (more likely) .Register your opinion on Iteads website.

author: Kiriakos-GR
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 31, 2011, 10:09:12 pm
content: Air mail takes 10 to 25 days to reach majority of the world ......... 10grams = 2$ USThis is from their page, and look like lies to me.They try to load the paypal fee in the shipping, that is the only payment method.No thanks.

author: Jon Chandler
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 31, 2011, 11:10:31 pm
content: Shipping to the US has been $4 for the 50 mm boards and $5 for the 100 mm boards which is entirely reasonable to me.

author: joelby
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: September 01, 2011, 12:52:04 am
content: The current cost and postage is very reasonable. PayPal seems to be pretty universal for companies based in China and there are rarely problems with it. I'm hesitant to send credit card details directly to a company overseas who might have little experience in Web security, PCI compliance, etc.I like the idea of a 10x5 cm board. Five boards is plenty for prototypes. 6 mil is great. If I cared about lead times, I wouldn't use a $5/10 supplier. I can't see any downside at all!

author: FreeThinker
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: September 01, 2011, 10:02:15 am
content: Do you think that I should add a poll to this thread and post a link to it on the Itead forum or just leave it to the individual to vote (on the Itead site) if they care to? As i said in my previous post I get the feeling that this move is more about throughput than increasing margins (God I'm starting to sound like a bloody bean counter) and Itead are asking their customers how they would like to see this happen and listing a set of options. My take on it is that they are not mutually exclusive so you could mix and match for the best for you and the most popular would be the way they went (within reason). From a personal standpoint I like the $5 for 5 boards as I normally only make 1 offs. What is so unusual is to be asked as a customer what I want. Scary!

author: ejeffrey
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 01, 2011, 10:20:28 am
content: My only concern is dropping the testing. Given the problems several people have had with quality control, I wouldn't buy boards from them without testing. Saving on manufacture is no use if you then waste some expensive components soldering to a board that turns out to be defective. At $5 it doesn't take much for the parts to be more expensive than the PCB. If you put any value to the time you waste on a defective board, it is even harder to justify.Maybe if they have improved the process control and advertise more realistic design rules they can reduce failure rates enough it doesn't matter. As long as you can pay an extra few dollars for testing, I don't have a problem with any of the other changes.