iTeadSrudio or Seeedstudio PCBs? - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: Christopher
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: April 07, 2012, 12:54:24 pm
content: Any recommendations? Thinking of going with iTead because of the low price (Only want 5*10 at first), but once I start getting bigger qtys, maybe 20-50 I'll go with Seeed.Any reviews? Not much on the net apart from Dave's nitpicking... My board layouts will be hard for them to muck up(Hopefully, I mean I won't include anything silly like relying on tiny traces).

author: Psi
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 07, 2012, 01:01:48 pm
content: you get what you pay for, that's really the only thing to keep in mind.

author: shebu18
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: April 07, 2012, 01:09:27 pm
content: +1 for seeedstudio. Got seme boards from them and they looked great. The only thing is the time it takes from the buying until the arriving of the boards.Sent from my GT-I5800 using Tapatalk

author: Christopher
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: April 07, 2012, 03:46:16 pm
content: I think I'll go with seeed. I want to put quite a few small breakout boards on one board, I can cut the final boards out myself. I think seeed allow you to do this and iTead don't. Apparantly they both use the same boardhouse so it's not that big of a deal which company...Oh and I don't really mind waiting a month+ for the boards to arrive, after you forget about a project and receive an unexpected package in the mail full of boards, it feels good! But then again having a project go through 4 different revisions and taking up 4 months is a bit of a pain in the arse really.

author: LEECH666
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: April 07, 2012, 10:26:54 pm
content: If I recall correctly Seeed and iTead use the same board house. Quality is about the same.I've only used iTead so far and I am happy with them.

author: mobbarley
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: April 08, 2012, 12:18:40 am
content: I've ordered from both several times, almost exactly the same service. I choose whoever has the lowest price+shipping at the time.

author: free_electron
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 08, 2012, 12:31:18 am
content: I've used both. Itead generally has had faster shipping ( i used UPS/DHL in both cases)Then again, this was when Seeed just started with their service . And there were a lot of 'teething' problems.I need to try them again. I just saw they no go beyond the 10x01 boards ( i sometimes need larger boards than that )If you need really good boards with very fine pitch ( sub 4 mil track / gap ) then SierraProtoExpress is really good. Of course , this is not so much for hobby... the cost is substantially higher, but they can do insane things .

author: Chet T16
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: April 08, 2012, 01:02:51 am
content: I ordered the same boards from both and the only difference is the seeed board has a lot more unwanted silkscreen i.e. ref numbers and the likeSent from my GT-I9100 using Tapatalk

author: Jon
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: April 09, 2012, 10:45:27 am
content: I've 5x5 boards from seeed several times and got top quality each time, nothing to complain about really (except for extra silkscreen)... Recently however i ordered a 10x10 board that had really bad silkscreen, a lot of extra silkscreen and it had also been done bad with bad alignment and smeared all over.Seems like they use different manufacturer for 10x10 than 5x5 boards.../J

author: mobbarley
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: April 09, 2012, 12:14:27 pm
content: The silks from iTead and Seeed both leave a lot to be desired (usually thin, light and slightly rough / skewed). I ordered PCBs from Imagineering and was amazed by the thick smooth and straight silk screen

author: Mechatrommer
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 29, 2012, 07:30:53 pm
content: i'm torn! registered both itead and seeed. both got pro and con, i tend to use itead but they dont have "pcb service button", i'm thinking 5cm x 10cm x 10 units. but they are all "sold out". whats wrong with itead? as for seeed, i already have the order in the cart $24.90, but as the thread adviced, long lead time and smearing silk screen holding me back.

author: Zad
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 30, 2012, 12:13:16 am
content: If the PCB is for me, I don't give a damn about the silk screen. Half the time I don't need one anyway! Just go with whoever is cheapest for the board you have.

author: Mechatrommer
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 30, 2012, 03:50:03 am
content: how to order or get "automated quotation" from itead? they dont have "pcb service button" to click.

author: jeremy
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 30, 2012, 06:28:15 am
content: you need to use their new website:http://imall.iteadstudio.com/open-pcb/pcb-prototyping.html

author: Kremmen
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 30, 2012, 06:56:38 am
content: I have stopped using either. Instead I have got good results with Kaden Electronics who among other things manufacture PCBs, also in small batches. I attached a couple of photos of a recent project for comparison. There has been much discussion about the quality of the silk. I can find no fault in Kaden's PCBs in that respect. The photos may not show it properly, but the silk in this board is pin sharp and that is my experience in general as well.An added bonus is that with Kaden you get a real live person to communicate with, and discuss all the details. They also validate the gerbers you send them as witnessed by a mistake in my drill file in a recent project. The file being an older revision that did not match. They kindly pointed this out and prevented me from ordering an expensive set of coasters. The only "downside" is that you need to pay with a bank transfer as they do not do credit cards. Not a problem for me but might be for some.If you feel like trying them, contact Jasen Li -jasen@kadenpcb.comand say hello from Martti. I'm sure you will get a response quickly.

author: Mechatrommer
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 30, 2012, 12:15:54 pm
content: Quote from: jeremy on September 30, 2012, 06:28:15 amexactly what i need thanks alot!

author: mickpah
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: September 30, 2012, 10:32:03 pm
content: Paul Stoffregen , the creator of the Teensy board did comparison of OSH Park Seeed and iTead for a test fixture he was building.Not exactly scientific testing but interesting.http://hackaday.com/2012/09/11/bed-of-nails-and-accuracy-in-pcb-manufacturing/

author: NewBeginner
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: October 01, 2012, 04:04:10 am
content: Quote from: shebu18 on April 07, 2012, 01:09:27 pm@shebu18: Could you post some photos with the boards? Did you have to pay customs?

author: Mechatrommer
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 01, 2012, 05:03:21 am
content: Quote from: mickpah on September 30, 2012, 10:32:03 pmi read another article comparing seeed and itead, they use the same factory its just a matter of luck if you get better or worse batch between one another. but well for that price i'll give it a try. itead seems to be a winner in term of faster lead time, cheaper price, less annoying silk and 100% etest.

author: poorchava
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 01, 2012, 08:24:35 am
content: @Kremmendoes this fab offer some dedicated prototyping service? I mean the one which would make tooling costs affordable and with cheap shipping. Generally at such PCB houses it goes like: ok - pcb's $2 a piece, tooling $200 so this tiny board will cost you $202 :/

author: dda
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: October 01, 2012, 08:37:28 am
content: I've had seeed boards back recently, 100% tested in 2 weeks using the slowest shipping* which isnt bad for <$142x2weeks, 1x3weeks. All shipped in 7 days.

author: Kremmen
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 01, 2012, 11:54:39 am
content: Quote from: poorchava on October 01, 2012, 08:24:35 amThey don't mention prototyping as such, so ordering 1 or 2 boards from Kaden may not make sense. They need to do the tooling of course and that is part of the price but even at the volumes i operate that comes up to a quite reasonable total. For exampe the board in the example is 100 x 145 mm. 40 pcs of those + 100 pcs small detector boards 20 x 24 mm panelized 4 x 5 into 5 v-scored panels was USD 212.00 total incl shipping to Finland. That worked for me.