Custom PCB business cards for sale! - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: Maeth
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: September 25, 2015, 02:10:46 pm
content: Hey all,Check out the PCB business card I designed!Buy it here:https://www.tindie.com/products/IliaBaranov/pcb-business-card/You can also download the designs for free and make it yourself if you wantBest wishes,Ilia B.

author: 8086
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 25, 2015, 02:37:41 pm
content: So you are offering to personalise the cards so that the buyer can claim it is their own work? that doesn't sound right to me.And £30 price? Being a con artist is expensive!It's nice, but not for tindie, imo.

author: Maeth
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: September 25, 2015, 03:01:53 pm
content: ...Wow... Did you just call me a con artist?....For giving away my design for free, for teaching people how to make it, for posting tutorials on this very subject...And then simply offering people the choice to let me do the design for them at a rate of $20 for me?.......

author: zapta
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 25, 2015, 03:12:01 pm
content: Providing design files for a free CAD tools (eagle, kicad, etc) would make it more accessible for people here.

author: Maeth
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: September 25, 2015, 03:16:47 pm
content: Absolutely agree with you!Check out the right side of the page.You will find:"Source Code" - Direct download of the entire file that can be opened in Altium Circuit maker, a free program"Documentation" - Direct link to my site where I talk about the design, and where you can find a tutorial for using the (still free) Altium Circuit maker.Best wishes,Ilia B.

author: Maeth
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: September 25, 2015, 03:18:10 pm
content: For those unwilling to look at Tindie (some sort of anti-Tindie bias here I don't know about?) check it out here:https://mrrobot.ca/making-a-pcb-business-card/

author: free_electron
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 25, 2015, 04:19:19 pm
content: Why is everybody growling on the price ? chill out people.Anyone who knows how to make PCB, has access to a PCB program (there's tons of free ones) can whip this up in 1 minute. Take an existing layout (download one if you must), crop a business card sized area out of it. Add some text. Send file to itead studio , small batch order double sided board, silkscreen soldermask color of choice.200 boards for 145$. That is less than a dollar per business card.If you don't have access to a PCB cad program (which is impossible as there is tons of free ones out there) and don;t know how to make a board (you're on the wrong forum): pay some dude 20$ to do this for you , then you send the design to itead studio.Looks fair to me. It's a service to people that don't know how to design PCB's, just like any other service in the world.Now, why anyone not knowing how to make PCB's and whining he doesn;t have a program(even though there's lots of free ones) would want a PCB as business card is another question ...some people ...@maeth : well done. but, change your quantity entry box . if i enter 200 or 100 it says 'quantity not available' people ordering business cards typically want 50 or more.

author: miguelvp
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 25, 2015, 04:25:20 pm
content: I believe a quantity 1 is really 10 cards, so if you want 100 then you need to put 10 in there.What I don't get is why the first 90 go for $4.50 each when if you order 100, each one is $0.45.So instead of buying just 10 cards for $45 it seems you can order 100 cards for the same price.

author: Maeth
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: September 25, 2015, 04:42:11 pm
content: Hey thanks all for catching the quantity issue!Tindie seems to only let me set a "Product Price" and "Unit Price"I have removed the unit price to be less confusing, and updated the description.Now fixed!

author: miguelvp
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 25, 2015, 04:45:18 pm
content: So ordering quantity 10 is really 100 cards for a total of $45?And ordering quantity 1 is really 10 cards for the same price of $45?

author: Maeth
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: September 25, 2015, 04:53:48 pm
content: If you order 1, you pay $45 for 10 cards.If you order 2, you pay $90 for 20 cards.and so on.I have added a note that at volumes above 20, I suggest a custom request from you, at which point I will put up a custom page with whatever number you want at a reasonable cost.I want to be honest and only charge ~20$ for my time, and a custom 50X 100X 200X etc.. order seems the easiest way in the Tindie system...

author: miguelvp
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 25, 2015, 05:03:14 pm
content: Quote from: Maeth on September 25, 2015, 04:53:48 pmIf I put 10 in the quantity the price changes to $4.50 per pack, so 100 cards for $45How are you not seeing that?Edit:Look at the quantity pricing:

author: Maeth
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: September 25, 2015, 05:06:12 pm
content: Hmmm....Perhaps refresh the page?Or else Tindie system has a bug? Not showing up on my end....Submitted support request to Tindie, thanks for finding that!

author: 8086
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 25, 2015, 07:05:04 pm
content: Quote from: Maeth on September 25, 2015, 03:01:53 pmNot you, your customers. It's a business card, so in my view it should be your own work if you decide to do something like this, not just ordering some from tindie with your name on them.I realise your view is that you're doing something nice, and you are, but I can see people with no skills in pcbs ordering some to bullshit their way into a job that they don't deserve, that's all.

author: miguelvp
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 25, 2015, 07:13:24 pm
content: Quote from: Maeth on September 25, 2015, 05:06:12 pmSeems the $4.50 per pack after 10 packs is gone now.

author: Maeth
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: September 25, 2015, 07:59:09 pm
content: Good to hear!@8086Yes that is a possibility, but hopefully hiring decisions are not based solely on business cards!I find that after a tradeshow or conference, I throw away 95% of cards I get, maybe after sending them an email.Won't happen if the card is useful for something.

author: bitseeker
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 25, 2015, 08:00:08 pm
content: This would also be good to throw in when sending product, etc. to customers. Similar to the way Probe Master includes a little lead holder rack with an order. Useful forget-me-nots.

author: Maeth
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: September 25, 2015, 08:05:52 pm
content: That is a great idea!Might give out ones with futures designs of mine.Also, I was featured on the Altium Circuit Maker Bloghttps://blog.circuitmaker.com/#Blogs/pcb-business-cards

author: PlainName
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 26, 2015, 01:06:43 am
content: QuoteGosh, if only it were that simple - a PCB-as-business-card swinging you a job despite your failing every practical or theoretical testMind, if it were you'd probably deserve the company that took you on.P.S. to self: No more getting a printer to print business cards. And no more EEVBlog rulers. And no more itead - have to personally etch each design or it'll look fake, obvs. And replace gcc with a lookup table of opcodes plus RNG (homebrewed, natch).

author: PlainName
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 26, 2015, 01:10:45 am
content: QuoteMaybe you could consider a 1-off price. I wouldn't use one as a business card, but I might pay a few bob to have one in my wallet for reference. And just because it looks nice.

author: nitro2k01
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: September 26, 2015, 01:26:56 am
content: Quote from: dunkemhigh on September 26, 2015, 01:06:43 amWell, not really a fair comparison for obvious reasons. Most people who use paper business cards don't do it because they are printers or graphical designers. Most people who use PCB business cardsdodo it to show that they are in the EE field to some capacity.

author: Maeth
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: September 26, 2015, 01:47:22 am
content: Quote from: dunkemhigh on September 26, 2015, 01:10:45 amOh? What do you think I should put on the front? Probably not my contact info...Any ideas?

author: ez24
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 26, 2015, 02:12:04 am
content: Quote from: bitseeker on September 25, 2015, 08:00:08 pmI would contact Keysight, they have (had) a contest where you always win and you get a screwdriver bit set. The set is not expensive but the shipping was. I think your product would make a good prize for them and save them shipping costs. Always stress the low shipping costs of your card (when used as a promotion). If me I would make samples with their company name on them and send them to several people at the company.You might be able to come up with your own contest.

author: bitseeker
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 26, 2015, 03:56:47 am
content: Quote from: Maeth on September 26, 2015, 01:47:22 amElectronics reference info, of course. Continue with the "useful" theme. Then, you can sell them as a generally handy pocket/wallet tool for electronics.If you find a lot of good stuff to put on the card, perhaps make a couple of different front silkscreens such as one for analog vs. another for digital. Maybe one for RF. A different one for electricians. One for robotics. Etc. See what people would find useful. If you end up making several designs, consider using a different solder mask color to make them easier to identify at a glance. Who knows, maybe you'll sell a bunch when people try to "collect them all". *cha-ching*

author: ez24
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 26, 2015, 05:36:43 am
content: Is there any way to make a functional card?Of course power is the problem, ie battery. How about static electricity? Is there anything someone can do to get the card to do something? Hold it up to a light? Rub it? Spin it? Then get some kind of feed back like sound, light, vibration etcNow I wonder if there are SMD batteries?

author: Kjelt
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 26, 2015, 06:59:23 am
content: Does the name mrrobot not give conflict with the new tv series?

author: Eartoot
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: September 26, 2015, 07:53:49 am
content: Quote from: Kjelt on September 26, 2015, 06:59:23 amOr the computer game from 1983/1984.

author: Macbeth
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 26, 2015, 09:56:18 am
content: Quote from: Eartoot on September 26, 2015, 07:53:49 amI don't remember that one. Looks like a cross between Manic Miner and Pacman.Bah, kids today with their Radeon Nvidia 3D goggleboxblasters. Tell them we were happy with such games and they won't believe you. Why my old man pretended he used to play with a ball of string, a spinning top and a cotton reel as a kid. I didn't believe him either.

author: PlainName
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 26, 2015, 10:47:54 am
content: QuoteBitseeker makes a good suggestion in the various infos that might be useful. But why not have your contact info? It is your design, you are proud of it, and I bet Fluke never ask punters what they want on the kit instead of Fluke's name a logo

author: Maeth
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: September 27, 2015, 01:51:19 am
content: Quote from: ez24 on September 26, 2015, 02:12:04 amHey, thanks for the Tip!

author: Maeth
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: September 27, 2015, 01:55:11 am
content: Quote from: bitseeker on September 26, 2015, 03:56:47 amThat is brilliant! If I end up making one, send me a message and reference this post to get a few free ones!

author: Maeth
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: September 27, 2015, 01:56:13 am
content: Quote from: ez24 on September 26, 2015, 05:36:43 amThere exist extremely thin "paper thin" lithium ion cells.But if people think ~$3 is expensive for a giveaway card, ~$10 will be crazy...

author: Maeth
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: September 27, 2015, 01:57:35 am
content: Quote from: Kjelt on September 26, 2015, 06:59:23 amI had registered the domain (and my licence plate) months before the series came out.Also, I think the mrrobot.com website is a robotics store anyway

author: ez24
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 27, 2015, 02:12:39 am
content: Quote from: Maeth on September 27, 2015, 01:56:13 amWhat if you are only giving away one - say to the CEO of Keysight or Apple? If unique enough (the only one in existence ) it might make an impression?

author: Psi
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 27, 2015, 02:50:29 am
content: For US$62 plus $20 shipping you can get 50 of them from Elecrowwith ENIGOr US$250 + 64 for 300 of them.Much better.Can get any thickness too at no extra cost. 0.8mm is probably good for a Bcard.Although its not going to be top notch quality, but they are usually ok though.The large number of different size holes might annoying them slightly if you ordered 10. Should be fine for a 50/300 order.The interhole clearance looks a bit minimal for cheap PCB fabs, so i'd probably tweak that.

author: bitseeker
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 27, 2015, 04:05:31 am
content: Quote from: dunkemhigh on September 26, 2015, 10:47:54 amHe should definitely still have his contact info on the card (e.g., in the bottom corner). That way they know where to buy more.

author: bitseeker
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 27, 2015, 04:12:46 am
content: Quote from: Maeth on September 27, 2015, 01:55:11 amThanks, Maeth. Definitely give it a try. Start with one general electronics one. As those sell, start a second product that's more specific, then a third, and so on. I'm sure you'll get suggestions along the way for revisions and new designs.After the general ones are out there and people see them or see others with them, it'll probably be easier to get individuals or companies to order custom versions for "business cards" or promo giveaways.

author: ez24
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 27, 2015, 06:02:44 am
content: Put a piezo speaker, battery, and pressure sensor on it with a low freq response to be carried in the back pocket. Farts are always funny.

author: zapta
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 27, 2015, 06:56:04 am
content: Quote from: Maeth on September 25, 2015, 03:16:47 pmIt's a Windows only software, right?

author: Maeth
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: September 27, 2015, 07:01:16 am
content: Yes it is Windows only.But at the same time, the ~9.22% of the OS market not using a version of windows to design PCBs is fairly... small....https://www.netmarketshare.com/operating-system-market-share.aspx?qprid=10&qpcustomd=0

author: zapta
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 27, 2015, 07:21:40 am
content: Quote from: Maeth on September 27, 2015, 07:01:16 amGood luck.