Low cost PCB prototyping - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / projects

author: technoducky
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: February 09, 2013, 07:25:05 pm
content: I'm at the point of needing my first PCB design prototyped and was wondering if anyone knew of any suppliers that would allow me to order single 2 layer boards, preferably with silkscreen on both sides and soldermask.I have found a few places but they seem to be very limiting in the board size or very expensive, or it might just be the going rate for the board size I am after.My board is approx. 5in x 5in and I have been quoted in the range of US$120 to US$160.If anyone knows of anywhere that I can get this done cheaper then please let me know.Thanks,Dan

author: c4757p
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 09, 2013, 07:29:18 pm
content: Holy crap, $120? Here'sten 10cmx10cm boards for $25 total. See if you can squeeze it into that size. They'll go bigger, too, but I'm not sure how the pricing works for that. It still won't cost you $120, though.

author: technoducky
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: February 09, 2013, 07:41:32 pm
content: Thanks a lot, looks exactly like what I was looking for.

author: c4757p
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 09, 2013, 07:46:24 pm
content: I use them all the time and the boards are pretty good quality.

author: mazurov
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 09, 2013, 08:17:41 pm
content: Take a look at OSH Park too ->http://oshpark.com.

author: kripton2035
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 09, 2013, 08:24:46 pm
content: Quote from: mazurov on February 09, 2013, 08:17:41 pmjust tried it : $80 for 3 each 10cm x 10cm boards 2 layersthe same are $25 at seeedstudio pcb service and you receive 10 boards ... sorry too much !

author: Jon Chandler
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 09, 2013, 11:46:12 pm
content: Here's some info on several low cost options.PCB Fabrication Sources

author: ivan747
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 10, 2013, 03:30:46 am
content: Remember cheap and good won't be fast, good and fast won't be cheap and cheap and fast doesn't exist in this industry.

author: Mechatrommer
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 10, 2013, 05:21:35 am
content: cheap and fast wont be good. cheap, fast, good... pick two.

author: andyturk
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 10, 2013, 05:32:04 am
content: http://www.youritronics.com/seeed-studio-vs-itead-studio-vs-osh-park/I do about 2 boards per month with OSH Park and haven't been disappointed. They'll take Eagle files directly, and gerbers for everything else. Turn around time is about 2 weeks (for 2 layers). Most of my boards are small (e.g., 1 inch square) and cost about $5 including shipping for 3 copies.Highly recommended.

author: mazurov
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 10, 2013, 06:17:11 am
content: There is also BatchPCB ->www.batchpcb.com. They are OK too, I used them for about 2 years before switching to OSHPark because I needed smaller traces/pads/vias.

author: JackOfVA
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: February 11, 2013, 01:43:27 am
content: I've been pleased with the quality and price of itead-studio boards for prototypes. You have to recognize that shipping is slow, however. The last boards I bought ran a bit over two weeks in transit (registered mail) and around 10 days in production, so it was close to a month between order and board receipt.I also bought a run of 100 small boards, 25mm x 25mm, from itead and had them shipped by DHL. Considerably faster, but more expensive.For larger runs and board assembly services, I use Gold Phoenixhttp://www.goldphoenixpcb.com/-- they also have a moderate priced prototype service, as many boards (single design) as will fit on a panel of either 100 square inches or 155 square inches. These are shipped FedEx to the USA and the time from order to delivery normally runs 8 days. A double sided board with top and bottom silk screen, 155 square inch service is around $135, including FedEx shipping. Silk screen on one side is cheaper as is the 100 square inch service. I use the 155 square inch service for my slow selling products, where the 15 or 20 boards from a panel may take 6 months or a year to sell. Keeps the inventory cost down and also allows me to make design changes that would not be easy if I had 50 or 100 boards in inventory.

author: LukeW
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 11, 2013, 07:00:17 am
content: Is there anybody else in this industry that can do that beautiful purple soldermask other than OSHPark, in small prototype volumes? (I'm sure if I ordered 100k boards they'd blend a tin of soldermask to my specifications.)It's quite a lovely color.

author: KedasProbe
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 11, 2013, 12:39:35 pm
content: If you search the forum you will find more, including this one.http://makepcb.com/

author: Laen
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: February 12, 2013, 12:11:13 am
content: Quote from: LukeW on February 11, 2013, 07:00:17 amGlad you like it! It's a custom blend that took me a bunch of tries to get right. There _are_ other fabs that can do purple, but it won't be the exact same purple.

author: andyturk
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 12, 2013, 03:52:24 pm
content: Quote from: Laen on February 12, 2013, 12:11:13 amWoo hoo! It's Mr. OSHPark himself!Your service/website is fantastic.

author: Hought2Do
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: February 20, 2013, 05:53:42 pm
content: There's a company 'oop North' Manchester who do a pretty flexible prototyping service -http://www.hi5electronics.co.uk/Prototypes.php

author: Chet T16
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 20, 2013, 05:58:22 pm
content: The problem with seeed/itead times is mostly down to slow postage. If you pay extra it can work out goodish, fastish and cheapish.

author: minibutmany
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: February 23, 2013, 03:20:20 pm
content: My issue is that I need six boards made but all in different designs...so far I cant find anywhere cheap that doesn't require you to buy 10 of each design.

author: UPI
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: February 23, 2013, 04:20:42 pm
content: I used ITEAD for 10 small 25mm x 50mm boards. It took about 3 weeks to get them in hand in Texas.I chose 100% electrical testing but 1 of 10 boards had an obvious short that we discovered after soldering 80 fricking pins. Not sure how it could have been missed in their electrical testing.The short is strange because it is pretty symmetrical and not due to mask shift. Take a look and see what you think.

author: nctnico
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 23, 2013, 05:52:48 pm
content: Quote from: minibutmany on February 23, 2013, 03:20:20 pmPanellize them and order them as 1 PCB. Usually it will be a bit more expensive but still way cheaper than ordering 6 seperate PCBs. There is free software which can be used to create a panel from several PCBs.

author: kripton2035
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 23, 2013, 06:35:14 pm
content: you will still get 10 panelized pcb's with your 6 designs on each one if you buy from itead or seeed ...