PCB manufacturer similar in price and quality to JLCPCB - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / projects

author: ali_asadzadeh
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 24, 2025, 05:41:39 pm
content: HiI have a new PCB design that uses blind vias and it's 6 layer, unfortunately JLCPCB does not do them, so what options do we have in china?

author: SiliconWizard
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 24, 2025, 07:30:43 pm
content: PCBWay with their Advanced PCB offering:https://www.pcbway.com/advanced-pcb-capabilities.html

author: ali_asadzadeh
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 25, 2025, 11:49:38 am
content: It calculates a 150mmx10mm 6 layer to 600USD, it's insane! Do we have something more competitive to JLCPCB?

author: mtwieg
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: September 25, 2025, 12:30:58 pm
content: Quote from: ali_asadzadeh on September 25, 2025, 11:49:38 amHow can you say this isn't competitive to JLCPCB when JLCPCB doesn't even offer blind vias at any price?If you're expecting to find somewhere that gives you blind vias at a similar price to what JLCPCB would offer without blind vias, then just stop. It's not going to happen.If you're looking for blind vias, I'm guessing it's because either:1) You have a dense design with not enough space between components for through hole vias. In this case, you should add more layers before considering blind vias. It's very rare to see blind vias on a board with less than 10 copper layers, IME.2) You have a large, fine pitch BGA which requires microvias for escape. If your device truly does need microvias to escape, and you can't choose a different device or package, then you have to eat a much high cost on the PCB.

author: SiliconWizard
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 28, 2025, 12:03:19 am
content: Quote from: ali_asadzadeh on September 25, 2025, 11:49:38 amI'm not aware of one. There's also PCBCART, but I had a look and it's even more expensive. (It's the higher quality of the bunch, though.)Blind & buried vias get you in the expensive territory. Unfortunately.I don't know about your design and for very dense layouts, sometimes you really need those. But JLCPCB supports via-in-pad with their 6-layer+ offering and it's much cheaper. Can you not manage to route your board with via-in-pad only?

author: Psi
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 28, 2025, 12:09:42 am
content: Quote from: ali_asadzadeh on September 25, 2025, 11:49:38 amNo it's not.I just ran the details though PCBway advanced service. 6 layer, HDI for buried/blind, 0.2mm hole 150x10mmCame out to $1573.32 for 1000 pcs.SoAt 1000pcs it's $1.57 per board. It's cheap!At 100pcs it's $5.7 per boardAt 10pcs it's $43.10 per board.Your issue is that you only want a few boards. Not that the price is bad.It costs a lot to get all the supporting equipment and materials setup to make your specific HDI pcb.So you have to pay for that and it costs the same for 1 vs 1000My advice is to check if you really do need burry/blind / HDI.Sometimes you can get creative and avoid needing it.Sometimes it's cheaper to go with Via-In-Pad (filled and plated over) if it means you don't need HDI.Also, if you are having problems with fanout of a BGA, consider not having pads on layers of a via where you don't need to connect to them.(Usually the default is to put a pad on every layer if you need it or not). If you remove unneeded pads you can get more space on that layer to run tracks between the via holes.Also consider going to a smaller track width to give you more room. That can also help to save needing HDI.Also consider if maybe going to 8 layers might be cheaper if it means not needing HDI.Finally it may just be better to use a different IC if you need the board to be cheap for hobby volumes.

author: Simmed
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: September 28, 2025, 01:31:32 am
content: not my sitehttps://manufacturingreports.com/category/electronics/rigid-pcb-fabrication/aisler is newwhat else is new ?

author: ali_asadzadeh
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 28, 2025, 11:29:58 am
content: The design can not be designed without HDI, so changing the design or the chip is out of the equation. The only solution is to find a cheap enough PCB manufacturer

author: Psi
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 28, 2025, 12:24:08 pm
content: Quote from: ali_asadzadeh on September 28, 2025, 11:29:58 amI don't think they exist. (HDI and very low volume)Your only hope IMHO is if you can find a company or someone who can add on your HDI PCB onto someone else's HDI order.

author: voltsandjolts
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: September 28, 2025, 12:24:27 pm
content: Don't think your gonna find cheaper than the prices you have.DIY option - order three double sided boards and make your own 6 layer sandwich with blind vias

author: Psi
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 28, 2025, 12:27:36 pm
content: Quote from: voltsandjolts on September 28, 2025, 12:24:27 pmHe'd have to solder the pcbs together. pads on bottom of one to pads on bottom of the other. But technically possible.

author: mtwieg
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: September 28, 2025, 12:42:26 pm
content: Quote from: Psi on September 28, 2025, 12:24:08 pmYeah your best bet is to contact the fabs directly and ask if there's a stackup with HDI which they already work with in high volume. Then maybe you can share a panel with them and benefit from their volume. But it's unlikely they'll agree to it, and even if they do there's no way it's going to be just six layers.

author: Simmed
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: September 28, 2025, 01:44:59 pm
content: Quote from: voltsandjolts on September 28, 2025, 12:24:27 pmha ! i once thought of doing this !

author: ali_asadzadeh
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 28, 2025, 07:57:57 pm
content: I think you don't know china enough, But I ask Chinese members here for help and sharing their great links.

author: jc101
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: September 28, 2025, 08:19:01 pm
content: Eurocircuits now do an HDI option, though a single 150x10 6 layer HDI board is €300. The price drops with quantity. You may need to tweak your layout to match their HDI spec though.https://www.eurocircuits.com/services/hdi-pool/

author: SiliconWizard
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 28, 2025, 08:45:47 pm
content: Except for the most expensive options, blind & buried vias usually have constraints. Most manufacturers only support this kind of vias across limited layer pairs, not all combinations being available.What that means is that if you don't pick a PCB manufacturer first and use their capabilities as a design guide, you're likely to come up with a PCB design that either can't be manufactured, or at a very high price.Many engineers have been bitten by this.

author: Psi
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 28, 2025, 11:26:16 pm
content: Quote from: SiliconWizard on September 28, 2025, 08:45:47 pmVery true. You cant just go randomly making burred blind vias anywhere you want. The fab will have some stackup options and each has some layers where they are allowed.

author: Psi
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 28, 2025, 11:29:16 pm
content: Another cheap option is just to use a PCB wire pencil and run some jumper wires from the inner part of the BGA (exposed on the bottom of the PCB as pads) over to some pads on the outer side. That gets around the issue of not being able to get tracks out because there's to many others in the way.You can then coat the wire area in epoxy, or whatever, to make it safe to handle.It can be done in quite a tidy way.Or just make up a really small thin PCB that attaches to the rear of the PCB under the BGA and does the job of those jumper wires but as a PCB.It could be soldered to the PCB like a DFN or castellated hole module.

author: Smokey
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 29, 2025, 03:28:49 am
content: Quote from: ali_asadzadeh on September 28, 2025, 11:29:58 amWhat, specifically, are you doing that requires expensive vias but also has no budget to pay for expensive boards?

author: ali_asadzadeh
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 29, 2025, 12:08:06 pm
content: I will search Chinese PCB fabs and if I find something reasonable I would share the info here.

author: SiliconWizard
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 15, 2025, 03:15:36 pm
content: Looks like NextPCB supports blind & buried vias for their standard PCB offering at prices lower than PCBWay and others.They have 3 different stackups for vias at different prices of course, so as I mentioned, check which stackup you really need (essentially which layer pairs are allowed). But prices look interesting.https://www.nextpcb.com