First PCB Design - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / projects

author: Sparky_Freak
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: February 29, 2016, 02:14:44 am
content: My first pcb design and i was wondering where or more specifically which pcb house to use i am a student so dont have tat much cash .i would only like to produce like 20 or so boards and i would assemble it my self. Its a basic project sort of like the ? ruler well a shorter version i would also like to put some type of circuit on it maybe a mini dc volt indicator like a led based device to indicate 5v,12v,24v and so on. i would like to work in industrial automation (E&I) and would like to give these to possible employers as gifts so they can remember me i also live in Trinidad so like every thing has to be imported any advice would be welcome. Or i am still working on the layout kinda learning as i go along lol so as soon as i am able i would post schematics and so on

author: jonwilhelmjr
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: February 29, 2016, 03:00:44 am
content: Quote from: Sparky_Freak on February 29, 2016, 02:14:44 amI am not really able to help on the PCB house as I know that was your primary question. Personally I am in the USA so I use oshpark.com. As for your circuit will you be passing a large amount of current through it? If not could get away with a simple current sense circuit and bias transistors at different voltages to turn on the LEDs.

author: dadler
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: February 29, 2016, 06:53:48 am
content: Quote from: jirasakr on February 29, 2016, 06:51:09 amLet me guess, you get a discount code for posting this?

author: SwissEngineer
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: February 29, 2016, 10:53:28 am
content: We tried PCBway too. They are not bad (Silkscreen not the best, and random number printed on the board was not in the Gerber).But their price is really good.For more professional I would recommend Eurocircuits, specially for the design rules and everything is specified.

author: Rutger
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: March 01, 2016, 05:15:14 am
content: I would recommend Elecrow in China. No 'random' number/manufuring marking on the PCB. The only downside is it take a long time to get to me in the USA, about 3 weeks. It takes Oshpark also 3 weeks and they are in the USA, so they aren't any faster. Another couple of things I don't like about Oshpark, is that they don't do slotted cutouts and they leave the panel tabs on the pcb (not a clean edge). For the price you really can't beat Elecrow or any other PCB fabs in China.

author: metalphreak
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: March 01, 2016, 06:00:29 am
content: Yeah Elecrow has been my go-to manufacturer for everything the last few years. They haven't let me down once.

author: michaeliv
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: March 01, 2016, 10:03:27 am
content: Quality of cheap chinese manufacturers is basically the same for 2 layer boards, including the silk screen being poor quality.The manufacturers that stand out are :MakerStudio - Cheapest 10cmx10cm * 10pcs = $16 shipped to US ( takes about 2-3 weeks tho to get the baords)PCBWay - Not rock bottom pricing and no multiple designs on same order, $40 10cmx10cm *10pcs - BUT I've gotten boards in 4 days from them + they work weekends --- YES, submit order on Thursday evening, boards in hand Monday. Also 0 customer service.Elecrow - $35 10cmx10cm and have boards 7-8 days after placing order. Multiple designs allowed. Good customer service.I'm extremely impressed with the logistics that PCBWay has, my board was in production in under 2 hours and in DHL's hands in 48 hours. I think they might run their own fab.I'm curious if anyone knows what fab OSHPark uses ?

author: Siwastaja
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 01, 2016, 10:49:24 am
content: pcbshopper.com

author: microbug
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: March 01, 2016, 03:55:48 pm
content: ^^ this right here. pcbshopper.com lets you compare prices of different houses.

author: Eric_the_EE
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: March 01, 2016, 04:17:05 pm
content: These are some of my favorites.For a good deal on a 4-layer board:http://www.expresspcb.com/Some other good services:http://avanticircuits.com/?gclid=CjwKEAiAmNW2BRDL4KqS3vmqgUESJABiiwDTZ3qrZ_NbKBsEu_w8mSmlb8b_zrx022CouqcnhOzo0xoCl3vw_wcBhttp://smart-prototyping.com/PCB-Prototyping.htmlhttp://www.4pcb.com/

author: poorchava
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 01, 2016, 04:58:03 pm
content: When I need stuff to be cheap, I order from Elecrow.When I need very specific stuff, but need to be able to communicate well with the fab and need high quality, I use Technoservice, based in Gdansk, Poland. They offer 125um track and gap as standard with 100um available. Finished via sizes up down to 150um (250um drills).Sent from my HTC One M8s using Tapatalk.

author: metalphreak
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: March 04, 2016, 02:07:39 pm
content: Quote from: blueskull on March 01, 2016, 06:03:24 amElecrow is based in China. Very similar service to Seeed Studios & Itead. But they also do laser cut acrylic. And they send you a photo of your PCBs before they send them to youPricing ends up pretty close to OSHPark for anything around say 2-3 sq inches (larger boards / higher volume are cheaper at Elecrow). Shipping to Australia from both takes about the same time. OSH Park leaves you with the panelisation tabs while Elecrow will do full routing. OSH Park gives you a sexy purple soldermask and gold plating. I use OSH occasionally for small one-off prototypes.I'm sure there are plenty of places to go that will offer the same thing for the same price for the same needs. I just happen to have used Elecrow for most things and it's all gone to plan. I've used Seeed/Itead a couple of times, but switched to elecrow because they had better pricing for higher volume orders (at the time). Now everywhere has come down to the same pricing anyway.

author: metalphreak
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: March 10, 2016, 12:02:32 pm
content: Quote from: blueskull on March 05, 2016, 12:00:42 amhttps://www.breadboardkiller.com.auThis guy?