OSH Stencils - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: MacAttak
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: July 10, 2013, 01:02:52 am
content: Not sure how new this is, but first I've heard of them. Anyone able to say if the pricing is reasonable or not? I've not used stencils before, so I don't have anything to compare it to.http://oshstencils.com/index.php

author: OSHStencils
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: July 10, 2013, 01:29:59 am
content: Hey MacAttak,Yes we are new, our grand opening/launch was yesterday (07-08-13). I encourage you to price shop for stencils, as I think it'll be hard to find someone who is hitting the price points we are for what we're providing.This was fundamentally why we started the business. We are avid users of the OSH Park site for our PCB boards, and we were constantly faced with stencils that were costing us $25-35 dollars, when the boards themselves cost us < $10. We didn't think that made much sense.So, we decided to follow in the foot steps of the "keep it simple" design principles OSH Park used, and we started up OSH Stencils. To be clear, we are not OSH Park. Laen has been very helpful and supportive of us launching this site over the last few months while we wrote the engines, but we share a lot of the same visions on providing services to the maker community and he was excited to see us make this happen.We wanted stencils to be easy, and cost effective, and we think we've hit that... The community response and feedback was overwhelming, and we've received a lot of great suggestions to improve the site even more to give the community what they need.An image gallery of our work will be up soon, we're taking high quality photos of our orders so we can put together a wide variety of samples to show the quality and sizes we're capable of.We appreciate you visiting the site, and hopefully you decide to give us a try!-B

author: marshallh
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: July 10, 2013, 03:43:19 am
content: I have a couple stencils on the way. He spent some time tweaking the output, says the edge quality is just above the most popular competitor.I have 0.8mm fBGA on there so we'll see how it turns out.

author: OSHStencils
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: July 28, 2013, 06:10:19 pm
content: Just wanted to pop back here and post a couple links for people to see our work. These images are all 10x zoom, so you'll see a little of the white background reflecting around the edges, but that's not the case on the actual stencils, it's just the photos.The stencil Marshall is referring to is this one. .8mm BGA, 1mm BGA, several .5mm pitch ICs and lots of 0402 components:http://www.oshstencils.com/image_gallery/cut_sample3.jpgThe holes in the middle are .35mm in diameter to give you an idea of just how small these components are.You can see another stencil here, .5mm pitch IC and several 0603 components:http://www.oshstencils.com/image_gallery/cut_sample2.jpg-B

author: OSHStencils
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: July 29, 2013, 04:06:55 am
content: We've added acrylic stencil jigs to our website at checkout. For $5 you can get a black or white jig to make holding your boards easier for stencils.-B

author: benemorius
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: August 03, 2013, 09:52:02 am
content: I received my stencil today. I don't have anything else to compare it to but it did a brilliant job on a batch of 10 boards I just finished.At $5 or $10 per stencil I can really see myself getting one for all but the tiniest of boards now. This makes me very happy. I can't see any way that this service isn't going to be really popular.I'll attach a few pictures of the stencil. It's mostly 0603s and a few TSSOPs.Some feedback:1) Tracking numbers!!! Modern society expects tracking numbers given without request for everything from an oscilloscope to a toothpick, myself included.2) You've got oshstencils.com andwww.oshstencils.comboth serving web content. This breaks login cookies and is otherwise undesirable. Best to pick which one you prefer and set up a 301 redirect on the other.

author: OSHStencils
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: August 05, 2013, 03:17:20 am
content: Thanks for the great feedback Benemorius!On #1, the reason we don't have tracking numbers (on domestic free shipping items) is due to our costs. International always has it by default. The way we're able to achieve such low prices is by utilizing standard envelope sizes and using normal First Class Mail. Since 83% of all stencils we cut are smaller than 6x8", we can use normal postage at $0.46 or $0.86. To add a tracking number on this same envelope means we have to make it a parcel item instead of a letter item and that takes our costs to ship up to $3.56. This would require that we raise our minimum order price to $8 to help offset that cost, which naturally we don't want to do. We want people to have the benefit of using a quality stencil on any size board, including small ones because $5 is trivial for a proto board and we want users to order our stencils as second nature when ordering their circuit board.On that same token above, one major advantage we have of using regular envelopes/postage is that we bypass any customs related issues, and this enables us to get stencils to people in other countries in under 8 days almost anywhere in the world. I shipped a stencil that made it to Germany in just 4 days. The moment we switch it to parcel postage, it now has to go through customs and that can greatly delay international orders which is also something we want to avoid.My goal has always been to get stencils to people as fast as possible for as inexpensive as possible without sacrificing quality and ultimately leading to us becoming a household name in the proto/circuit board industry. This is the avenue that allows me to achieve that, my sacrifice is no tracking numbers on domestic free ship items. Even if a stencil were to be lost in the mail and I have to re-send one, it's still less expensive than including tracking by default. If you would like a tracking number and don't mind paying the extra costs for it Priority Mail ($5) and Express mail ($20) always have tracking. On the "free" shipping stuff, which is the majority of our orders, there's just no inexpensive shipping medium that provides tracking numbers at this time. I'm sorry.On #2, all I can say is whoops! My fault. I'll fix the domains to properly redirect. Thanks for bringing that to my attention.Thanks again for checking us out! We've got some other fun stuff we're announcing later this week for our customers. Follow us on Twitter @OSHStencils to stay informed.-B

author: c4757p
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 05, 2013, 03:24:52 am
content: Lack of tracking numbers on items shipped cheaply (mostly internationally) has taught me shipping patience; I'm kind of thankful for it. Depending on your personality it may do the same, or just make your blood boil

author: SeanB
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 05, 2013, 06:16:36 pm
content: I know my local post office runs at the speed of an arthritic snail, but it mostly does deliver, not on time, but hopefully to the right address.

author: OSHStencils
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: August 08, 2013, 07:47:04 am
content: I just pushed a new build of the render engine live. This new one should make the ordering process much easier to understand after your file is uploaded, and enable you to maximize cost savings by getting an exact measurement of how your stencil will look on your board.Give it a shot-B

author: benemorius
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: August 12, 2013, 10:47:45 pm
content: Ok, I see you're absolutely right about the tracking numbers. I didn't even notice that the postage ended up so much cheaper. That's definitely the right decision then. And the same goes for international shipments and customs issues. I've had a crash course myself in domestic and international shipping in recent months and I can affirm that these are two excellent advantages.Definitely put this information on your site somewhere so everyone knows before ordering what to expect. I was initially considerably disappointed by the lack of a tracking number, but this was reversed completely by the explanation given.I've already ordered another stencil. I think I can get used to this.

author: MacAttak
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: August 13, 2013, 05:00:26 am
content: Just gave it a shot with a super-tiny little breakout board I needed. I'm wondering how accurate the rendered example shown during the checkout process is? It looks like two of the pads might not have been handled properly by the file parser - I guess I'll find out for sure once the stencil gets here. It's possible that the board itself won't be right either - but it's going to be a bit before I get those back from OSHPark. They are sooo going to hate me for sending this annoyingly tiny board to be fabbed.I chuckled at the $5 minimum stencil sizeI didn't see where you could request more than one stencil though. I only want a single one for this, but I assume there must be a way to get extras for larger productions?

author: OSHStencils
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: August 13, 2013, 08:59:46 am
content: The rendering engine had a minor bug in it that I fixed tonight (You may have placed your order while I was editing the code, which would have created unusual pad layouts). The stencil will be fine, the render engine is there to give you an idea of what your stencil will look like and to give you a better idea of border visualization to save costs. (ie: shrink/increase your border as needed). The pads should line up flawlessly now.Sometimes however the pad layout will render awkwardly, this is caused by two things. 1) The Gerber image handler (which is one of the only things on the site I didn't write myself) treats macros in an unusual manner if they don't follow the strict RS-274X format and 2) The resolution of the image is shrunk down significantly before displaying it and sometimes when that occurs really thin lines may disappear.Your stencils are always cut using your original file however. They are then QA'd against a printed copy of your raw upload. Every stencil is lined up on the print out before it's packaged and shipped to ensure nothing is missing and that the pads are visible clearly.As for multiple stencils, there is no quantity function (this is by design), if you want multiple of the same stencil just add it to your cart again before checkout. This is sort of a safety net that tells me "Yes, I really do want two of these". Most people never have a need for more than 1 for a small run or proto scenario.I have had users who are doing 100+ boards order multiples but mostly because they setup a small bench with multiple people doing it thus the need for multiple stencils.I'll make a note on the site so it's more clear that if you want more than one copy of the stencil to just pop it in your cart multiple times.User generated text input for engraving is coming later this week. I'm almost done with that code, so you'll be able to put up to 3 lines of text via the website along one border of your stencil so you can identify it easily. This is useful for naming stencils by project, board revision, date, etc.Thanks for the great feedback guysI appreciate your support.-B

author: MacAttak
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: August 13, 2013, 06:18:03 pm
content: Thanks for the explanations. I assumed it was just an image rendering error.I was surprised with how quickly it was processed and shipped. I submitted the file very late last night (11pm), but it still got processed and shipped within less than four hours!I won't have the boards (or even the parts) until long after I get the stencil. Very nice and quick service there (and cheap)!

author: OSHStencils
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: August 13, 2013, 09:53:28 pm
content: Just a quick update. I've figured out a way to get tracking number costs down on Domestic shipments by classifying it as a fixed size item under 3oz. So I've added it as an option on the shipping selection. It costs $1.50, but at least now you can select the option if you really want to know when it's going to arrive and don't mind paying the extra money without upgrading to Priority or ExpressI'm sure people will do this one time, then realize how quickly they get items and stop doing it, but at least now you have a choice!-B

author: Corporate666
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: August 15, 2013, 02:37:25 am
content: Hi OSH,I went to your website last week thinking of getting some stencils made but one thing I could not find anywhere was how long it takes from when you order until you ship. I just checked again and I don't see it anywhere. I wasn't looking for a guarantee like AP Circuits' "Order by 1pm EST and your order ships the following day", although that would be nice - but rather, I just didn't know if it takes a day? a week? 3 days? I also was curious where your stencils shipped from. That way, when I order prototype boards, I would know "order the stencils the same day" (or next day, or day before, or whatever) "to have them show up when the boards come".I'm sure I will use the service a lot. Pricing is phenomenal.

author: OSHStencils
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: August 15, 2013, 07:18:19 am
content: Glad to hear you dropped by for a visit Corporate666.Orders are shipped from the United States, on the west coast. The shipping details are on the pricing page under the "Shipping" header. Orders are usually shipped within 24 hours. Orders are batched and processed twice a day. Once in the morning and once in the evening. If you are in before the morning batch, they'll go out that day. If your order is in after that, your stencil will be cut on the evening run and go out the next morning first thing. "Officially" we're a Mon-Fri business, however we've processed orders every weekend since we launched simply because we're in the workshop anyways, and we use USPS to ship which runs Saturdays so we want to keep orders moving.If we ever expect a delay in shipments for any reason (like if we're attending Maker Faire or some other event) then we always put a notice above the Pay button indicating that shipments are delayed X days because we're attending an event to promote our business. Although this hasn't happened yet, our website code is fully built to keep customers up to date with the expectation.Our primary goal is to get people stencils before their boards arrive, assuming they're using a service that does 7-14 day board turn around. Order your stencil the same day and the stencil will be there long before the board is in most cases.Internationally we're averaging a 4-8 day arrival time (depending on where you are). Since we use standard envelopes, we can bypass customs frequently. If you order a jig with your stencil there is a small chance it'll get hung up a little bit in customs, but so far those have been sailing through with no hold up.Let me know if you have additional questions.-B

author: OSHStencils
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: August 16, 2013, 12:24:43 am
content: I'm pleased to announce that dynamic text entry engraving is now live and available.You can enter up to 3 lines of text to go along your stencil border. This way you can identify your stencils by board revisions, date, or anything you want to put there.You can still include your own "Engrave" Gerber file if you'd like to include graphics/logos and things like that, but for those that just want plain text, you can now do it without a Gerber by just typing the text in via the website.-B

author: OSHStencils
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: September 15, 2013, 05:52:37 pm
content: We've launched promo codes as a warm up to our new website which will be launching very soon. Our new website features video tutorials, drag and drop uploading, a much improved shopping cart experience, the ability to pay by direct credit card, and an entirely new look and feel.We've had great support from the community, and so we wanted to share this code which is valid until October 1st for 10% off your stencil order.For cheap high quality pcb stencils, be sure to check OSH Stencils out! oshstencils.comCode: thxeev10Expires: 10-01-13-B

author: zapta
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 30, 2014, 03:29:06 pm
content: OSHStencils now has also 5mil stencils (used to be only 3mil). They work better than the 3mil and leave the right amount of solder paste.The 3mil is still the default so make sure to select the 5mil option (same cost).

author: CrabxCore
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: May 18, 2014, 04:17:05 am
content: I ordered a stencil from OSHstencils a few weeks ago. Turned out great! I also ordered the PCB holder, unfortunately it was eaten by the USPS' sorting machine. After one quick email to OSHstencils, They had another one in the mail to me. This one arrived just the other day in perfect condition.TL;DR OSHstencils good!

author: OSHStencils
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: July 07, 2016, 04:39:39 am
content: It's been a while since we visited this thread, but we wanted to pop back and give a quick update. Many of you know we launched in 2013 and we're approaching our 3 year anniversary.We launched a new website last month, and more importantly we launched a new product. We now offer 4mil Stainless Steel at rock bottom prices, with exceptional quality.For many of you who are our loyal repeat customers, we sincerely thank you. For those of you that are new, we urge you to pop on byhttps://www.oshstencils.comand check out the new site and new product offering, as I'm sure you'll agree that there is no comparison when it comes to solder paste applications when using Stainless Steel.Happy making!

author: OSHStencils
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: April 19, 2017, 11:29:05 pm
content: We're currently beta testing framed stencils!For those of you who utilize an assembly house, contract manufacturer, or have a stencil printer that requires a frame, shoot us an email if you have a framed stencil need and we can give you a hand!