Small PCB batch cost - V grooving - China mfg? - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: Yansi
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 19, 2017, 03:50:55 pm
content: Hello!just got an idea to make a batch of PCBs of some prototyping modules, that would come in handy. As there will be likely 10 or more different species, it does not pay off to make each of the small module separately - so I think now.Every module will be very likely less than 50 x 50 mm and if I would manufacture using the "typical Chinese" 10pcs 50x50mm PCB prototyping service, it would cost from $5 to $10 per 10pcs of the module, times 10 different kinds of them, resulting in $50 to $100 + shipping. Likely there will be like 12 or 14 different ones, so up to $150. The question is - will it be different when made as a panelized batch?Most likely I will end up with 14 modules per panel (7 V-grooves), 100mm wide, 150mm long panel.Does it pay off to get it made panelized like this? I do not require any high volumes, 10panels, 20 would be better of course, 30 at most.Can you recommend any specific PCB manufacturer with reasonable price, that does V grooving like this?Thank you for help,Yan

author: phil from seattle
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 19, 2017, 04:48:50 pm
content: If you use AllPCB, shipping cost is currently $0.00.

author: matseng
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: December 19, 2017, 05:46:08 pm
content: Remember that most companies does v-groove with a cutting wheel and not a router bit. This means that the grooves needs to go straight all across the board. You can't have "T-intersections" unless you can accept the pcb ontop of the T getting partly destroyed.

author: Yansi
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 19, 2017, 07:48:48 pm
content: I understand that fact. All grooves go through the whole PCB. No T intersections.

author: sleemanj
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 19, 2017, 08:16:04 pm
content: Most of the cheap places charge a lot more for a "panel" order, even if you don't do any separation at all let alone groove or tab-route. To the extent that ordering each pcb on it's own from them will be cheaper than a panel version combining them all.DirtyPCBs does allow tab-route (aka mousebite) with it's protopacks, google for thisisnotrocketscience gerber panelizer for a good tool to make your tab routed "panel". Thry also have a vgroove option but I have never used that, the gerbmerge tool is probabky the best free option for creating a vgroove panel.

author: Yansi
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 20, 2017, 02:39:22 pm
content: The AllPcb looks certainly interesting. I will try to contact some chinese manufacturers about this. Let's see what will they come up with.

author: NorthGuy
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 20, 2017, 06:13:08 pm
content: $5 is a promotional price. Any deviation and the price go up considerably. For some reason, if they spot several designs, they treat it as a deviation and charge lots more. 14 separate orders for gadgets x $5 is only $70. I don't think you can beat that.

author: HalFET
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: December 20, 2017, 07:30:38 pm
content: Setup cost for a panel is usually in the 50-70 usd range for non standard things,the panel itself might cost 5 bucks. So you won't necessarily save costs here.

author: Koen
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: December 20, 2017, 07:41:22 pm
content: They don't charge extra for routing or V-cuts if your order is anything above their cheapest promotion. Which makes sense.