Make PCB for DIY SMD project - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / beginners

author: JanJansen
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: September 08, 2018, 02:16:19 pm
content: Hi, i have ordered a nucleo board with STM32H7.I also would like to solder that chip in my own PCB.Can i make a PCB with etching for SMD drag soldering ?, is it simple ?I seen youtube movies where they print the circuit.Else i should order PCB in china or something, only it is very expensive.What would you reccommend ?, this will be a total disaster so i dont ruin a STM32 chip for first project, maybe make something simple.thanks

author: admiralk
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: September 08, 2018, 03:54:00 pm
content: Unless you already have everything to etch your own PCBs, it is cheaper to have them made. I was just notified, today, that my latest boards shipped, they cost $11 for 10 @34 X 70 mm. I am in no hurry, so chose the slow shipping, it will probably take 2 weeks before I see them. As long as they are less than 100 X 100 mm, most places charge $5 fo10 prototype boards. Shipping and time are the main expenses.

author: JanJansen
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: September 08, 2018, 04:19:20 pm
content: Well, where can i order those ?thanks

author: JS
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: September 08, 2018, 04:26:17 pm
content: I can make single sided PCBs in a breeze, when in a hurry I could span a board, populate it, test, redesign, etch a second board, populate it and test it in a night. Dual sided takes a bit longer, but I doubt it would take me two hours to make a single board. I have a"shitty custom system", I have a shitty mail service, so money is on the edge and time budget is usually blown by ordering over seas (local PCB manufacturers are crazy expensive and also take their time to make them) so I did expend a bit on tooling (a laminator for the toner transfer) and I can make 0.5mm pitch and dual sided PCBs with no problems.About the self etched PCBs for drag soldering, I understand they are usually better than standard PCBs as exposed tracks gives you space for taking the excess solder to, with solder mask is a bit harder to take the excess solder out. I don't know any other difference in them, if you can meet the tolerances for the device. BGA might be a different story as there are several limitations in the design, spanning out a big BGA in a DIY friendly PCB is quite hard, tiny BGA packages (4 balls mosfets comes to mind) should be no problem.JS

author: MarkF
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 08, 2018, 04:26:28 pm
content: Someone in another thread posted these $1.00US for three PCBs from SEEED until Sep 21https://www.seeedstudio.com/1-usd-for-3-pcbs.htmlThe last boards I had made were from Elecrowhttps://www.elecrow.com/pcb-manufacturing.html

author: sentry
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: September 08, 2018, 05:44:07 pm
content: Quote from: JanJansen on September 08, 2018, 04:19:20 pmI use JLCPCB from China to manufacture my boards. It only cost 2 dollars for 10 PCB's, plus 10 dollars in shipping. It is very nice quality.https://jlcpcb.comThe best thing about JLCPCB is that it integrates very easily with Easyeda.com.

author: admiralk
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: September 09, 2018, 12:21:24 am
content: Quote from: JanJansen on September 08, 2018, 04:19:20 pmI ordered this batch from elecrow. The nice thing was I was not limited to green solder mask. The batch before was from seeed studio, ~$2 more, but I wanted a specific color. jlcbpb is the quickest to actually manufacture the board, from the ones I have tried, but you are stuck with green if you do not want to add to the cost. seeed studio did a good job of putting the batch number in an obscure spot, I cannot comment of elecrow as I have not received those yet.Just plug what you want intopcbshopperand you will get a better idea of cost than anyone here can give you.

author: rstofer
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 09, 2018, 12:56:55 am
content: There are a number of inexpensive manufacturers, particularly in China. I don't use any of them...Instead I buy my boards from ExpressPCB.com and I use their software to create the circuitry. I have made some 4 layer boards but I usually buy the cheapest 2 layer board with no solder mask and no silk screen ($51 for 3 boards). It depends on the project.I have been using this service for a long time and their boards are excellent. Delivery is about a week, order to delivery but that's because they use Fedex Ground.I prefer the "Classic" version of the software because it links the schematic to the PCB. I can verify that nets are complete. I don't think that has been added to the new version (yet).https://www.expresspcb.com/And, yes, SMD is very workable. I'm not going to try BGA but I have done some fine pitch packages and drag soldering has worked fine. It probably works better with a solder mask (and silk screen always looks nice) but that drives the cost to $71 for 3 boards. SolderWick is your friend - as is plenty of flux if you are hand soldering.I usually cook my boards in a converted toaster oven but a hotplate will also work well. Or just hand solder...

author: JanJansen
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: September 09, 2018, 12:26:13 pm
content: Thanks all, i take a look in it.About the software : cant i just download some free software to make gerber files ?What do you recommend, total beginner here.Oh wait : 100mm x 100mm is not much, even 550mm x 550mm and i get high prices then.I like many potentiometers and decoders.

author: Wimberleytech
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 09, 2018, 02:29:43 pm
content: Quote from: rstofer on September 09, 2018, 12:56:55 amI have used ExpressPCB for many many years. Not the cheapest based on what I read hear and other places. I use the "classic" version as well for the same reason plus they charge more for the boards when using the new SW--go figure.I also use the ExpressPCB tool to print to toner transfer paper and make single-sided PCBs. The process is easy, and pretty fast (about a half hour). My results are quite good.Using Fritzing as the layout tool, I have used their partner manufacturer (Aisler) to make absolutely stunning PCBs. They are cheaper than ExpressPCB but deliver is slow.

author: admiralk
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: September 09, 2018, 04:01:27 pm
content: Quote from: JanJansen on September 09, 2018, 12:26:13 pmThisis the smallest copper clad board Digikey sells (for making your own single sided boards), that will fit your 550 X 550 requirement. Sure you can find it for less than $95, but it is still going to be pricey no matter where you get it.There is no rule that says you have to put everything on a single board either. One project I am working on uses custom 7 segment displays where each digit is a separate board, as an example. Eventually, I will get new ones that have 3 digits on a board because that is the most I can fit in 100 X 100 mm. The final project will use 3 of these boards plus another one for a keypad along with the main board. So that will be 5 separate boards all together.

author: JanJansen
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: September 09, 2018, 04:03:48 pm
content: You are right i could use some wires.Ribbon cable connectors are also very big.

author: JustMeHere
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: September 09, 2018, 06:53:18 pm
content: Check out oshpark or pcbway.

author: Mr. Scram
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 09, 2018, 07:18:33 pm
content: Quote from: JanJansen on September 09, 2018, 12:26:13 pmKiCad is popular and free. In has some peculiarities, but reading the stories about other EDAs they all do. It seem to be suitable for pretty much all purposes, except maybe very complicated boards with high speed tracks all over the place. I doubt many will be making motherboards, though.

author: MarkF
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 09, 2018, 10:02:18 pm
content: I've been usingDipTrace.It has been more intuitive to me than even KiCad.The free version is limited to 300 pins (not PCB size).You can also get a free 500 pin Non-Profit license just for asking.I have yet to be limited by the pin count for personnel use.The 3D-View is also very nice.

author: james_s
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 17, 2018, 04:27:43 pm
content: I hate expresspcb at least at the time I looked into it the software was proprietary crap that locks you in unless you pay extra to get gerbers. About the only thing they have going for them is that it's beginner friendly.