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Discussion Groups | Piclist | RE: Better than ExpressPCB?

A discussion group for the PICMicro microcontroller. Also called the Microchip PIC, this list is dedicated to the use and abuse of this fine, simple, microcontroller. Close to topic posts are welcome, ie. general electronics.

Better than ExpressPCB? - Randy Brust - Jan 18 13:54:00 2004

Has anyone found a better PCB proto shop than ExpressPCB? At
ExpressPCB you can get 3 fixed size boards for around $50-$60 and
they're delivered in 2-3 days. They also supply the layout software
for free. Just wondering if there are any other services out there
like this.

Randy





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Re: Better than ExpressPCB? - Leon Heller - Jan 18 14:21:00 2004


----- Original Message -----
From: "Randy Brust" <>
To: <>
Sent: Sunday, January 18, 2004 6:54 PM
Subject: [piclist] Better than ExpressPCB? > Has anyone found a better PCB proto shop than ExpressPCB? At
> ExpressPCB you can get 3 fixed size boards for around $50-$60 and
> they're delivered in 2-3 days. They also supply the layout software
> for free. Just wondering if there are any other services out there
> like this.

In Europe we have PCB-Pool (Ireland and Germany) and Olimex (Bulgaria). They
take longer than ExpressPCB and don't have their own software. PCB-Pool do
both double-sided and 4-layer boards into the bargain with 6 mil tracks as
standard. Olimex is only double-sided.

Leon
--
Leon Heller, G1HSM
Email:
My low-cost Philips LPC210x ARM development system:
http://www.geocities.com/leon_heller/lpc2104.html





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RE: Better than ExpressPCB? - Wouter van Ooijen - Jan 18 14:21:00 2004

> Has anyone found a better PCB proto shop than ExpressPCB?

I prefer www.olimex.com. I can send them 20 boards with a schetch of how
to combine them into one PCB, and they will create and shear into the 20
boards. No extra charge. Their software is not free, but eagle light is
:)

Wouter van Ooijen

-- -------------------------------------------
Van Ooijen Technische Informatica: www.voti.nl
consultancy, development, PICmicro products




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Re: Better than ExpressPCB? - Dave Mucha - Jan 18 16:51:00 2004

--- In , "Randy Brust" <rcbrustee@a...> wrote:
> Has anyone found a better PCB proto shop than ExpressPCB? At
> ExpressPCB you can get 3 fixed size boards for around $50-$60 and
> they're delivered in 2-3 days. They also supply the layout
software
> for free. Just wondering if there are any other services out there
> like this.
>
> Randy

I've been doing a limited number of boards for some people on my T-
Tech router.

I need the gerbers and drill files and will do a 36 sq inch board for
a flat $35.00.

It is not as easy as Express as you need to do most everything to get
the gerbers.

And it takes a few days as I am not set up for PayPal or any on-line
payment.

Also, no plated thru holes, boards must have some other means of
getting traces connected under pins, you you need to get some tips on
soldering and trace placement. Like all large caps need to be
soldered on the bottom of the boards.

But Express charges $62.00 for 3 boards that are limited to 3.8 x 2.5
in size so you are limited to the actual board size, and all three
must be the exact same size.

I think there others who will do prototype board for people in some
of the groups, and Olimex will do a similar board with thru-holes and
silk screen for about the same price (including shipping) but takes
about 2 weeks to the States.

But, Express is about as simple as they go !

Dave





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Re: Re: Better than ExpressPCB? - Leon Heller - Jan 18 17:13:00 2004


----- Original Message -----
From: "Dave Mucha" <>
To: <>
Sent: Sunday, January 18, 2004 9:51 PM
Subject: [piclist] Re: Better than ExpressPCB? > --- In , "Randy Brust" <rcbrustee@a...> wrote:
> > Has anyone found a better PCB proto shop than ExpressPCB? At
> > ExpressPCB you can get 3 fixed size boards for around $50-$60 and
> > they're delivered in 2-3 days. They also supply the layout
> software
> > for free. Just wondering if there are any other services out there
> > like this.
> >
> > Randy
>
> I've been doing a limited number of boards for some people on my T-
> Tech router.
>
> I need the gerbers and drill files and will do a 36 sq inch board for
> a flat $35.00.

How long does it take do a board that size, just out of curiosity?

What sort of design rules can you manage?

Leon
--
Leon Heller, G1HSM
Email:
My low-cost Philips LPC210x ARM development system:
http://www.geocities.com/leon_heller/lpc2104.html


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Re: Better than ExpressPCB? - Chad Russel - Jan 18 18:00:00 2004

just flip the words. http://www.pcbexpress.com

--- Randy Brust <> wrote:
> Has anyone found a better PCB proto shop than ExpressPCB? At
> ExpressPCB you can get 3 fixed size boards for around $50-$60 and
> they're delivered in 2-3 days. They also supply the layout software
> for free. Just wondering if there are any other services out there
> like this.
>
> Randy __________________________________





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Re: Better than ExpressPCB? - Dave Mucha - Jan 18 18:23:00 2004


>
> How long does it take do a board that size, just out of curiosity?
>
> What sort of design rules can you manage?
>
> Leon Too long !

Depending on the quantity of drills, it can take awhile. The drill
changes (manual) can take as long as a it takes to drill all the
holes for one drill.

Routing too depends on the number of traces in a section. I would
estimate up to a minute per square inch per side.

This is not a fast process, but the nice thing it getting the holes
drilled with little effort.

It takes less time to drill all the holes than to do one side of a
board.

The problems with routing is the depth of the cutter. for a RF
board, a 90deg cutter (wide) is used so as to prevent trace walls
from aligning with one another, but that also means the traces cannot
be as close together.

I uploaded a photo of a small board, a SSOP for a 20 pin chip to a
DIP 20 pin 0.6" spacing. It is in the files section.

I'll leave it for a day or two.

Dave





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Re: Better than ExpressPCB? - photo - Dave Mucha - Jan 18 18:27:00 2004

op's should have mentioned that I pealed all the traces to get a
better photo !

Also, this part was on the edge of the board and I was not able to
cut it out. Since this was a test piece, I was not trying for
anything great.

Dave
--- In , "Dave Mucha" <davemucha@j...> wrote:
>
> >
> > How long does it take do a board that size, just out of curiosity?
> >
> > What sort of design rules can you manage?
> >
> > Leon > Too long !
>
> Depending on the quantity of drills, it can take awhile. The drill
> changes (manual) can take as long as a it takes to drill all the
> holes for one drill.
>
> Routing too depends on the number of traces in a section. I would
> estimate up to a minute per square inch per side.
>
> This is not a fast process, but the nice thing it getting the holes
> drilled with little effort.
>
> It takes less time to drill all the holes than to do one side of a
> board.
>
> The problems with routing is the depth of the cutter. for a RF
> board, a 90deg cutter (wide) is used so as to prevent trace walls
> from aligning with one another, but that also means the traces
cannot
> be as close together.
>
> I uploaded a photo of a small board, a SSOP for a 20 pin chip to a
> DIP 20 pin 0.6" spacing. It is in the files section.
>
> I'll leave it for a day or two.
>
> Dave



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