I just finished laying out my 8051 Project (2in x 4in) and I was wondering what PCB proto houses people would recomend. So far PCBex.com looks like the lowest cost at $10 + $18.00(shipping and handling) for a single 2 layer (20 sq. in max) with solder mask and silk screen. I've also looked at: PCB123 $44 (2 layer no soldermask & no silkscreeen) min order 2 PCB123 $120 (2 layer soldermask & silkscreeen) min order 2 PCBexpress $30 (2 layer no mask & no silkscreeen) min order 2 PCBexpress $102 (2 layer soldermask & silkscreeen) min order 2 ExpressPCB $39.25 (2 layer no mask & no silkscreeen) min order 2 ExpressPCB $120 (2 layer soldermask & silkscreeen) min order 2 PCBexpress $30 (2 layer no mask & no silkscreeen) min order 2 PCB4Less $24 (2 layer soldermask & silkscreeen) min order 5 PCBfabexpress $10.99 (2 layer mask & silkscreeen) min order 5 UltimatePCB $16.50 (2 layer mask & silkscreeen) min order 10 4 PCB $33.00 (2 layer mask & silkscreeen) min order 3 Eric
PCB Protos
Started by ●May 2, 2006
Reply by ●May 2, 20062006-05-02
Nice list ! Do you know any companies that produce full boards as well ? I know there was a company that did that a while ago, but I can't find it anymore. Eric wrote:> I just finished laying out my 8051 Project (2in x 4in) and I was > wondering what PCB proto houses people would recomend. > > So far PCBex.com looks like the lowest cost at $10 + $18.00(shipping > and handling) for a single 2 layer (20 sq. in max) with solder mask and > silk screen. > > I've also looked at: > > PCB123 $44 (2 layer no soldermask & no silkscreeen) min order 2 > PCB123 $120 (2 layer soldermask & silkscreeen) min order 2 > > PCBexpress $30 (2 layer no mask & no silkscreeen) min order 2 > PCBexpress $102 (2 layer soldermask & silkscreeen) min order 2 > > ExpressPCB $39.25 (2 layer no mask & no silkscreeen) min order 2 > ExpressPCB $120 (2 layer soldermask & silkscreeen) min order 2 > > PCBexpress $30 (2 layer no mask & no silkscreeen) min order 2 > > PCB4Less $24 (2 layer soldermask & silkscreeen) min order 5 > > PCBfabexpress $10.99 (2 layer mask & silkscreeen) min order 5 > > UltimatePCB $16.50 (2 layer mask & silkscreeen) min order 10 > > 4 PCB $33.00 (2 layer mask & silkscreeen) min order 3 > > > Eric > >
Reply by ●May 2, 20062006-05-02
Good deals tend to come and go for different vendors, pcbnet.com had a great $25 proto special, 2 layer, mask and silkscreen, 64 square inches max, min order 1, free shipping (meaning the total price was $25), I used it recently, but it's gone from their web site now, too bad PCBex.com, I believe has a minimum order of 5, so $68 total.
Reply by ●May 2, 20062006-05-02
On 2 May 2006 08:55:21 -0700, "Eric" <ericjohnholland@hotmail.com> wrote:> I just finished laying out my 8051 Project (2in x 4in) and I was >wondering what PCB proto houses people would recomend. > >So far PCBex.com looks like the lowest cost at $10 + $18.00(shipping >and handling) for a single 2 layer (20 sq. in max) with solder mask and >silk screen. >[list snipped] I have had good results from http://www.pcbcart.com Regards Anton Erasmus
Reply by ●May 2, 20062006-05-02
I have done many boards through 4PCB and have also routinely used their free design check at freedfm.com price isn't everything. "Eric" <ericjohnholland@hotmail.com> wrote in message news:1146585321.457912.322870@i40g2000cwc.googlegroups.com...> I just finished laying out my 8051 Project (2in x 4in) and I was > wondering what PCB proto houses people would recomend. > > So far PCBex.com looks like the lowest cost at $10 + $18.00(shipping > and handling) for a single 2 layer (20 sq. in max) with solder mask and > silk screen. > > I've also looked at: > > PCB123 $44 (2 layer no soldermask & no silkscreeen) min order 2 > PCB123 $120 (2 layer soldermask & silkscreeen) min order 2 > > PCBexpress $30 (2 layer no mask & no silkscreeen) min order 2 > PCBexpress $102 (2 layer soldermask & silkscreeen) min order 2 > > ExpressPCB $39.25 (2 layer no mask & no silkscreeen) min order 2 > ExpressPCB $120 (2 layer soldermask & silkscreeen) min order 2 > > PCBexpress $30 (2 layer no mask & no silkscreeen) min order 2 > > PCB4Less $24 (2 layer soldermask & silkscreeen) min order 5 > > PCBfabexpress $10.99 (2 layer mask & silkscreeen) min order 5 > > UltimatePCB $16.50 (2 layer mask & silkscreeen) min order 10 > > 4 PCB $33.00 (2 layer mask & silkscreeen) min order 3 > > > Eric >
Reply by ●May 2, 20062006-05-02
See also www.batchpcb.com. They charge $2.50 /sq. in. + $10 setup + shipping. "Eric" <ericjohnholland@hotmail.com> wrote in message news:1146585321.457912.322870@i40g2000cwc.googlegroups.com...> I just finished laying out my 8051 Project (2in x 4in) and I was > wondering what PCB proto houses people would recomend. > > So far PCBex.com looks like the lowest cost at $10 + $18.00(shipping > and handling) for a single 2 layer (20 sq. in max) with solder mask and > silk screen. > > I've also looked at: > > PCB123 $44 (2 layer no soldermask & no silkscreeen) min order 2 > PCB123 $120 (2 layer soldermask & silkscreeen) min order 2 > > PCBexpress $30 (2 layer no mask & no silkscreeen) min order 2 > PCBexpress $102 (2 layer soldermask & silkscreeen) min order 2 > > ExpressPCB $39.25 (2 layer no mask & no silkscreeen) min order 2 > ExpressPCB $120 (2 layer soldermask & silkscreeen) min order 2 > > PCBexpress $30 (2 layer no mask & no silkscreeen) min order 2 > > PCB4Less $24 (2 layer soldermask & silkscreeen) min order 5 > > PCBfabexpress $10.99 (2 layer mask & silkscreeen) min order 5 > > UltimatePCB $16.50 (2 layer mask & silkscreeen) min order 10 > > 4 PCB $33.00 (2 layer mask & silkscreeen) min order 3 > > > Eric >
Reply by ●May 3, 20062006-05-03
Eric wrote:> I just finished laying out my 8051 Project (2in x 4in) and I was > wondering what PCB proto houses people would recomend. > > So far PCBex.com looks like the lowest cost at $10 + $18.00(shipping > and handling) for a single 2 layer (20 sq. in max) with solder mask and > silk screen. > > I've also looked at: > > PCB123 $44 (2 layer no soldermask & no silkscreeen) min order 2 > PCB123 $120 (2 layer soldermask & silkscreeen) min order 2 > > PCBexpress $30 (2 layer no mask & no silkscreeen) min order 2 > PCBexpress $102 (2 layer soldermask & silkscreeen) min order 2 > > ExpressPCB $39.25 (2 layer no mask & no silkscreeen) min order 2 > ExpressPCB $120 (2 layer soldermask & silkscreeen) min order 2 > > PCBexpress $30 (2 layer no mask & no silkscreeen) min order 2 > > PCB4Less $24 (2 layer soldermask & silkscreeen) min order 5 > > PCBfabexpress $10.99 (2 layer mask & silkscreeen) min order 5 > > UltimatePCB $16.50 (2 layer mask & silkscreeen) min order 10 > > 4 PCB $33.00 (2 layer mask & silkscreeen) min order 3Yes, nice list. A few I don't have yet - you must read different magazines. :-) batchpcb.com has a good deal going for small one-off's, but only if you are *very* patient. Their service is very slow (3-4 weeks typical), absolutely no customer service (not even e-mail), and boards sometimes don't arrive in the batch (meaning the timer gets reset while they re-submit). http://www.futurlec.com has a good deal going too, especially if you need several smaller pieces. You get out the door for $25 (setup & shipping) + $0.65 per sq.inch; about 2 weeks turnaround to the US. Add $12 each for solder mask or silkscreen per side. I'll second the endorsement for Advanced Circuits (4PCB). They're the best quality I've used, but their pricing isn't competitive outside their 33each.com deal. (If you're a student, they'll waive the 3-piece minimum - now *that's* a deal!) They also run barebonespcb.com, which offers fast, cheap 1-off service, but with no mask or silkscreen. Others worth checking: http://www.olimex.com http://www.protoexpress.com - reportedly very good quality, ~$88/2 boards at last check http://www.pcbpool.com Cheers, Richard
Reply by ●May 3, 20062006-05-03
Eric wrote:> I just finished laying out my 8051 Project (2in x 4in) and I was > wondering what PCB proto houses people would recomend.2x4 ??? why not just build it at home? the 8051 is a dip part right? sockets can be bought on ebay/jameco/futurelec/etc ... so you don't fry the chip soldering it in. But other than that .. I would use the toner transfer method to run off one board ... in under 15 minutes ... another 15 and you've soldered the components and testing your creation. I have generally done that for double sided boards up to 6x9 in size, with success.
Reply by ●May 3, 20062006-05-03
nappy wrote:> I have done many boards through 4PCB and have also routinely used their free > design check at freedfm.com > > price isn't everything.What he said. 4PCB aka Advanced Circuits are very good people if you're looking to build a long-term relationship. I just got a postcard from them offering up to $500 free on your first order. Here's the link... http://www.4pcb.com/hotwater Might be worth checking.> > "Eric" <ericjohnholland@hotmail.com> wrote in message > news:1146585321.457912.322870@i40g2000cwc.googlegroups.com... > >>I just finished laying out my 8051 Project (2in x 4in) and I was >>wondering what PCB proto houses people would recomend. >> >>So far PCBex.com looks like the lowest cost at $10 + $18.00(shipping >>and handling) for a single 2 layer (20 sq. in max) with solder mask and >>silk screen. >> >>I've also looked at: >> >>PCB123 $44 (2 layer no soldermask & no silkscreeen) min order 2 >>PCB123 $120 (2 layer soldermask & silkscreeen) min order 2 >> >>PCBexpress $30 (2 layer no mask & no silkscreeen) min order 2 >>PCBexpress $102 (2 layer soldermask & silkscreeen) min order 2 >> >>ExpressPCB $39.25 (2 layer no mask & no silkscreeen) min order 2 >>ExpressPCB $120 (2 layer soldermask & silkscreeen) min order 2 >> >>PCBexpress $30 (2 layer no mask & no silkscreeen) min order 2 >> >>PCB4Less $24 (2 layer soldermask & silkscreeen) min order 5 >> >>PCBfabexpress $10.99 (2 layer mask & silkscreeen) min order 5 >> >>UltimatePCB $16.50 (2 layer mask & silkscreeen) min order 10 >> >>4 PCB $33.00 (2 layer mask & silkscreeen) min order 3 >> >> >>Eric >> > > >
Reply by ●May 3, 20062006-05-03
On Wed, 03 May 2006 11:16:36 -0700, Jim Stewart <jstewart@jkmicro.com> wrote:> >4PCB aka Advanced Circuits are very good people if >you're looking to build a long-term relationship.They have an especially cheap deal if you opt for the "Bare bones PCB" without silkscreen or soldermask. Not what you want for production, but it may be just fine for a hand-built prototype. Robert Scott Ypsilanti, Michigan
