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| Parallax Forums > Public Forums > The Sandbox > Prototype PCB manufacture | Forum Quick Jump
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Chris Savage (Parallax)
Forum Moderator
      
Date Joined Jul 2004
Total Posts : 10533
| Posted 12/14/2004 7:24 AM (GMT -8) |   | Just because it has always worked in the past for me, I still use www.expresspcb.com
They provide free software (Doesn't everybody now?) and have a good turn-around time, and quality work. Plus they have a mini-board special for $59.00 for 3 boards. I have seen past discussion about this company as well.
Knight Designs
324 West Main Street
P.O. Box 97
Montour Falls, NY 14865
(607) 535-6777
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Chris Savage (Parallax)
Forum Moderator
Date Joined Jul 2004
Total Posts : 10533
| Posted 12/14/2004 8:02 AM (GMT -8) | | As a side-note, I was a little dyslexic this morning and accidentally typed:
http://www.pcbexpress.com/
And lo-and-behold! There's another site that does this. Although I have never done any business with them. I meant to type www.expresspcb.com
Knight Designs
324 West Main Street
P.O. Box 97
Montour Falls, NY 14865
(607) 535-6777
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Bean
Forum Moderator
Date Joined Jul 2004
Total Posts : 6011
| Posted 12/14/2004 2:43 PM (GMT -8) | | I downloaded their software, but I couldn't find any way to import my DXF file ?
Must I start from scratch ???
Terry | | Back to Top | | |
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Chris Savage (Parallax)
Forum Moderator
Date Joined Jul 2004
Total Posts : 10533
| Posted 12/14/2004 4:23 PM (GMT -8) | | Terry,
Out of curiosity, what program creates a DXF file? I know that a couple of the links mentioned will accept a DXF file for PCB production, but I don't even know what that format is from. Gerber, I know. But haven't used it since 1992.
Knight Designs
324 West Main Street
P.O. Box 97
Montour Falls, NY 14865
(607) 535-6777
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Bean
Forum Moderator
Date Joined Jul 2004
Total Posts : 6011
| Posted 12/14/2004 5:16 PM (GMT -8) | | I do my layouts in Autocad. I can create a DWG or a DXF file from them. DXF seems to be more "universal".
I had someone convert my DXF files to gerber, and I already sent them to www.pcbexpress.com
They have a special to make 4 boards with top and bottom solder mask AND silkscreen marking on the top side for $100.
The boards have to be a certain size, so I copied my (small) board 4 times on each, so I'll get 16 boards (I'll just have to cut them apart myself).
I'll let everyone know if I like their work.
Terry | | Back to Top | | |
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Bean
Forum Moderator
Date Joined Jul 2004
Total Posts : 6011
| Posted 12/21/2004 9:32 AM (GMT -8) | | A friend of mine did the conversion at his work.
Just to let everyone know, I got my boards back and they are sweeeeeet.
I am very happy with the results. The only thing I didn't like is that they do not send a picture of the layers before making the boards (maybe none of the internet places do, but our local mfg does).
They had an offer of 4 boards 3.375"x2.975" for $100+$15 for 2nd day shipping.
They have solder mask on top and bottom AND marking on the top layer.
I placed the order on Tuesday and received boards on Monday.
If you have (or can make) gerber files, pcbexpress does a good job.
Terry | | Back to Top | | |
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SurplusGizmos.com
Registered Member
Date Joined Dec 2004
Total Posts : 2
| Posted 12/21/2004 11:58 AM (GMT -8) | | In case anyone is curios here is a nifty bit of trivia...
http://www.expresspcb.com has the free software and $59 for 3 boards.
When you order from them the boards are shipped from pcbexpress.com's plant(or they were when I ordered last year)
http://www.pcbexpress.com is the manufacturer of circuit boards
Now to make it more entertaining http://pcb123.com/ software is free and is owned by pcbexpress.com who also builds the boards.
On a slightly different note the software that is free from expresspcb.com is made by IVEX.com which is in oregon as is pcbexpress.com (and pcb123)...
The output files from expresspcb is compatible with IVEX pcb and schematic software...
It appears that IVEX is shutting down so I wonder how this will affect expresspcb???
Anyway just some nifty info...
Mike <><
http://www.SurplusGizmos.com | | Back to Top | | |
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Guenther Daubach
Registered Member
Date Joined Jul 2004
Total Posts : 1326
| Posted 12/21/2004 12:03 PM (GMT -8) | | Terry,
here in Germany, we have a PCB service called PCB-Pool (www.pcb-pool.com). They accept Gerber files but also original files created by popular (at least in Germany) PCB layout programs, like EAGLE, TARGET, PROTEL, ORCAD, SPRINT, and many more, i.e. no Gerber conversion necessary.
The trick is that they collect orders from various customers, put them all together on a large panel, and then have the PCBs produced and millcut the customer's PCBs.
I have ordered many prototype boards via PCB-Pool so far, and was always happy with the quality. I have visited their English site in the meantime but I could not fing out if they also accept and ship orders from and into the US, and at what price. Maybe, it is worth while to visit their home page for the deatails.
Greetings from Germany,
Günther | | Back to Top | | |
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PJMonty
Registered Member
Date Joined Jul 2004
Total Posts : 1016
| Posted 1/2/2005 4:00 PM (GMT -8) | | Guenther,
I just got the latest issue of Circuit Cellar magazine, and guess what? PCB-Pool now offers their service in America! I checked out the site and the prices are very attractive. I believe that the next PCB I do will likely be done through them to test out their service.
If anyone wants to check out PCB-Pool. go here:
www.pcb-pool.com/ppus/info.html
This is the link for the US specific site. It has an online price calulator that doesn't require setting up an account to use, and that alone makes them a very cool company in my book.
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Gary M. Reese
Registered Member
Date Joined Jan 2005
Total Posts : 4
| Posted 1/15/2005 10:23 AM (GMT -8) | | Nah , I make my own thanks. Do the neg with print master . positive process boards etched in converted aqauium for 10 min.
Cost about $5 a board ,depending on size. 2"x2" boards 9 at a time cost $2 each. I'm cheap LOL | | Back to Top | | |
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Forrest
Registered Member
Date Joined Aug 2004
Total Posts : 1252
| Posted 1/15/2005 10:54 AM (GMT -8) | | | I make my own single-sided boards also. But the wife won't let me install an electroless/electroplating line or a 30 ton press to make multilayers. | | Back to Top | | |
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pjv
Registered Member
Date Joined Nov 2004
Total Posts : 1304
| Posted 1/15/2005 11:52 AM (GMT -8) | | Hello Forrest;
If you had the space, I'd sell you my complete commercial electroless/electroplating line, PC board drill and etcher for cheap. Problem is it will take a couple of semi's to haul it all away, so it's not for the light of heart, I imagine your wife would not be keen.
Peter | | Back to Top | | |
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Forrest
Registered Member
Date Joined Aug 2004
Total Posts : 1252
| Posted 1/15/2005 4:16 PM (GMT -8) | | | pjv - thanks but no - that a bit too much equipment to make a few boards per year. ;) Sounds like you have a complete PC board manufacturing shop - are you still in business? I'm quite familiar with the business - having worked as an engineer in 2 PC board shops for a total of 14 years. I side-stepped in the industry 5 years ago and have been in the electronics assembly business ever since. | | Back to Top | | |
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pjv
Registered Member
Date Joined Nov 2004
Total Posts : 1304
| Posted 1/15/2005 8:25 PM (GMT -8) | | Hello Forrest;
Yes, as you surmise, it is a complete facility we used for making in-house circuit boards. I closed it down a couple of years ago, mostly due to some staff issues. Perhaps I will crank it up again someday........
Peter | | Back to Top | | |
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Bean
Forum Moderator
Date Joined Jul 2004
Total Posts : 6011
| Posted 1/26/2005 5:46 PM (GMT -8) | | For anyone who cares, at my work we have an LPKF milling machine for pcboards. It works really well for a couple of boards. It takes about a hour to mill out both sides of a small board.
We also use what LPKF calls a "Galvanic eletroplater" for plated thru holes.
When we got the machine is was for prototypes and test fixture ONLY. But of course I often get an order for 20 of a certain board, when I complain they say "How else can we get it today?".
If anyone is interested in the system, it works fairly well, but it's not cheap, and it's not cheap to make boards. But it is fast and if you only need one or two to test a project, it's probably cheaper than having them made.
I'm very disappointed with the solder mask that LPKF uses. It's basically useless. We NEVER use it. It's like a film that a pain in the ass to mill, then it gets pressed to the PCB in an oven.
If anyone has any questions about the system, I'd be glad to answer them.
Bean. | | Back to Top | | |
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Forrest
Registered Member
Date Joined Aug 2004
Total Posts : 1252
| Posted 1/26/2005 6:36 PM (GMT -8) | | | I've made my own single-sided printed circuit boards at home using these instructions www.fullnet.com/u/tomg/gooteepc.htm with very good results. The process is very repeatable if you follow the instructions closely and use Staples photo inkjet paper in a photocopier/laser printer. It's also important to only heat the paper/board for 2-3 minutes with an iron. If you heat it for a shorter or longer period of time - you won't get good results. | | Back to Top | | |
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paysonbadboy
Registered Member
Date Joined Jan 2005
Total Posts : 81
| Posted 1/26/2005 9:40 PM (GMT -8) | |
That's what I just mentioned in my last post :-P (the toner transfer). I didn't know if this one guy I knew came up with that or if it was a "geek" thing. It was about 4+ years ago when we did the Toner thing.
However, I bookmarked that URL you posted as someone else actually went through all the work testing the different papers for best transfer. I'll have to go buy some of that paper from Staples me thinks :-)
Anyway. I just got done spending a few hours designing my PCB using good old expressPCB. Oh, I finally figured out how to undo something later when you change your mind by clicking on it with the pointer (how simple afterall).
Here's the design which fits on the 3.8 X 2.5 board
So anyway this is what I came up with and I hope i got all the errors out because i allready ordered the 3 board special for $51 + shipping. You get 3 boards, I just need one for now. I should receive it in about the same time I receive my two other PBASIC2 stamps.
Wish me luck!
http://www.paysonarizona.net/ | | Back to Top | | |
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Jon Williams
Registered Member
Date Joined Jul 2004
Total Posts : 6440
| Posted 2/2/2005 7:06 AM (GMT -8) | | I see in your board layout that you didn't put the 0.1 caps in the ATN line that we recommend. So long as you're just using the DB-9 for reprogramming the BASIC Stamp this will be fine. But if you intend to connect to a terminal program, you may have troubles depending on what that program does with the DTR pin.
FWIW, I like ExpressPCB. I am especially happy that they have schematic capture now. When I need a PCB I tend to go from A) working design on breadboard, B) schematic in ExpressSCH, then C) board in ExpressPCB. I particularly like the ability to show me what connects to what when linked to a schematic -- I don't do very many boards so this is a huge help for me.
My last ExpressPCB project worked out so well that we decided to order production boards and sell them in a kit (SX/B Serial Line Follower). Here's my original prototype:
Jon Williams
Applications Engineer, Parallax
Dallas, TX USA Post Edited (Jon Williams) : 2/2/2005 4:05:04 PM GMT
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