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ExpressPCB

Computer Geek 101Computer Geek 101 Posts: 179
edited 2010-10-15 09:19 in General Discussion
I bought 50 micro sd sockets. Does anyone have a micro sd socket object for ExpressPCB? Thanks in advance.

Comments

  • wjsteelewjsteele Posts: 697
    edited 2010-09-20 08:30
    Which ones did you get? There are subtle differences in the different manufacturers.

    Bill
  • Computer Geek 101Computer Geek 101 Posts: 179
    edited 2010-09-20 08:34
    I didnt know there were any differences in the layout. I'll check tonight. Thanks
    actually....here it is
    50Pcs TransFlash TF Micro SD Card Socket Plug Adapter
    http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=170520487010
  • Bobb FwedBobb Fwed Posts: 1,119
    edited 2010-09-20 09:16
    Anyone want to hear my reasons to not use ExpressPCB? Too bad, I have a conviction and I am going to share it with the world. I don't want other to run into the same problems I have had. I had a few [really] bad batches from them that cost me tons of money and more importantly time! I thought (at the time) fabrication mistakes are normal, come to find out, they're not!

    These were all done on their 2-layer production service (this is their "high quality", "high-volume" service).

    Early on, I ordered a set of 10 very large (77 sq-in) PCBs. I hand soldered a couple hundred parts on each. One of the 10 did not work. I started taking off parts in the problem areas. Come to find out there were two places on the board where you could see a pad was shorting to the copper pour where it wasn't supposed to. Part of the space around the pads were not etched out. 1 out of 10 failure rate (10%).

    I ordered another 50 boards (22 sq-in) later, that had similar flaws. Some of the flaws we found and were able to score the board to make them operational, but many we just had to toss in the trash. There were 9 that we had to fix/throw away (18% failure).

    My last order was 60 boards (28 sq-in) that had 7 unfindable/unrepairable flaws and 4 boards where we found and were able to fix the flaw. These were machine assembled, which means there was a ton of money lost of the 7 boards! Some of the flaws are so subtle that they are near impossible to identify. One we found, just by luck (and a co-worker's good eye) the space between two traces just just slightly more green than the rest of the space. It was connecting the traces with 40-50 ohms of resistance. Scoring the space removed the connection (>18% failure).

    I dropped them after these frustrations, and went to Sunstone PCBs (they work closely with Screaming Circuit Assembly). Guess what, I ordered 100 boards from them, 0 flaws (0% failure)!

    They have a free program (called PCB123) that works almost exactly like ExpressPCB's, but with many more features that make it work more like a standalone CAD suite. Version 4 of PCB123 is coming out in a matter of hours. Plus (most importantly) their fabrication is soooooooo much better. Their prices are very competitive across the board, which means it is cheaper than ExpressPCB.

    Please head my warning!
  • LeonLeon Posts: 7,620
    edited 2010-09-20 09:24
    I always have my more complex boards tested. It costs extra, but it saves money in the long run.
  • Bobb FwedBobb Fwed Posts: 1,119
    edited 2010-09-20 09:32
    Leon wrote: »
    I always have my more complex boards tested. It costs extra, but it saves money in the long run.
    ExpressPCB does testing? When I was with them, they didn't do anything: testing, v-scoring, cutouts, or panelization. Made it such a pain to order large sheets of a bunch of little boards, we only did it once.

    Ya, now because we are doing larger quantities and full assembly from Screaming Circuits, we get all of our boards electrically tested as well. They fabricate one extra panelized board (in case of a flaw), and when there are no flaws, you get a free panel (well, you actually did pay for it)! Not that we are going to bother assembling it, but it's nice to see there were no flaws, and have a non-stuffed board to look at.
  • LeonLeon Posts: 7,620
    edited 2010-09-20 09:35
    I don't know about Express PCB, but my usual suppliers do it.
  • Computer Geek 101Computer Geek 101 Posts: 179
    edited 2010-09-20 09:59
    Actually, I make my own boards. I just like the software to lay it out with.
  • Bobb FwedBobb Fwed Posts: 1,119
    edited 2010-09-20 14:59
    Computer Geek 101 wrote: »
    Actually, I make my own boards. I just like the software to lay it out with.

    Oh, you're one of those geeks :smilewinkgrin:
  • localrogerlocalroger Posts: 3,452
    edited 2010-09-20 17:40
    I use ExpressPCB for simple stuff and have never had a problem with them. If you have something that will fit on their miniboard it's hard to beat for cheap and quick delivery, and I use it because it's faster and cheaper than point to point wiring for small projects. Yes, there are services that will do it for about the same price per sqin with solder mask and silkscreen but you have to wait for a panel to fill up with other peoples' stuff. That seems to be their specialty, and it wouldn't surprise me that they might not be as competitive on larger or higher volume work.
  • Computer Geek 101Computer Geek 101 Posts: 179
    edited 2010-09-21 04:36
    Yep I'm one of those guys.....been making boards since I was 14
  • Alan BradfordAlan Bradford Posts: 172
    edited 2010-09-24 17:01
    I have been using Express PCB since they started 12-15 years ago.
    The only problems I have had were my own mistakes, and one time they used the wrong drill size and they replaced the bad boards overninght.

    I have not done any big board runs larger than 50 thought.

    Just my 2 cents worth.
  • wjsteelewjsteele Posts: 697
    edited 2010-10-15 09:19
    Agreed, I use ExpressPCB for my boards too. I pay careful attendtion to the location of my ground plane pours to insure that they are not too close for a mistake like you experienced. I've ordered hundreds of boards from them without a single bad one.

    Bill
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