ExpressPCB- does anyone here use them?

Rforbes

Hey All,

I'm just wondering if any of you use ExpressPCB for having boards made up? I've been using them and the boards have been fine. The software is pretty simple to use but limited. Any thoughts/suggestions on a better solution for getting prototype boards made would be much appreciated. Although, I'd prefer to not have to spend money on software to do it. IF that's even possible!

Thanks in advance
Robert

tonyp12

Diptrace (free to 300pads)
http://www.diptrace.com/download.php
oshpark.com in USA for 3-9 boards (cheap for smaller boards).
diptrace gerbers work just fine (copper layers inside zipfile should just be called 'top' & 'bottom')

Rforbes

tony- Great! I'll dig into this one. Thanks.

Duane Degn

I switched to Diptrace from Eagle a while back and I've been very glad I did. IMO, Diptrace is a lot easier to use.

You just export gerbers and N/C drill files, zip 'em up and submit them to oshpark like Tony says. It's pretty dang cool getting PCBs you designed back from them.

SRLM

I use Kicad for my EDA and Advanced Circuits for my board house.






I like Kicad because it doesn't have any limitations or costs, it seems like it was built by a software team (so things make sense), it's easy to use, and it's cross platform. It's also very well supported and actively developed (I run the Adam Wolf daily build).

Duane Degn

I have a partial list of links to forum threads discussing PCBs in post #5 of my index (kind of in the middle of the list of topics (sorry, topics aren't really in any logical order)). It includes a link to a thread about the reasons Parallax switched to Diptrace.

Dr_Acula

Although, I'd prefer to not have to spend money on software to do it. IF that's even possible!

Hear hear!

I paid $125 some years back for the student version of Eagle which allows boards up to 100x160mm (Eurocard size) and have use a number of fab houses in China. More recently I've been using http://www.seeedstudio.com/depot/fusion-pcb-service-2-layers-p-835.html $9.90 for ten boards at 5x5cm. That is less than $1 per board, or approx 25c per square inch. I think if you order over $50 there is free shipping. So I've been redesigning all my boards so there are lots of little boards connected with headers rather than one big board. eg a regulator board, an SD card board, a serial board. And at 5x5cm that means you can use the free version of Eagle.

Only catch with Seeed - at those prices and with standard shipping, it can be 3-4 weeks for boards to arrive.

Rforbes

Wow, thanks tons guys. I'll look through them all, time permitting. I'm unsure of what some of the stuff is, so it's definitely a learning process. Good stuff though!

localroger

I use ExpressPCB all the time, but then I don't use them for anything I'd later want to move to mass production. I also don't do fill floods or ground planes and I'm very conservative about trace spacing. I have ordered 20 boards at a time from them for a proven design. I've never gotten a bad board that wasn't the result of a mistake I made in layout. It's very hard to beat their miniboard service for quick turnaround and reasonable price. And of course their tools are pedestrian in capability but easy to learn, adequate for the complexity of the projects I'm doing, and you can't beat the price. I have had miniboards made for many things I'd once have hand-wired because a few hours of my time is worth $51.

Tymkrs

We use Kicad and Laen's oshpark.com service for pcbs. All the purple boards you see are from oshpark. Turnaround time for them is usually 1-2weeks from the time you send to the time you get it back.

I also wrote a whole bunch of tutorials for newbies on Kicad just in case anyone needs them:

http://tymkrs.tumblr.com/archive

August 28 - Sept 5 2012 for basics on KiCad (I actually walk through my propeller heart led project here)

March 24 - 31st 2013 is where I go through some of the steps but for a different board.

http://tymkrs.tumblr.com/post/46166700270/kicad-brd-files-gerber-files-for-oshpark-service is where I show how to go from kicad files to something that oshpark's system recognizes. It's pretty easy!

Addie

Chris Savage

I've used ExpressPCB on/off over the years. Mainly my thoughts are inline with localroger, but in addition I almost always use their SCH software for schematics, regardless. Schematics, PCBs and new parts can be built in a very short time. But as localroger said, I wouldn't use it for something I would later want to mass produce. Nothing complex anyway. I do use pours and put extra effort into most boards, but again, it's easy so not a bunch of extra work. I do have a license for Eagle 5.x but haven't used it since the upgrade.

eagletalontim

I have used ExpressPCB and like their shipping / quality, but I would recommend going with a cheaper company especially if you are ever going to reorder the same boards over and over. I have paid over $11 a board for too long until I found out about DipTrace. Since you can design the board in one program then get it quoted by several companies that are for sure much cheaper than ExpressPCB. I am also in the market for a cheaper US based company that can do 2 to 10 boards for less than ExpressPCB. Two boards for a project I am working on from ExpressPCB are almost $50 each!! I can't afford any mess ups.

davejo

Try this PCB designing software Target 3001 and Eagle. Both have free versions. And lots of learning tutorials are also available on internet for them.

prototype pcb assembly services

localroger

As Chris points out, even if you never use their PCB software or board service, ExpressPCB's schematic software is really nice for the price. One of my coworkers uses it to document electrical panel layouts. None of the "parts" he has created really exists but the end result on the .sch end does what is needed.