What is the latest best option for board houses?

idbruce

I know this subject has been covered several times, but things change, especially during and after a recession.

I have a small 2 layer board (1.3" X 1.2") that I want to have made, with blue solder mask and 2 oz. thickness, and I only need one or two boards, but I realize that I will probably have to pay for more boards.

I would go for OSH Park, but it appears that they do not offer 2 oz. copper boards.

Basically, I am just wondering if there is a better alternative than ITEAD Studio. For (10) - 5CM X 5CM 2 layer, 2 oz. copper, with blue solder mask, they want $40. And to be honest, I am not sure if that is blue solder mask or just the color of the PCB material.

Leon

The colour of the PCB depends on the solder mask.

idbruce

Thanks Leon

I think I will give ITEAD a try.

Leon

I've been very pleased with their service.

idbruce

Leon

On a whim this morning, I decided to attempt to redesign my board to be single sided, and I succeeded. Since I no longer need through hole plating, I have decided to attempt to make it myself, according to previous discussions between you and I.

However I think ITEAD is probably the best I found for 2oz. copper. Odds are that I will use their services in the future. Perhaps sooner than I think, if I fail to make a decent board

jazzed

Hi Bruce,

Just curious. Why do you need 2oz copper?

idbruce

Hey Jazzed

I need 2 oz. copper because it is a very small board (1.2875" X 1.2") and I need high amperage (15 - 20A), with a lot of through hole components crammed into that small board.

Genetix

That's a lot of power. Have you factored In heat dissipation and is that board flameproof should something catastrophic happen?

Leon

If it's a one off, you could use 1 oz copper and solder pieces of copper wire to the high current tracks. I've done that in that past, and it worked very well.

idbruce

Leon

Yea, I was considering that option earlier when I could not get all the tracks down, then I decided on a jumper, and then I figured out the necessary routing to get the amperage up with 2 oz. And since then, I figured out the routing for a single layer board, so as mentioned, I plan to try the board in house. I have a bunch of 2 oz. presensitized boards left over from my experimentation with the exposure cylinder and etching table.

I think it will be pretty easy, but then again, it has been a couple years since I have messed around with it. I will have to go back and review some of my notes.

idbruce

Genetix

That's a lot of power. Have you factored In heat dissipation and is that board flameproof should something catastrophic happen?

Yep..... That is a lot of power, and it is going to be attached to a Propeller Proto Board

Flameproof?

As long as my Proto Board doesn't go 'poof', I think it will be alright, however I will have to study IRF3708 documentation about heat disapation.

prof_braino

There's a board house in Elk Grove Village that the local Chicago guys prefer. They will also do pick and place, i think you have to supply the components. They accunulate orders, then build a whole slab at once. I think the longest wait is 2 days. Ask on Pumping Station 1 and Workshop88 mailing lists.

Leon

idbruce wrote: »

Leon

Yea, I was considering that option earlier when I could not get all the tracks down, then I decided on a jumper, and then I figured out the necessary routing to get the amperage up with 2 oz. And since then, I figured out the routing for a single layer board, so as mentioned, I plan to try the board in house. I have a bunch of 2 oz. presensitized boards left over from my experimentation with the exposure cylinder and etching table.

I think it will be pretty easy, but then again, it has been a couple years since I have messed around with it. I will have to go back and review some of my notes.

If it's that old, it probably won't work properly. I've had problems with material more than six months old.

idbruce

Leon

If it's that old, it probably won't work properly. I've had problems with material more than six months old.

Yea, we have had this discussion before

It has been sitting for quite some time.... The boards are well sealed and lightly packed, so I am hoping that they will be alright and I will certainly be keeping my fingers crossed. As you know, it is no major ordeal to expose and etch a board, so I am at least going try.

The biggest problem is just cleaning up from all the other projects, to get ready for this one. I made the positive film last night, and this morning I will be cleaning out the trays, wiping down the work area, etc... I figure about an hours worth of work and the work space should be ready.

Setting up a custom size plate and cutting the board should be about another hour and a half, because all the necessary equipment and materials are in such disarray.

So about 2-1/2 hours worth work, and I should be ready to make an exposure.

I just need one small section of board that has remained in tact all this time.

idbruce

Leon

Not that you are particularly interested, but here is the board that I will be attempting to make. And yes, I know the artwork is to close to the edge of the board The positive film has been increased in size to allow 1/8" extra on all sides and I will trim the board back down to it's intended size after etching.

The board will hold (3) - IRF3708s and mount to the SVGA port area of the Prop Proto Board. As mentioned earlier, the final size will be 1.2875" X 1.2".