Shop OBEX P1 Docs P2 Docs Learn Events
Printed circuit boards — Parallax Forums

Printed circuit boards

ArchiverArchiver Posts: 46,084
edited 2002-01-16 23:25 in General Discussion
I've noticed that many "prototype" boards are a light brown color
(Express PCB has some examples on their site) while "production"
boards tend to be green. What makes some boards brown and others
green? Have any of you had any experience with small production runs
of PCBs? If so, who would you recommend?

Thanks,
--Jeff Wallace

Comments

  • ArchiverArchiver Posts: 46,084
    edited 2001-03-18 00:35
    Recommended for production runs is www.4pcb.com .
    Color is based on materials, usually FR4. I use prototype boards from
    http://epcircuits.uniserve.com , because they will also do a solder mask,
    unlike other proto houses. Their boards are green.

    Dennis
    Original Message
    From: bs2web@y... [noparse]/noparse]mailto:[url=http://forums.parallaxinc.com/group/basicstamps/post?postID=GLGdVuiEXyxilLZtoymOC7lEATkpCZQWt_uvZurPEgIqJJIBXBVvJOI-gqc72qLYOecBHZZz]bs2web@y...[/url
    Sent: Saturday, March 17, 2001 3:58 PM
    To: basicstamps@yahoogroups.com
    Subject: [noparse][[/noparse]basicstamps] Printed circuit boards


    I've noticed that many "prototype" boards are a light brown color
    (Express PCB has some examples on their site) while "production"
    boards tend to be green. What makes some boards brown and others
    green? Have any of you had any experience with small production runs
    of PCBs? If so, who would you recommend?

    Thanks,
    --Jeff Wallace




    Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
  • ArchiverArchiver Posts: 46,084
    edited 2001-03-18 19:43
    Not only green soldermask! The BS2 family shows off green for the
    BS2, but also red (e), blue (sx) and gold (P).
  • ArchiverArchiver Posts: 46,084
    edited 2002-01-11 20:34
    I'm looking for recommendations for a prototype board house that does
    reasonable quality PCBs at decent prices.

    - US Based as that's where I'm located
    - I'd prefer not to have to use their layout software so the transition to
    production is easier
    - 1-2 week turnaround is okay most of the time.

    Thanks,

    Tim
  • ArchiverArchiver Posts: 46,084
    edited 2002-01-11 20:46
    Everyone seems to complain about ExpressPCB, but you can buy the gerber
    files for production from them and its only $60. The only deal is that you
    have to have placed an order for that particular board to get the gerber.

    Not too bad in my book.

    Mark
    Original Message
    From: Tim McDonough [noparse]/noparse]mailto:[url=http://forums.parallaxinc.com/group/basicstamps/post?postID=6wqfqR08nU5aRH4OJPrSg7aD87nkdTqHQ0xKemPGTf2ld2BG8TF5ju--U9S9OXkpcuhGC1ingACAwAC-]tim@m...[/url
    Sent: Friday, January 11, 2002 2:34 PM
    To: basicstamps@yahoogroups.com
    Subject: [noparse][[/noparse]basicstamps] Printed Circuit Boards


    I'm looking for recommendations for a prototype board house that does
    reasonable quality PCBs at decent prices.

    - US Based as that's where I'm located
    - I'd prefer not to have to use their layout software so the transition to
    production is easier
    - 1-2 week turnaround is okay most of the time.

    Thanks,

    Tim



    To UNSUBSCRIBE, just send mail to:
    basicstamps-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
    from the same email address that you subscribed. Text in the Subject and
    Body of the message will be ignored.


    Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
  • ArchiverArchiver Posts: 46,084
    edited 2002-01-11 20:47
    For Tim

    I recommend Express PCB. I use them exclusively for laying out boards for
    customers.

    Sid
  • ArchiverArchiver Posts: 46,084
    edited 2002-01-11 20:54
    > Everyone seems to complain about ExpressPCB, but you can buy the
    gerber
    > files for production from them and its only $60. The only deal is
    that you
    > have to have placed an order for that particular board to get the
    gerber.
    >
    > Not too bad in my book.
    >
    > Mark

    I agree that for what they do they're borderline awesome. My problem
    is that as the parts count goes up I get nervous about using their
    software since the layout isn't tied to the schematic, no design
    rules, etc.

    Thanks,

    Tim
  • ArchiverArchiver Posts: 46,084
    edited 2002-01-11 21:34
    I'd like to put my 0.02 in for Alberta Printed Circuits (APcircuits.com).
    The price was reasonable - about $100 for 8 smallish boards, they take
    standard gerber files and turn around in less than a week. As a matter of
    fact, both runs I've done with them have been less than 7 days from the
    time I submitted the document to the time they were in my hands.

    On Fri, 11 Jan 2002, Tim McDonough wrote:

    > I'm looking for recommendations for a prototype board house that does
    > reasonable quality PCBs at decent prices.
    >
    > - US Based as that's where I'm located
    > - I'd prefer not to have to use their layout software so the transition to
    > production is easier
    > - 1-2 week turnaround is okay most of the time.
    >
    > Thanks,
    >
    > Tim
    >
    >
    >
    > To UNSUBSCRIBE, just send mail to:
    > basicstamps-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
    > from the same email address that you subscribed. Text in the Subject and Body
    of the message will be ignored.
    >
    >
    > Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
    >
    >
    >

    Sean T. Lamont, CTO / Chief NetNerd, Abstract Software, Inc. (ServNet)
    Seattle - Bellingham - Vancouver - Portland - Everett - Tacoma - Bremerton
    email: lamont@a... WWW: http://www.serv.net
    "...There's no moral, it's just a lot of stuff that happens". - H. Simpson
  • ArchiverArchiver Posts: 46,084
    edited 2002-01-11 21:52
    > I'm looking for recommendations for a prototype board house that does
    > reasonable quality PCBs at decent prices.
    >
    > - US Based as that's where I'm located
    > - I'd prefer not to have to use their layout software so the transition to
    > production is easier
    > - 1-2 week turnaround is okay most of the time.

    How about double-sided, silk-screened, plated-through, solder masked
    professional quality protos for $33.00 ea?

    I use them all prototypes & finished boards: https://www.4pcb.com/33eachssl.html

    Regards,

    -Bruce
    webmaster@r...
    http://www.rentron.com
  • ArchiverArchiver Posts: 46,084
    edited 2002-01-11 22:18
    In a message dated 1/11/02 3:02:49 PM Central Standard Time,
    tim@m... writes:


    > I agree that for what they do they're borderline awesome. My problem
    > is that as the parts count goes up I get nervous about using their
    > software since the layout isn't tied to the schematic, no design
    >

    I've had some conversations with ExpressPCB and they are working on a
    schematic program -- should be nice when it's all tied together. I agree
    that they do a terrific job for low-volume boards.

    -- Jon Williams


    [noparse][[/noparse]Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
  • ArchiverArchiver Posts: 46,084
    edited 2002-01-11 22:54
    In browsing for various PC board services, I came across some software that
    figures out and then draws lines for PC
    board design. Has anyone tried BSPEC? Evidently it produces output files in a
    standard format that can be uploaded
    to boardhouses for quotes.

    Here is their link:

    http://www.bestproto.com/bpecs.html

    Michael


    "Sean T. Lamont .lost." wrote:

    > I'd like to put my 0.02 in for Alberta Printed Circuits (APcircuits.com).
    > The price was reasonable - about $100 for 8 smallish boards, they take
    > standard gerber files and turn around in less than a week. As a matter of
    > fact, both runs I've done with them have been less than 7 days from the
    > time I submitted the document to the time they were in my hands.
    >
    > On Fri, 11 Jan 2002, Tim McDonough wrote:
    >
    > > I'm looking for recommendations for a prototype board house that does
    > > reasonable quality PCBs at decent prices.
    > >
    > > - US Based as that's where I'm located
    > > - I'd prefer not to have to use their layout software so the transition to
    > > production is easier
    > > - 1-2 week turnaround is okay most of the time.
    > >
    > > Thanks,
    > >
    > > Tim
    > >
    > >
    > >
    > > To UNSUBSCRIBE, just send mail to:
    > > basicstamps-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
    > > from the same email address that you subscribed. Text in the Subject and
    Body of the message will be ignored.
    > >
    > >
    > > Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
    > >
    > >
    > >
    >
    > Sean T. Lamont, CTO / Chief NetNerd, Abstract Software, Inc. (ServNet)
    > Seattle - Bellingham - Vancouver - Portland - Everett - Tacoma - Bremerton
    > email: lamont@a... WWW: http://www.serv.net
    > "...There's no moral, it's just a lot of stuff that happens". - H. Simpson
    >
    > To UNSUBSCRIBE, just send mail to:
    > basicstamps-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
    > from the same email address that you subscribed. Text in the Subject and Body
    of the message will be ignored.
    >
    >
    > Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
  • ArchiverArchiver Posts: 46,084
    edited 2002-01-11 23:14
    Almost All decent software has autorouting capability.

    On Fri, 11 Jan 2002, Michael Gianturco wrote:

    > In browsing for various PC board services, I came across some software that
    figures out and then draws lines for PC
    > board design. Has anyone tried BSPEC? Evidently it produces output files in a
    standard format that can be uploaded
    > to boardhouses for quotes.
    >
    > Here is their link:
    >
    > http://www.bestproto.com/bpecs.html
    >
    > Michael
    >
    >
    > "Sean T. Lamont .lost." wrote:
    >
    > > I'd like to put my 0.02 in for Alberta Printed Circuits (APcircuits.com).
    > > The price was reasonable - about $100 for 8 smallish boards, they take
    > > standard gerber files and turn around in less than a week. As a matter of
    > > fact, both runs I've done with them have been less than 7 days from the
    > > time I submitted the document to the time they were in my hands.
    > >
    > > On Fri, 11 Jan 2002, Tim McDonough wrote:
    > >
    > > > I'm looking for recommendations for a prototype board house that does
    > > > reasonable quality PCBs at decent prices.
    > > >
    > > > - US Based as that's where I'm located
    > > > - I'd prefer not to have to use their layout software so the transition to
    > > > production is easier
    > > > - 1-2 week turnaround is okay most of the time.
    > > >
    > > > Thanks,
    > > >
    > > > Tim
    > > >
    > > >
    > > >
    > > > To UNSUBSCRIBE, just send mail to:
    > > > basicstamps-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
    > > > from the same email address that you subscribed. Text in the Subject and
    Body of the message will be ignored.
    > > >
    > > >
    > > > Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
    > > >
    > > >
    > > >
    > >
    > > Sean T. Lamont, CTO / Chief NetNerd, Abstract Software, Inc. (ServNet)
    > > Seattle - Bellingham - Vancouver - Portland - Everett - Tacoma - Bremerton
    > > email: lamont@a... WWW: http://www.serv.net
    > > "...There's no moral, it's just a lot of stuff that happens". - H. Simpson
    > >
    > > To UNSUBSCRIBE, just send mail to:
    > > basicstamps-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
    > > from the same email address that you subscribed. Text in the Subject and
    Body of the message will be ignored.
    > >
    > >
    > > Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
    >
    >
    > To UNSUBSCRIBE, just send mail to:
    > basicstamps-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
    > from the same email address that you subscribed. Text in the Subject and Body
    of the message will be ignored.
    >
    >
    > Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
    >
    >
    >

    Sean T. Lamont, CTO / Chief NetNerd, Abstract Software, Inc. (ServNet)
    Seattle - Bellingham - Vancouver - Portland - Everett - Tacoma - Bremerton
    email: lamont@a... WWW: http://www.serv.net
    "...There's no moral, it's just a lot of stuff that happens". - H. Simpson
  • ArchiverArchiver Posts: 46,084
    edited 2002-01-12 00:14
    At 18:14 01/11/02, Sean T. Lamont .lost. wrote:

    >On Fri, 11 Jan 2002, Michael Gianturco wrote:
    >
    > > In browsing for various PC board services, I came across
    > >some software that figures out and then draws lines for PC
    > >board design. Has anyone tried BSPEC? Evidently it
    > >produces output files in a standard format that can be
    > >uploaded to boardhouses for quotes.
    > >
    > > Here is their link:
    > >
    > > http://www.bestproto.com/bpecs.html
    > >
    > > Michael

    >Almost All decent software has autorouting capability.

    True, but look at the price on it! BPECS costs $29.95.


    Jim H
  • ArchiverArchiver Posts: 46,084
    edited 2002-01-12 00:22
    I use eagle. Which admittedly is a grand, but the demo is free.

    On Fri, 11 Jan 2002, Jim Higgins wrote:

    > At 18:14 01/11/02, Sean T. Lamont .lost. wrote:
    >
    > >On Fri, 11 Jan 2002, Michael Gianturco wrote:
    > >
    > > > In browsing for various PC board services, I came across
    > > >some software that figures out and then draws lines for PC
    > > >board design. Has anyone tried BSPEC? Evidently it
    > > >produces output files in a standard format that can be
    > > >uploaded to boardhouses for quotes.
    > > >
    > > > Here is their link:
    > > >
    > > > http://www.bestproto.com/bpecs.html
    > > >
    > > > Michael
    >
    > >Almost All decent software has autorouting capability.
    >
    > True, but look at the price on it! BPECS costs $29.95.
    >
    >
    > Jim H
    >
    >
    > To UNSUBSCRIBE, just send mail to:
    > basicstamps-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
    > from the same email address that you subscribed. Text in the Subject and Body
    of the message will be ignored.
    >
    >
    > Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
    >
    >
    >

    Sean T. Lamont, CTO / Chief NetNerd, Abstract Software, Inc. (ServNet)
    Seattle - Bellingham - Vancouver - Portland - Everett - Tacoma - Bremerton
    email: lamont@a... WWW: http://www.serv.net
    "...There's no moral, it's just a lot of stuff that happens". - H. Simpson
  • ArchiverArchiver Posts: 46,084
    edited 2002-01-16 23:25
    FWIW, Advanced Circuits at the address given by Bruce is a UL approved
    board house, which is necessary for use in UL commercial products. I've
    had good service from them, and like the fact that finished board prices
    go down with longer lead times, such as 4 weeks.

    Dennis
    Original Message
    From: B. Reynolds [noparse]/noparse]mailto:[url=http://forums.parallaxinc.com/group/basicstamps/post?postID=9d-Ir9s3Fvnlk89CBjZ7t-FT_ucqKjqGIlFs_vBvRcmOzL3lpS8OhNOM4xTiCu_Gf4jSa-kq2hyxXMVTQQ]breyno1@m...[/url
    Sent: Friday, January 11, 2002 1:52 PM
    To: basicstamps@yahoogroups.com
    Subject: Re: [noparse][[/noparse]basicstamps] Printed Circuit Boards

    How about double-sided, silk-screened, plated-through, solder masked
    professional quality protos for $33.00 ea?

    I use them all prototypes & finished boards:
    https://www.4pcb.com/33eachssl.html

    Regards,

    -Bruce
    webmaster@r...
    http://www.rentron.com
Sign In or Register to comment.