X10 Community Forum

💬General Category => General Discussion => Topic started by: JeffVolp on October 15, 2018, 02:14:03 PM

Title: Prototype Printed Circuit Boards
Post by: JeffVolp on October 15, 2018, 02:14:03 PM
I know some of you develop your own circuits.  I recently was designeing an Electronic E-Unit, and needed some prototype boards.  Previously I had used Advance PCB's BareBones special, which offers 3 boards for $99.  That seemed steep for 3 boards slightly larger than my thumb.  So I did some searching and found https://www.pcbgogo.com/.

The BareBones boards are really "bare bones" with no solder mask or silk screen.  PCB GoGo delivered 10 high quality boards WITH solder mask and silk screen for $50, including shipping from China.  Delivery from when the order was placed was just one week.  (It took just one day from China to Las Vegas by DHL, and then 2 days from Vegas to St. George by USPS.)

All I can say is I am very pleased with their service, and will certainly use them again.  It is hardly worth building a hard wired breadboard when a production quality prototype PCB can be obtained so inexpensively.

Jeff
Title: Re: Prototype Printed Circuit Boards
Post by: dhouston on October 15, 2018, 03:35:47 PM
Looks good. Thanks for the tip. The fact that they accept PayPal is a good sign.
Title: Re: Prototype Printed Circuit Boards
Post by: Brian H on October 15, 2018, 03:44:07 PM
Looks good. Thank you for sharing your find.
Title: Re: Prototype Printed Circuit Boards
Post by: Noam on October 16, 2018, 09:43:50 AM
The one time I ordered boards I had designed myself, I used OSHPark. They give you three copies of whatever you are ordering, and price by the square inch. Fully solder-masked, printed, double-sided, etc. You can order more copies (in multiples of 3), and you can also design larger boards with perforations between them to allow you to break them apart yourself.
Title: Re: Prototype Printed Circuit Boards
Post by: dhouston on November 19, 2018, 10:05:37 AM
Over the years I have used 2-3 Chinese fabricators. All had good quality and reasonable prices but shipping was by slow boat or expensive air freight. All of those I've used have disappeared so I suspect I was actually dealing with brokers.
For the XTB-ESP daughterboard (which I've alluded to as WM-101 in another thread) I'm giving PCBGoGo a shot. 10 boards (1.85"x1.575") for a cost of $28 including DHL and should be here by week's end. While I found navigating their order process a bit awkward it was, all-in-all, very simple.
Title: Re: Prototype Printed Circuit Boards
Post by: dhouston on November 22, 2018, 10:56:09 AM
My PCBs left the airport in Hong Kong about an hour ago.  :)%
Title: Re: Prototype Printed Circuit Boards
Post by: dave w on November 22, 2018, 11:52:14 AM
My PCBs left the airport in Hong Kong about an hour ago.  :)%
Seems like they have pretty quick turn-around.
Title: Re: Prototype Printed Circuit Boards
Post by: dhouston on November 22, 2018, 01:20:46 PM
My PCBs left the airport in Hong Kong about an hour ago.  :)%
Seems like they have pretty quick turn-around.
I actually wasted a day by uploading my Gerber files about an hour too late for their Order Review which they only do for an hour or two in the morning. So one day passed before they were reviewed and entered into the manufacturing process.
Title: Re: Prototype Printed Circuit Boards
Post by: dhouston on November 23, 2018, 07:33:40 AM
My PCBs arrived at the Cincinnati airport just after midnight. I should have them later today. That is impressive service.
Title: Re: Prototype Printed Circuit Boards
Post by: JeffVolp on November 23, 2018, 09:46:38 AM
My PCBs arrived at the Cincinnati airport just after midnight. I should have them later today. That is impressive service.

Yes, I've used them twice now for prototype boards.  With that kind of service and price, I won't be doing wire-wrap prototypes anymore.

Jeff
Title: Re: Prototype Printed Circuit Boards
Post by: dhouston on November 23, 2018, 12:54:12 PM
DHL arrived about 10 minutes after the postman delivered my Mouser order so I should be able to assemble a prototypeand smoke test next week.
Title: Re: Prototype Printed Circuit Boards
Post by: dhouston on December 28, 2018, 10:20:32 AM
I just ordered 10 prototype boards from ITEAD. They offer 3 options on shipping. My 12 boards via air mail with tracking cost $14.42 so unless you're in a hurry ITEAD is the best choice. Per PCB: 28/10=2.80 vs. 14.42/12=1.20
https://www.itead.cc/open-pcb/pcb-prototyping.html (https://www.itead.cc/open-pcb/pcb-prototyping.html)

PS: If you open source your PCBs, you get 2 extra boards.