Contact | X10.com
Please login or register.

Login with username, password and session length

Author Topic: Prototype Printed Circuit Boards  (Read 2388 times)

JeffVolp

  • Community Organizer
  • Hero Member
  • ***
  • Helpful Post Rating: 122
  • Posts: 2299
    • XTB Home Page
Prototype Printed Circuit Boards
« 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
« Last Edit: October 18, 2018, 12:30:10 AM by JeffVolp »
Logged
X-10 automation since the BSR days

dhouston

  • Advanced Member
  • Hero Member
  • ******
  • Helpful Post Rating: 37
  • Posts: 2547
    • davehouston.org
Re: Prototype Printed Circuit Boards
« Reply #1 on: October 15, 2018, 03:35:47 PM »
Looks good. Thanks for the tip. The fact that they accept PayPal is a good sign.
Logged
This message was composed entirely from recycled letters of the alphabet using only renewable, caffeinated energy sources.
No twees, wabbits, chimps or whales died in the process.
https://www.laser.com/dhouston

Brian H

  • Community Organizer
  • Hero Member
  • ***
  • Helpful Post Rating: 305
  • Posts: 13295
Re: Prototype Printed Circuit Boards
« Reply #2 on: October 15, 2018, 03:44:07 PM »
Looks good. Thank you for sharing your find.
Logged

Noam

  • Community Organizer
  • Hero Member
  • ***
  • Helpful Post Rating: 51
  • Posts: 2818
Re: Prototype Printed Circuit Boards
« Reply #3 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.
Logged

dhouston

  • Advanced Member
  • Hero Member
  • ******
  • Helpful Post Rating: 37
  • Posts: 2547
    • davehouston.org
Re: Prototype Printed Circuit Boards
« Reply #4 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.
Logged
This message was composed entirely from recycled letters of the alphabet using only renewable, caffeinated energy sources.
No twees, wabbits, chimps or whales died in the process.
https://www.laser.com/dhouston

dhouston

  • Advanced Member
  • Hero Member
  • ******
  • Helpful Post Rating: 37
  • Posts: 2547
    • davehouston.org
Re: Prototype Printed Circuit Boards
« Reply #5 on: November 22, 2018, 10:56:09 AM »
My PCBs left the airport in Hong Kong about an hour ago.  :)%
Logged
This message was composed entirely from recycled letters of the alphabet using only renewable, caffeinated energy sources.
No twees, wabbits, chimps or whales died in the process.
https://www.laser.com/dhouston

dave w

  • Community Organizer
  • Hero Member
  • ***
  • Helpful Post Rating: 139
  • Posts: 6116
Re: Prototype Printed Circuit Boards
« Reply #6 on: November 22, 2018, 11:52:14 AM »
Quote from: dhouston on November 22, 2018, 10:56:09 AM
My PCBs left the airport in Hong Kong about an hour ago.  :)%
Seems like they have pretty quick turn-around.
Logged
"This aftershave makes me look fat"

dhouston

  • Advanced Member
  • Hero Member
  • ******
  • Helpful Post Rating: 37
  • Posts: 2547
    • davehouston.org
Re: Prototype Printed Circuit Boards
« Reply #7 on: November 22, 2018, 01:20:46 PM »
Quote from: dave w on November 22, 2018, 11:52:14 AM
Quote from: dhouston on November 22, 2018, 10:56:09 AM
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.
Logged
This message was composed entirely from recycled letters of the alphabet using only renewable, caffeinated energy sources.
No twees, wabbits, chimps or whales died in the process.
https://www.laser.com/dhouston

dhouston

  • Advanced Member
  • Hero Member
  • ******
  • Helpful Post Rating: 37
  • Posts: 2547
    • davehouston.org
Re: Prototype Printed Circuit Boards
« Reply #8 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.
Logged
This message was composed entirely from recycled letters of the alphabet using only renewable, caffeinated energy sources.
No twees, wabbits, chimps or whales died in the process.
https://www.laser.com/dhouston

JeffVolp

  • Community Organizer
  • Hero Member
  • ***
  • Helpful Post Rating: 122
  • Posts: 2299
    • XTB Home Page
Re: Prototype Printed Circuit Boards
« Reply #9 on: November 23, 2018, 09:46:38 AM »
Quote from: 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.

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
Logged
X-10 automation since the BSR days

dhouston

  • Advanced Member
  • Hero Member
  • ******
  • Helpful Post Rating: 37
  • Posts: 2547
    • davehouston.org
Re: Prototype Printed Circuit Boards
« Reply #10 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.
Logged
This message was composed entirely from recycled letters of the alphabet using only renewable, caffeinated energy sources.
No twees, wabbits, chimps or whales died in the process.
https://www.laser.com/dhouston

dhouston

  • Advanced Member
  • Hero Member
  • ******
  • Helpful Post Rating: 37
  • Posts: 2547
    • davehouston.org
Re: Prototype Printed Circuit Boards
« Reply #11 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

PS: If you open source your PCBs, you get 2 extra boards.
« Last Edit: December 28, 2018, 10:35:00 AM by dhouston »
Logged
This message was composed entirely from recycled letters of the alphabet using only renewable, caffeinated energy sources.
No twees, wabbits, chimps or whales died in the process.
https://www.laser.com/dhouston
 

X10.com | About X10 | X10 Security Systems | Cameras| Package Deals
© Copyright 2014-2016 X10.com All rights reserved.