Fast, low cost PCB fab

[Harry D]

There must be a better way to fab 2 layer PCBs at low cost, quickly.
I have no time but need PCBs quickly. It has <15 SM parts including three SOT23-5. I would love to hand off a schematic an $100 and receive three 1.00" x 1.00" x 0.063" PCB in less than four days. All parameters are negotiable. This is for prototyping so workmanship is not critical. I would have toapprove the layout before fab.
With 3D printers,routers and chemicals, someone must have a viable solution.
Who can do this?
Ciao, Harry

 

[Harry D]

You're maybe a factor of 10 low on price. The parts creation, pcb

layout, checking, and gerbers would take at least a day at $60 per

hour or so. Expedited PCB fab and shipping will be at least $100.





--



John Larkin Highland Technology, Inc



jlarkin at highlandtechnology dot com

http://www.highlandtechnology.com

And therein lies the problem, I could spend a day of my time and kludge some surf boards. OK, $120 + parts and I receive it assembled.
Harry

 

[[email protected]]

 And therein lies the problem, I could spend a day of my time and kludge some surf boards. OK, $120 + parts and I receive it assembled.
 Harry

I think your only hope is finding a student that is willing to work
for nothing but the fun of it, but just getting the pcbs made
and delivered in 4 day is pushing it for that price

-Lasse

 

[rickman]

There used to be programmable engravers that would cut a PCB from your
NC data. Noisy as hell, but they worked.

...Jim Thompson

I've always wondered why the service bureaus never adopted this as a
business model, send us your Gerber files and we'll send you the
engraved (or routed as I usually call them) boards in a day. I'm
guessing the costs were such that it wasn't much better than standard
quick turn PCB fabrication. The only machines I have seen were all
in-house at larger companies and sat idle most of the time.

I think it is funny that the OP values his own time but thinks others
work for peanuts.

 

[Robert Baer]

There used to be programmable engravers that would cut a PCB from your
NC data. Noisy as hell, but they worked.

...Jim Thompson

....and the new laser version would be too expensive.

 

[Nico Coesel]

There used to be programmable engravers that would cut a PCB from your
NC data. Noisy as hell, but they worked.

It takes a lot of time and effort to learn how to operate these
machines. Some manufacturers can't get their machines working properly
themselves on an exhibition

I guess etching yourself is still the easiest way.

 

[TTman]

There must be a better way to fab 2 layer PCBs at low cost, quickly.
I have no time but need PCBs quickly. It has <15 SM parts including three
SOT23-5. I would love to hand off a schematic an $100 and receive three
1.00" x 1.00" x 0.063" PCB in less than four days. All parameters are
negotiable. This is for prototyping so workmanship is not critical. I would
have to approve the layout before fab.
With 3D printers,routers and chemicals, someone must have a viable
solution.
Who can do this?
Ciao, Harry

PCB express USA. fast, quite expensive

iteadstudio.com cheapest going but 3weeks del. about $14 for 10 boards if
they fit 50x50mm (2"x2")
so you could get 40 boards for $14

 

[[email protected]]

I've always wondered why the service bureaus never adopted this as a
business model, send us your Gerber files and we'll send you the
engraved (or routed as I usually call them) boards in a day. I'm
guessing the costs were such that it wasn't much better than standard
quick turn PCB fabrication. The only machines I have seen were all
in-house at larger companies and sat idle most of the time.

Yep. We had one at my PPoE. I think it was used once in the three
years I was there. It took an engineer two weeks to get it working,
then. There was one *product* that used boards from that thing but I
think they only sold two. ;-)

We have one at my CPoE but I doubt it's been used since I've been
there (I use it as a source for copper clad and there is never any FR4
dust around it). We send even simple test boards and pin converters
out to a fab.

I think it is funny that the OP values his own time but thinks others
work for peanuts.

Slaves are great, if you can find them. Check your local college.
They have tons of grad students.

 

[Tim Williams]

Heck, I'll do it. But it'll be $500 plus parts and shipping, and dead
bug, not etched. Likely the layout will be larger or taller as a result.
Performance should be comparable.

Tim

--
Deep Friar: a very philosophical monk.
Website: http://seventransistorlabs.com

There must be a better way to fab 2 layer PCBs at low cost, quickly.
I have no time but need PCBs quickly. It has <15 SM parts including three
SOT23-5. I would love to hand off a schematic an $100 and receive three
1.00" x 1.00" x 0.063" PCB in less than four days. All parameters are
negotiable. This is for prototyping so workmanship is not critical. I
would have to approve the layout before fab.
With 3D printers,routers and chemicals, someone must have a viable
solution.
Who can do this?
Ciao, Harry

 

[hamilton]

There must be a better way to fab 2 layer PCBs at low cost, quickly.
I have no time but need PCBs quickly. It has <15 SM parts including three
SOT23-5. I would love to hand off a schematic an $100 and receive three

And if you don't like the layout, would you still pay for it ??

How long would it take you to layout the 15 parts on the board ?

How long would it take for someone else to figure out what you really
want and then layout that same board ?

PCB art work is still more art then engineering.

hamilton

 

[[email protected]]

We had one of them for a while. It wasn't worth the hassle.

Yep. I thought it was a cool idea but all the work is in the layout,
which this thing doesn't solve. Real boards can be had in a day or
two.

Plated-through, solder coated, screened boards are nice; multilayer is even
better.

Yep. If I can't wait the day or two, I probably can't wait for the
layout guy, either. I'll make it dead-bug.

 

[[email protected]]

Harry - get a copy of Eagle, which is, if memory serves, free for a board
of the small size you're describing. Spend a day doing the layout your
self - amazing how an auto router shortens the time required.
Then email your gerber files to AP Circuits, or some similar pcb company
that does quick turn arounds on bare 2 sided pcboards, ie no solder masks or
printing or plating. Typically, two boards will be in the morning FedEx
delivery within 3 days. Cost, including shipping, for 2 10 sq inch boards is
in the neighborhood of $120. Elapsed time - 4 days. What more could you ask?

Hul

 

[petrus bitbyter]

"Harry D" <[email protected]> schreef in bericht
There must be a better way to fab 2 layer PCBs at low cost, quickly.
I have no time but need PCBs quickly. It has <15 SM parts including three
SOT23-5. I would love to hand off a schematic an $100 and receive three
1.00" x 1.00" x 0.063" PCB in less than four days. All parameters are
negotiable. This is for prototyping so workmanship is not critical. I would
have to approve the layout before fab.
With 3D printers,routers and chemicals, someone must have a viable
solution.
Who can do this?
Ciao, Harry

I make single sided boards this way but double sided through plated is in
essence a professional job that requires correponding equipment. That's not
to say you cannot make those PCBs at all, because I did, but not within the
constrains you mentionend.

petrus bitbyter

 

[Fred Abse]

$120 + parts and I receive it assembled. Harry

That stuff you're on, does it need a prescription?

 

[Harry D]

That stuff you're on, does it need a prescription?

No, old age dims the perception!
I'm thinking that if a skilled PCB layout tech had the software and time, he could get a PCB router for cheap, spend time on it to improve his skillsthen sell his service. My job with 16 SM parts (0805 + SOT23-5) could be layout in a few hours and rout in a few hours. At $100 a crack he is making minimum wage in some cabin in Minnesota, and no 1099s.

 

[petrus bitbyter]

"Harry D" <[email protected]> schreef in bericht

That stuff you're on, does it need a prescription?

| No, old age dims the perception!
| I'm thinking that if a skilled PCB layout tech had the software and time,
he could get a PCB router for cheap, spend | time on it to improve his
skills then sell his service. My job with 16 SM parts (0805 + SOT23-5) could
be layout in | a few hours and rout in a few hours. At $100 a crack he is
making minimum wage in some cabin in Minnesota, and no |
| 1099s.

Suppose you're a real optimist. A crack for less then $25,- an hour for the
design including the time and material for the PCB's. Nevertheless, as I
*am* curious you can send the schematic and the BOM and I'll see what I can
do for you... If anything.

petrus bitbyter

 

[Harry D]

"Harry D" <[email protected]> schreef in bericht




| No, old age dims the perception!

| I'm thinking that if a skilled PCB layout tech had the software and time,

he could get a PCB router for cheap, spend | time on it to improve his

skills then sell his service. My job with 16 SM parts (0805 + SOT23-5) could

be layout in | a few hours and rout in a few hours. At $100 a crack he is

making minimum wage in some cabin in Minnesota, and no |

| 1099s.



Suppose you're a real optimist. A crack for less then $25,- an hour for the

design including the time and material for the PCB's. Nevertheless, as I

*am* curious you can send the schematic and the BOM and I'll see what I can

do for you... If anything.



petrus bitbyter

Try this; http://www.keepandshare.com/doc/show.php?i=1136347&cat=1

cheers, harry

 

[Klaus Kragelund]

Yep. We had one at my PPoE. I think it was used once in the three

years I was there. It took an engineer two weeks to get it working,

then. There was one *product* that used boards from that thing but I

think they only sold two. ;-)



We have one at my CPoE but I doubt it's been used since I've been

there (I use it as a source for copper clad and there is never any FR4

dust around it). We send even simple test boards and pin converters

out to a fab.

We have a LPKF since 3-4 years now. We only use it for double sided PCBs and it works like a charm. It's in constant use and once you know how to set it up it really reduces board spin time.

Regards

Klaus

 

[Harry D]

We have a LPKF since 3-4 years now. We only use it for double sided PCBs and it works like a charm. It's in constant use and once you know how to set it up it really reduces board spin time.



Regards



Klaus

Now that's what I'm talking about! Come on fellas, go to eBay and buy a LPFK and spin PCBs for all the world to enjoy. Get sketches from JL and make big $$.
Cheers, Harry

 

[petrus bitbyter]

See A.B.S.E.

petrus bitbyter

Try this; http://www.keepandshare.com/doc/show.php?i=1136347&cat=1

cheers, harry