Cheap one-off PCBs

[EyeMWing]

Any ideas? This is actually 5 seperate boards, but I learned a little trick for prototyping that involves getting it all stamped onto one board and physically cutting them apart.

 

[Demon-Xanth]

There is a company out there that has a PCB design program and a reletively cheap price for a number of prototype boards. I don't remember the name off hand though.

 

[RaynorWolfcastle]

pcbexpress if you need it quick, otherwise find a local board shop they'll do it for cheap

 

[Demon-Xanth]

http://www.expresspcb.com/

 

[91TTZ]

Originally posted by: EyeMWing
Any ideas? This is actually 5 seperate boards, but I learned a little trick for prototyping that involves getting it all stamped onto one board and physically cutting them apart.

Personally, I've made layout of the boards with Eagle cad and then etched the traces using a laser printer transfer and acid. Works alright, but it's messy.

Getting them made by a company will get you better boards but it's more expensive if you just want a couple of them.

 

[EyeMWing]

Originally posted by: 91TTZ

Originally posted by: EyeMWing
Any ideas? This is actually 5 seperate boards, but I learned a little trick for prototyping that involves getting it all stamped onto one board and physically cutting them apart.

Personally, I've made layout of the boards with Eagle cad and then etched the traces using a laser printer transfer and acid. Works alright, but it's messy.

Getting them made by a company will get you better boards but it's more expensive if you just want a couple of them.

Hrm, that's interesting. Got a link?

 

[Rastus]

A local college or university has students that could make you a board in their lab.

 

[EyeMWing]

Originally posted by: Rastus
A local college or university has students that could make you a board in their lab.

Yes, the more I look into it, the more I realize "I should wait a month and a half and slip an engineering kid $5 and a CAD file"

 

[91TTZ]

Originally posted by: EyeMWing

Originally posted by: 91TTZ

Originally posted by: EyeMWing
Any ideas? This is actually 5 seperate boards, but I learned a little trick for prototyping that involves getting it all stamped onto one board and physically cutting them apart.

Personally, I've made layout of the boards with Eagle cad and then etched the traces using a laser printer transfer and acid. Works alright, but it's messy.

Getting them made by a company will get you better boards but it's more expensive if you just want a couple of them.

Hrm, that's interesting. Got a link?

Here's one of them that I made:

pic1

pic2

 

[ucdbiendog]

made a simple strain gauge bridge using express PCB. its a little pricey if you only need one or two, but man its so easy, and the boards are very high quality.

 

[Mark R]

Olimex

Very, very cheap, acceptable quality - solder mask and silk screen as standard 😀 They take eagle files (freeware version available - very powerful program, but tricky to get to use).

Disadvantages: Based in Bulgaria, no secure web site (CC details need to go by fax/snail mail), overall turnaround time slow due to shipping (takes about 2 weeks from order to getting boards).

Obligatory pics: Link. This is one of a few microcontroller boards I built a while ago. Double sided, plated holes, vias, 2 solder masks and a silk screen - cost me about $35 for 10 boards, including everything (tooling, manufacture, drilling, panelizing/depanelizing, shipping).