Man, I almost started crying when I saw that the PCB service is frozen for the next 3 weeks or so. And I was just finished a board that might actually work! It’s only .5 square inches, and the couple of places I checked are not priced well for tiny boards.
Any suggestions? I only need two or three, so I’m guessing that I’ll just need to wait. I’d be willing to pay more than the 2.50 I was planning on, but $20 each is way more than I want to pay.
Thanks,
Avery
Well, I must say I agree with you entirely! I was eriously bummed when I saw it is “frozen”.
I also understand that SFE does this service as a break-even or worse. It makes wonderful sense to serve as a clearing house for a group of people to gang-up their PCBs on to one large sheet.
I have done a little checking and from what I find, the small boards and short runs are VERY cost-ineffective. This leaves us out in the cold unless you can make one in your sink. I can not get the detail that professional jobs can do.
Also, the other places with the lower rates also use proprietary layout software (i.e. expressPCB). While Eagle has a tough learning curve, and I am still learning, those crummy cut-rate layout programs are not much of a help to me. Also, the best cost from these places includes no solder mask, nor any silkscreen. Again. not optimal for me!
I have not prices out boards from Olimex in detail, but it sounds as if they are easy to work with and their proces are not too bad. They take native Eagle files, which simplifies out jobs.
I am waiting for new new SFE service to come on line!!! I just squeaked my very first PCB design ever before they announced the freeze. I fully expect to have to make major revisions to the design once I see what I really get when I make a design in a certain way (my ignorance, not their fault).
So, here is to hoping that the new SFE PCB service is available soon! I will be one of the first customers!!! I have at least 2 other designs ready to go once I verify the parameters of the designs with the one I just sent out.
-Tony
Heehee. Yes, SFE seems to have cornered the market on nearly profitless PCB manufacturing 
Their pooling service is great, I haven’t found anything even close in price. Looks like I’ll just wait, even the first few boards at $5 were a steal! Thanks Sparky (et al) for the great service.
Avery
Well, lets not think of it as “profitless”, but as a “loss leader”. Just the way that supermarkets, which have a very narrow margin, have special offers to get people in the door. This PCB service brings people in the door. It worked for me. While SFE has great stuff, I would not have been able to find it if it were not for the PCB service.
Because of the PCB service I had a pretty big order (for my budget) in addition to the PCB order.
I will inevitably have more similar orders because of the ongoing PCB deals. So I hold that it is not “profitless” but creates the opportunity to HAVE a profit!!!
Sparky, keep it up!!!
-Tony
During the suspension, why not deal with Gold Phoenix directly? They’re offering special pricing for a limited time:
free step&repeat
free depanelization if 6 or fewer
They claim 6-7 days turnaround for 2 layer, and 2-3 days for shipping.
I’m not affiliated with Gold Phoenix.
Its not because of the losses which it was closed. The main person who was involved with the PCB’s has decided to leave, training someone in the niggly errors which occur in the submitted orders would not be possible, and Nathan wants to make new products rather than keep the PCB service going (catch 22)
But, it will be back soon. (I will get a T-Shirt with that printed on soon, although it wont hel u lot too much :roll: )
does anyone know of any free or inexpensive panelizing software?
http://www.futurlec.com/PCBService.shtml
are another alternative, but still not in the league of Sparkfun
EDIT: and what about dealing with Olimex directly?
erm, i would not get too carried away posting links (olimex is fine). Fairly sure some might get ‘edited’ out at some point. lol.
lexein:
During the suspension, why not deal with Gold Phoenix directly? They’re offering special pricing for a limited time:
$89/155 sq. in., 2 layers, silkscreen, soldermask, until Oct 30 2005 free step&repeat
free depanelization if 6 or fewer
That’s 60 cents per square inch, INCLUDING shipping to the US.They claim 6-7 days turnaround for 2 layer, and 2-3 days for shipping.
I’m not affiliated with Gold Phoenix.
Good point. I just don’t need 155 sq in yet. I need to get some prototype parts made and tested for about $15 to $20 each, then I could go ahead with a big order.
My parts are small, so I would have well more than 6 in a panel. Therefore I also need to pay for the depanelization…
-Tony
There is a site who makes PCB,
http://www.technofreek.com/index.php?pg=10017
rates seem to be ok, but turn over time is little longer.
suds
I am planning to use them for a few projects that are too small to etch myself. But I can’t promise how cheap they will work out to be. Free Propreitary software is easy to use, but you have to make your own footprints for a lot of stuff.
Greetings Avery,
amcfall:
Man, I almost started crying when I saw that the PCB service is frozen for the next 3 weeks or so.
Where did you find this out? I haven’t seen any
announcement from BatchPCB that service has changed.
Thanks In Advance!
Peter,
The original posting was made in september 2005…
Sometimes rather old threads show up again :roll:
JanDirks,jandirks:
Peter,The original posting was made in september 2005…
Sometimes rather old threads show up again :roll:
Thanks, I didn’t see that on first reading.
BTW, I was expecting SFE to halt the BatchPCB service
this time of the year, due to the Chinese new year break
(falls on different dates each year, but typically a total
shutdown of China for ten days).
I was in Shenzhen, China, some years ago on business,
the week before the Chinese new year. Everything grinds
to a halt!
Comments Welcome!