The timeline goes roughly as follows
We panelize all the orders + send to fab. There are a good number of automated safeguards in place to ensure that all designs get panelized + sent. That eats up the first 4 days.
The ship time from the fab is the last few days, and in that period, we found out there was a problem + asked whats up. The fab [since it was their fault] then rush built the panel + rush shipped it to us, which decreased the recovery time as well.
In any case, we’ve already shipped those boards to you [if you haven’t got the email with tracking info, please let me know!] - and we’re only at day 27-28 or so.
Yes, we’re late [and we really hate being late - believe me. My boards came in at the same time yours did, with the same turnaround], but we didn’t quite take 40 days.
Cheers,
–David Carne
busonerd:
The timeline goes roughly as follows
Dave,
Thanks for the details of the flow. As I see it there are two issues here; a micro scale; (Bigglez and a few others including yourself didn’t get PCBs at the beginning of July), and a macro scale; BatchPCB is not profitable.
The profit issue is a red flag. Sooner or later it will cause the demise of BatchPCB. No one wants that. So we have to reach a compromise in helping each other. I have put some suggestions on the table, and invite open discussion.
busonerd:
Yes, we’re late [and we really hate being late - believe me. My boards came in at the same time yours did, with the same turnaround], but we didn’t quite take 40 days.
Granted. My example assumed that I made a mistake (in the design) or that BatchPCB made a mistake and didn’t get a rush from the fab to fix it.
I’m still suggesting that BatchPCB have a dialog with the fab during the fab window to catch any projects that slip. If this is reported on the BatchPCB web site the customers will also know of the delay and I bet they would be less upset than finding out at the eleventh hour.
BatchPCB is not for time sensitive projects. It’s been stated many times. I’m asking for a little more info (from the fab via BatchPCB) so that I can plan the things that I do control.
Perhaps the new BatchPCB service has two grades: (1) Slow and cheap and not guaranteed. (2) Tracked and guaranteed for a service fee and/or minimum cost per order.
I’m still hoping we can work something out for everyone!
Comments Welcome!
Have you considered going directly to gold phoenix?
You will get all you need much cheaper…
pittuck:
Have you considered going directly to gold phoenix?
You will get all you need much cheaper…
pittuck,
Yes, and no. My projects do not meet the minimums at Gold Phoenix.
So I use BatchPCB to concatenate my boards (with yours and other customers) to get past that barrier.
Here’s the current Gold Phoenix offer:
goldphoenix:
Best PCB deal you can find on Internet
Form Now to July 30th 2007, special price is offered for 1-4 layers prototype PCB
Base Price List for Prototype 2 layers
Total Area of one Design (inch)
155inch sq/1000 CM Sq Base Price (USD) $89.99
100inch sq /650 CM sq Base Price (USD) $79.99
Add:
Two Side Silk Screen $20
Multi-Design Panel/2layers $30
So that comes to (89.99 + 20 + 30)/155 = $0.90/square inch delivered to the USA.
Comments Welcome!