Thin PCB prototyping

Archive BatchPCB
1

Hi folks,

I’m working on a project that requires my PCB to be thinner than the normal ~1.6mm. My board needs to be ideally 0.76mm but my tolerance range is 0.68mm minimum, 0.84mm maximum for the unpopulated board. (The final board dimensions will probably be around 115x54mm 2-layer depending on how much I can squeeze it down to)

I can’t see an option for this on the BatchPCB web site. Is it something I can do through you guys and if not, do you recommend any other options that are hobbiest/prototyper-friendly?

Thanks,

kos

2

Most of the companies supplying low-cost prototype PCBs only use standard 1.6 mm PCB stock. You will probably find that your boards will be rather expensive.

3

I recommend Olimex if you only need a small number of PCBs; they do small panels for only 40 Euros, and will do thinner PCBs for a small extra cost:

http://olimex.com/pcb/index.html

Otherwise you could try Gold Phoenix (the company BatchPCB uses), who do 100 square inches for $100, and thin PCBs for an extra $20:

http://www.goldphoenixpcb.biz/special_price.php

4

Thanks for that, I’ll check them both out.

Meanwhile, if I was to attempt etching the boards myself for prototyping purposes, does anyone know where I could get thin photoresist or similar blank sheets?

5

kosullivan:
…does anyone know where I could get thin photoresist or similar blank sheets?

I only use Press’n’peel iron-on sheets these days, but back when I used photoresist techniques I found Kinsten brand products worked well:

http://kinsten.com.au/

If you let us know which country you’re in I might be able to suggest other suppliers.

6

you may also want to try PCBcart.com. They do all different sizes of boards, and are relatively cheap as well, although they kinda get you in shipping (international priority fedex that comes in like 3 days).

7

Would it be feasible to machine the clearance areas?

8

We ran a survey last year asking about if an option like this would be helpful to anyone. People checked out the survey but out of 700 people only 14 voted. Maybe sometime in the future we will have an option like this for Batchpcb, but currently we have no plans.

9

I use these guys.

http://www.web-tronics.com/

6" x 9" Double Sided Copper Clad Board Presensitized 1/32" (690)

690

1+

$15.30ea.

Theres also a supplier in the New Jersey? area IIRC, if you are on the ECoast.

I’m too lazy to look them up.

10

I’m in Australia (Byron Bay to be more specific), so http://kinsten.com.au/ is actually a good option. Actually if I can get press and peel that would be great, so I might have a look around to see if there are thin options for this.

Also, I checked out olimex pcb manufacturing and like them as an option for thin PCB’s. Sorry the BatchPCB vote didn’t get more hits but I guess the uses for thin PCB’s are fairly limited so it just isn’t on most peoples radar.

Thanks guys,

ko

11

kosullivan:
Actually if I can get press and peel that would be great…

Jaycar has it, and I think Altronics too:

http://jaycar.com.au/productView.asp?ID … rm=KEYWORD

Not cheap, but each sheet can do many PCBS - I just cut out a piece a bit bigger than the PCB, then use a gluestick to temporarily stick it to a piece of paper to run through the printer (manual feed).

12

5 sheets 1+ are the most expensive… that’s a given… i hope it worth paying this money…

13

MG chemicals makes thin photoresist clad boards for protos.

http://www.mgchemicals.com/products/600.html

I got mine from some place in Arizona. Sorry cant remember the company just yet.

14

leon_heller:
You will probably find that your boards will be rather expensive.

Grrr. Try Fusion PCB services. http://www.seeedstudio.com/depot/fusion … p-835.html

They have 5 different thicknesses you can select from.

15

george graves:
Grrr. Try Fusion PCB services. http://www.seeedstudio.com/depot/fusion … p-835.html

They have 5 different thicknesses you can select from.

Wow - is that for real? 10 PCBs (up to 5cm X 5cm) for less than $1 each?? If so, I don't know how they can do it - that's cheaper than all the Chinese proto places I've ever seen...