Cheap PCB manufacturing!

Sparkfun is running a service called BatchPCB. https://www.batchpcb.com/faq

It is really cheap to do a one-off PC board. A 2 layer board is $2.50/sq.in. and $10 setup fee. You could pack a lot of stuff onto 2 square inches, for 15 clams. Gotta know how to make Gerber files with Eagle, http://www.cadsoftusa.com/download-eagle/ but that isn't hard to learn. They have a forum where people can ask NOOB questions to get you up and running. This might be cheaper than DIY etching, or at least about the same cost, and you get 2 layer boards with plated holes! They'll do 4 layer as well, if you really need to pack on the components.

The trick is, they batch up people's orders until they have a big run, send it off to an outfit, then it is done all at once cheaply. Usually a custom one-off PCB is over a hundred bucks!

I found out about this just after I spent about $50 to get set up to make my own photoresist positive boards... Murphy's law of surfing.

Yeah, its a good idea, but having a proper photoresist setup (especially if you use the precoated kalex boards) is fast and cheap, the turnaround time is a lot less, especially when doing rapid prototyping (and when you find you put that one F%^king track to the wrong pin, it hurts a lot less to throw it in the bin and make another).

We should link this thread to this one http://endless-sphere.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=45140&start=15
And lets list as many PCB manufacturing places as we can.

llile said:

Usually a custom one-off PCB is over a hundred bucks!

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Absolutely not. Check for instance futurlec.com.

llile said:

Gotta know how to make Gerber files with Eagle, http://www.cadsoftusa.com/download-eagle/ but that isn't hard to learn.

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No you don't! Just email your Eagle .BRD files to http://oshpark.com/ and for 5 bucks a sq in, no setup or domestic postage, you get three boards.

I have been using OSHPark for proto boards for about a year. Quality is phenomenal. I could "fly" these prototype boards. Never had a problem yet. High Tglass temp boards, resolution better than I need, and gold flash.

Haven't had a chance to use it yet, but this service seems like a good deal: http://www.dfrobot.com/index.php?route=product/category&path=135_134

texaspyro said:

llile said:

Gotta know how to make Gerber files with Eagle, http://www.cadsoftusa.com/download-eagle/ but that isn't hard to learn.

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No you don't! Just email your Eagle .BRD files to http://oshpark.com/ and for 5 bucks a sq in, no setup or domestic postage, you get three boards.

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I dont see the info but do these guys accept Kicad files? I dont see why not....

bigmoose said:

I have been using OSHPark for proto boards for about a year. Quality is phenomenal. I could "fly" these prototype boards. Never had a problem yet. High Tglass temp boards, resolution better than I need, and gold flash.

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Not to mention that they are made the USA! And are purple.

As far as KiCad files, you will have to ask them. You can always send them Gerber files.

texaspyro said:

bigmoose said:

I have been using OSHPark for proto boards for about a year. Quality is phenomenal. I could "fly" these prototype boards. Never had a problem yet. High Tglass temp boards, resolution better than I need, and gold flash.

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Not to mention that they are made the USA! And are purple.

As far as KiCad files, you will have to ask them. You can always send them Gerber files.

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Yup it worked my gerber is added to a batch already.

texaspyro said:

llile said:

Gotta know how to make Gerber files with Eagle, http://www.cadsoftusa.com/download-eagle/ but that isn't hard to learn.

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No you don't! Just email your Eagle .BRD files to http://oshpark.com/ and for 5 bucks a sq in, no setup or domestic postage, you get three boards.

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BTW guys this works out to $1.666666 a sq inch. Can't wait till there here. They also have larger run option for 150+ sq inches for $1 a sq inch.