llile
1 kW
- Joined
- Dec 18, 2010
- Messages
- 457
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.
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.