Recommendation for PCB fab?
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I have a not small PCB that I want to have made (let's say 10 copies):
https://www.openhardware.io/view/436/nRF52832-Breakout-BoardSeeed Studio can make 10 of them for $5, but the $18 in shipping isn't desirable. On the other hand, it would be cheaper than getting 10 boards done at OSH Park.
Which good quality fab has both low prices and low shipping costs? Any suggestions?
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I have a not small PCB that I want to have made (let's say 10 copies):
https://www.openhardware.io/view/436/nRF52832-Breakout-BoardSeeed Studio can make 10 of them for $5, but the $18 in shipping isn't desirable. On the other hand, it would be cheaper than getting 10 boards done at OSH Park.
Which good quality fab has both low prices and low shipping costs? Any suggestions?
@NeverDie I agree with @mfalkvidd.
Dirty pcbs produces decent quality boards and allows panalization without extra costs.
I usually combine some designs in a single 10x10 panel, and fill the remaining space with small adapter boards. Cost per pcb will be very low that way. -
There are some contradictions here, you want things fast, to have top quality, and won't pay for it.. :)
That aside, as others have pointed out.. Look at dirtypcbs.. perhaps even panelizing things, there is an excellent tool available for assembling multiple gerbers into one production file http://blog.thisisnotrocketscience.nl/projects/pcb-panelizer/
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There are some contradictions here, you want things fast, to have top quality, and won't pay for it.. :)
That aside, as others have pointed out.. Look at dirtypcbs.. perhaps even panelizing things, there is an excellent tool available for assembling multiple gerbers into one production file http://blog.thisisnotrocketscience.nl/projects/pcb-panelizer/
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There are some contradictions here, you want things fast, to have top quality, and won't pay for it.. :)
That aside, as others have pointed out.. Look at dirtypcbs.. perhaps even panelizing things, there is an excellent tool available for assembling multiple gerbers into one production file http://blog.thisisnotrocketscience.nl/projects/pcb-panelizer/
@tbowmo said in Recommendation for PCB fab?:
@NeverDie
There are some contradictions here, you want things fast, to have top quality, and won't pay for it..No. In my OP, I never said "fast." You read something into it that isn't there.
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@tbowmo said in Recommendation for PCB fab?:
@NeverDie
There are some contradictions here, you want things fast, to have top quality, and won't pay for it..No. In my OP, I never said "fast." You read something into it that isn't there.
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@NeverDie said in Recommendation for PCB fab?:
How does dirtypcb's compare to elecrow? Does Elecrow also let you panelize as well?
I only made boards for Livolo switches with them so I couldn't panelize.
As they have an option to select number of boards that are panelized that adds additional cost, I suppose they will not let you. -
I have a not small PCB that I want to have made (let's say 10 copies):
https://www.openhardware.io/view/436/nRF52832-Breakout-BoardSeeed Studio can make 10 of them for $5, but the $18 in shipping isn't desirable. On the other hand, it would be cheaper than getting 10 boards done at OSH Park.
Which good quality fab has both low prices and low shipping costs? Any suggestions?
For me, elecrow is the best. But you can query this online tool which is very good: https://pcbshopper.com
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For me, elecrow is the best. But you can query this online tool which is very good: https://pcbshopper.com
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Well, if anyone is in a rush, it sounds like SeeedStudio might be a good choice. @nitroburn ordered 450 boards (I presume they were panelized) on a Saturday, and they were delivered to his door by Wednesday: https://forum.mysensors.org/topic/7231/small-nrf24l01-shield-for-esp8266-wemos-d1-mini/6
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Well, if anyone is in a rush, it sounds like SeeedStudio might be a good choice. @nitroburn ordered 450 boards (I presume they were panelized) on a Saturday, and they were delivered to his door by Wednesday: https://forum.mysensors.org/topic/7231/small-nrf24l01-shield-for-esp8266-wemos-d1-mini/6
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Well, if anyone is in a rush, it sounds like SeeedStudio might be a good choice. @nitroburn ordered 450 boards (I presume they were panelized) on a Saturday, and they were delivered to his door by Wednesday: https://forum.mysensors.org/topic/7231/small-nrf24l01-shield-for-esp8266-wemos-d1-mini/6
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@NeverDie it took over a month for me with the standard shipping, as 10 days were taken by custom for no apparent reason
@gohan said in Recommendation for PCB fab?:
@NeverDie it took over a month for me with the standard shipping, as 10 days were taken by custom for no apparent reason
Which one?
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Elecrow charges extra to panelize, but it wasn't clear to me whether they do panelizing or whether you have to submit already panelized gerbers.
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The easiest way, if you want to panelize, for cheap, with mouse bites (drills for breakable), has been explained by tbowmo and yveaux above, by using dirtypcb.
Else that needs some tinkering.
I usually use elecrow, and seeedstudio service too. it's up to you to panelize. ask them maybe they'll do it for free, but not sure. i imagine if all people would ask them this..
And doing this, costs the same as ordering separate design boards (which are already milled..).So when i want to use their service, and not pay for sub boards, i panelize in one bigger board and separate sub boards with silkscreen lines (not milling) and cut them myself (i have saws for this, circular etc.). If you think to add mouse bites for breakable in this case, that won't be ok. They will ask you to remove them and to fix your panel or use their subboards fee.
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dirtypcbs support mousebites to separate pcb's, without extra fees..
It seems that the tool from thisisnotrocketscience is tested primarily with dirtypcbs :)
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@gohan
maybe you can find some more howtos on google, here is one:
https://hackaday.io/project/19202-small-pcbs-for-panelizing-tutorial/log/59210-panelization-using-gerberpanelizer-on-windows-linux-possible
