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  1. Home
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  3. Recommendation for PCB fab?

Recommendation for PCB fab?

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  • NeverDieN Offline
    NeverDieN Offline
    NeverDie
    Hero Member
    wrote on last edited by
    #1

    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-Board

    Seeed 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?

    mfalkviddM YveauxY mtiutiuM 3 Replies Last reply
    0
    • Nca78N Offline
      Nca78N Offline
      Nca78
      Hardware Contributor
      wrote on last edited by
      #2

      Last time I checked Elecrow had a 5$ shipping option with China Post, if you're ok with green color you can get 10 PCBs for 5$, else it's only 5.

      1 Reply Last reply
      1
      • NeverDieN NeverDie

        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-Board

        Seeed 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?

        mfalkviddM Offline
        mfalkviddM Offline
        mfalkvidd
        Mod
        wrote on last edited by
        #3

        @NeverDie how big is it? Looks like less than 50x50mm? Dirtypcbs' protopack perhaps?

        1 Reply Last reply
        1
        • NeverDieN NeverDie

          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-Board

          Seeed 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?

          YveauxY Offline
          YveauxY Offline
          Yveaux
          Mod
          wrote on last edited by
          #4

          @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.

          http://yveaux.blogspot.nl

          1 Reply Last reply
          3
          • tbowmoT Offline
            tbowmoT Offline
            tbowmo
            Admin
            wrote on last edited by tbowmo
            #5

            @NeverDie

            There are some contradictions here, you want things fast, to have top quality, and won't pay for it.. :)

            http://fastgood.cheap/

            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/

            mfalkviddM NeverDieN 2 Replies Last reply
            3
            • tbowmoT tbowmo

              @NeverDie

              There are some contradictions here, you want things fast, to have top quality, and won't pay for it.. :)

              http://fastgood.cheap/

              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/

              mfalkviddM Offline
              mfalkviddM Offline
              mfalkvidd
              Mod
              wrote on last edited by
              #6

              @tbowmo I fixed it!
              0_1502096941425_IMG_5356.PNG

              1 Reply Last reply
              2
              • tbowmoT tbowmo

                @NeverDie

                There are some contradictions here, you want things fast, to have top quality, and won't pay for it.. :)

                http://fastgood.cheap/

                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/

                NeverDieN Offline
                NeverDieN Offline
                NeverDie
                Hero Member
                wrote on last edited by NeverDie
                #7

                @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.

                YveauxY 1 Reply Last reply
                0
                • NeverDieN NeverDie

                  @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.

                  YveauxY Offline
                  YveauxY Offline
                  Yveaux
                  Mod
                  wrote on last edited by
                  #8

                  @NeverDie then it's simple : panelized ditypcbs :satisfied:

                  http://yveaux.blogspot.nl

                  1 Reply Last reply
                  1
                  • NeverDieN Offline
                    NeverDieN Offline
                    NeverDie
                    Hero Member
                    wrote on last edited by NeverDie
                    #9

                    How does dirtypcb's compare to elecrow? Does Elecrow also let you panelize as well?

                    Nca78N 1 Reply Last reply
                    0
                    • NeverDieN NeverDie

                      How does dirtypcb's compare to elecrow? Does Elecrow also let you panelize as well?

                      Nca78N Offline
                      Nca78N Offline
                      Nca78
                      Hardware Contributor
                      wrote on last edited by
                      #10

                      @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.

                      1 Reply Last reply
                      1
                      • NeverDieN NeverDie

                        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-Board

                        Seeed 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?

                        mtiutiuM Offline
                        mtiutiuM Offline
                        mtiutiu
                        Hardware Contributor
                        wrote on last edited by
                        #11

                        @NeverDie

                        For me, elecrow is the best. But you can query this online tool which is very good: https://pcbshopper.com

                        gohanG 1 Reply Last reply
                        3
                        • mtiutiuM mtiutiu

                          @NeverDie

                          For me, elecrow is the best. But you can query this online tool which is very good: https://pcbshopper.com

                          gohanG Offline
                          gohanG Offline
                          gohan
                          Mod
                          wrote on last edited by gohan
                          #12

                          @mtiutiu I tried to use it some time ago, but I didn't find it very accurate... Maybe it was just me

                          1 Reply Last reply
                          0
                          • NeverDieN Offline
                            NeverDieN Offline
                            NeverDie
                            Hero Member
                            wrote on last edited by
                            #13

                            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

                            tbowmoT gohanG 2 Replies Last reply
                            0
                            • NeverDieN NeverDie

                              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

                              tbowmoT Offline
                              tbowmoT Offline
                              tbowmo
                              Admin
                              wrote on last edited by tbowmo
                              #14

                              @NeverDie
                              that can be done with the other fab house as well, you just have to pay for express service/shipping :)

                              1 Reply Last reply
                              0
                              • NeverDieN NeverDie

                                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

                                gohanG Offline
                                gohanG Offline
                                gohan
                                Mod
                                wrote on last edited by
                                #15

                                @NeverDie it took over a month for me with the standard shipping, as 10 days were taken by custom for no apparent reason

                                NeverDieN 1 Reply Last reply
                                0
                                • gohanG gohan

                                  @NeverDie it took over a month for me with the standard shipping, as 10 days were taken by custom for no apparent reason

                                  NeverDieN Offline
                                  NeverDieN Offline
                                  NeverDie
                                  Hero Member
                                  wrote on last edited by
                                  #16

                                  @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?

                                  1 Reply Last reply
                                  0
                                  • gohanG Offline
                                    gohanG Offline
                                    gohan
                                    Mod
                                    wrote on last edited by
                                    #17

                                    Seeed studio. The production was done in a few days, but the shipping with singapore post was the usual 3-4 weeks as all the products from China. Next time I'll try dirtypcb and panelize some pcbs in order to optimize the order

                                    1 Reply Last reply
                                    1
                                    • NeverDieN Offline
                                      NeverDieN Offline
                                      NeverDie
                                      Hero Member
                                      wrote on last edited by
                                      #18

                                      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.

                                      1 Reply Last reply
                                      0
                                      • scalzS Offline
                                        scalzS Offline
                                        scalz
                                        Hardware Contributor
                                        wrote on last edited by scalz
                                        #19

                                        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.

                                        1 Reply Last reply
                                        1
                                        • tbowmoT Offline
                                          tbowmoT Offline
                                          tbowmo
                                          Admin
                                          wrote on last edited by
                                          #20

                                          dirtypcbs support mousebites to separate pcb's, without extra fees..

                                          It seems that the tool from thisisnotrocketscience is tested primarily with dirtypcbs :)

                                          gohanG 1 Reply Last reply
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