[sdiy] PCB Pool CAD software: Target 3001

[Theo]

Hi Neil

Agreed, just sent the design file and let them handle the Gerber export is
easier.
Then again, creating the files needed is not that difficult and
you get a "plot" back from Eurocircuits for approval before they make the
PCBs.
They also check your layout for design rule/production class violations and
report this back to you.
I don't see the "higher risk" compared to PCB pool.

IMO for protos and small series Eurocircuits is ok.
If I can wait a few weeks and need some more then Olimex gets the call.
If it is a bulk run (at least 1 pack),
we have this local company that acts as a agent for a Taiwanese PCB house.
They are hard to beat, better quality, faster and cheaper than Olimex.

CU
Theo



----- Original Message -----
From: Neil Johnson <nej22 at hermes.cam.ac.uk>
To: Theo <t.hogers at home.nl>
Cc: Sven Windisch <mai00fpz at informatik.uni-leipzig.de>; synth-diy
<synth-diy at dropmix.xs4all.nl>
Sent: Friday, June 06, 2003 5:02 PM
Subject: Re: [sdiy] PCB Pool CAD software: Target 3001


> Hi Theo,
>
> > I tried a free demo version of target 2001 some time ago. Seemed
> > "better" than Eagle to me. Then again I never liked Eagle, even in its
> > Atari days and IMO it only got worse.
>
> *sigh*  Yeah, nothing seems to get better these days!!
>
> > PCB pool is ok, but there are similar services in Europe that are worth
a
> > look and cheaper to use.
> > Although I don't think any of them offer free PCB software.
> > The one I use is:
> > http://www.eurocircuits.com
>
> Thanks for the link.  After looking at their site (which does not work in
> Netscape running on Linux---BIG NEGATIVE---had to fire the remote desktop
> server) I did a quick comparison with PCB Pool, for a 100mm x 160mm
> double-sided PTH board, with solder mask and silk screen, 10 day delivery.
>
> * PCB Pool: E 97.01
>
> * EuroCcts: E 75.75
>
> So, EuroCircuits are about 22% cheaper.
>
> Then I looked at what file formats each accepts.
>
> * PCB Pool accepts 12 different formats, many direct from the supported
> CAD packages (Eagle, Target, OrCad, Protel, etc) as well as Gerber.
>
> * EuroCircuits accept Gerber, and you also need to supply drill plots.
>
> Perhaps if if I was going for production I might lean towards
> EuroCircuits, but for one-off prototypes I much prefer the ease (and lower
> risk) of the PCB Pool route.  Nothing worse than getting top and bottom
> layers mixed up, especially on surface-mount boards!!
>
> Anyway, if I were doing a bulk run I'd check out Olimex.
>
> Certainly if were a beginner I'd find the PCB Pool service easier to get
> into---just send them the file from your CAD package, no need to faff
> around with exporting Gerber files and drill plots.
>
> But, each to their own!!
>
> Cheers,
> Neil
>
> --
> Neil Johnson :: Computer Laboratory :: University of Cambridge ::
> http://www.njohnson.co.uk          http://www.cl.cam.ac.uk/~nej22
> ----  IEE Cambridge Branch: http://www.iee-cambridge.org.uk  ----
>