Homebrew PCBs

ballendo wrote:

>
>Isn't this exactly what they say on their website??? (I may be 
>thinking of another company; but there was definitly one which 
>was "less expensive" AND said that(what you've written above) was 
>their reason for not accepting panelised step and repeat board 
>orders. I thought that was PCBEx
>
>  
>

  Why pay $40 extra, for them to spread things around like they want for 
them not me to save money, when I don't want it?  To subsidize someone 
else's board that is one block, so they can get their same 8x10 for that 
$40 less?

  Realize that if I just took a single one of my boards, extended traces 
out to 8x10, it would get the lower price.  Even though it actually cost 
them more etchant to produce than what I have now.

>Ballendo
>
>P.S. This practice is common in business; standby flights 
>and "remainders" ad insertions are two common examples of getting a 
>cheap price in exchange for taking what you get...
> 
>
>  
>

  I think you didn't quite see the point.  The above are the opposite of 
what they're doing.  They are not offering a discount.  They are wanting 
me to fly standby for them, not because I want to but so they can use 
the plane better, AND charge an extra $40 to me for helping them out..  
Nothing cheap about it, it's actually reverse of what it should be, they 
are doing something undesired and wanting to charge you for it.

  I simply want the same 8x10 board that the next guy gets, at the same 
price.  It's already made as one gerber, no 'panelization' service 
needed, or wanted.

  Hey, while we're at it, send me a few sheets of blank paper, I'll 
print out a few pages, and you can pay me $40.  Same charge for a 
service you equally don't need or want, but if what they're doing makes 
sense this will too.   Actually, don't even send me the paper and use my 
service either, but you still owe me $40 so hurry it up.  :).  

  The real cost of doing it is more like $5 or $10 at the outside.  They 
all have explanations for it, but if you read through it critically 
you'll figure out they don't make real sense, easily understood when you 
look at it from a cost per making the board perspective.  They wouldn't 
need to be trying to explain it so much if it made sense in the first 
place.  It's really pure gravy, one of the most profitable charges they 
have vs the actual work done.  If they let one through, everyone will 
stop using it, since it's a breeze to panelize and cut thngs out 
yourself, and there goes a good chunk of profit.  That's why the 
explanations and solidarity, and trying to cast the ones that let you do 
it as 'bad' renegade board houses.  Has to do with easy profit, actually 
making sense for the customer isn't even a factor.  If it was actually 
needed due to some real cost or burden, there wouldn't be any cheap PCB 
houses that would do it without charge at all..

Alan