Homebrew PCBs

Some time ago, someone mentioned an outfit they had used in China, but I couldn't find the name, but the prices looked amazing Today, my software guy told me of an outfit called pcbcart that he saw an ad for in circuit cellar. The prices looked really good. Doing 1 or 2 boards is fine in my home lab, but if the quality of these boards from China is ok for fine pitch smd, its really tempting. I'd like to know if anyone has any experience with pcbcart, or any others.

Thanks
Ron



[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

ron amundson wrote:

> Some time ago, someone mentioned an outfit they had used in China, but 
> I couldn't find the name, but the prices looked amazing Today, my 
> software guy told me of an outfit called pcbcart that he saw an ad for 
> in circuit cellar.

I haven't found anybody that could beat Olimex for the boards I 
typically do (small single side on fiberglass with solder mask and 
silkscreen ).

Dave K

--- ron amundson <mnphysicist@...> wrote:

> I'd like to know if
> anyone has any experience with pcbcart, or any
> others.
> 

I am considering using the services of these folks:

<http://www.batchpcb.com/>

I don't know much about them other than I believe
their an offshoot of the electronics mail order
company <http://www.sparkfun.com>.

Just thought I'd mention them as another possibility
you may want to investigate.

Rick

----- Original Message ----- 

From: "ron amundson" <mnphysicist@...>
To: <Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Monday, January 30, 2006 8:36 PM
Subject: [Homebrew_PCBs] low cost pcb outfits in China


> Some time ago, someone mentioned an outfit they had used in China, but I 
> couldn't find the name, but the prices looked amazing Today, my software 
> guy told me of an outfit called pcbcart that he saw an ad for in circuit 
> cellar. The prices looked really good. Doing 1 or 2 boards is fine in my 
> home lab, but if the quality of these boards from China is ok for fine 
> pitch smd, its really tempting. I'd like to know if anyone has any 
> experience with pcbcart, or any others.

I had a small batch of 20 single-sided boards made by CustomPCB in Kuala 
Lumpur. I was very satisfied with them, and they were a lot cheaper than I 
could have got them for in the UK or Europe. The slots for a couple of 
stereo connectors were rather untidy - I think they were routed manually - 
but it didn't really matter as the boards were for radio amateurs to build 
up themselves.

Leon

ron amundson wrote:
> Some time ago, someone mentioned an outfit they had used in China, but I couldn't find the name, but the prices looked amazing Today, my software guy told me of an outfit called pcbcart that he saw an ad for in circuit cellar. The prices looked really good. Doing 1 or 2 boards is fine in my home lab, but if the quality of these boards from China is ok for fine pitch smd, its really tempting. I'd like to know if anyone has any experience with pcbcart, or any others.
> 

I just checked it out, its the cheapest I've seen yet.

http://www.pcbcart.com/

There still is a US$44 setup fee.

--- In Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com, ron amundson <mnphysicist@y...> 
wrote:
>
> Some time ago, someone mentioned an outfit they had used in China, 
but I couldn't find the name, but the prices looked amazing Today, my 
software guy told me of an outfit called pcbcart that he saw an ad for 
in circuit cellar. 

<SNIPED> 

I think the place in China you are looking for MIGHT be 
Gold Phoenix PCB <http://www.goldphoenixpcb.biz> 
155 Sq. Inch = 89.99  100 Sq. Inch = 79.99 $ USD

Gold Phoenix is the house that BatchPCB / SparkFun uses


Quickly putting in the numbers for a quick quote at PCBCART,
for a ROUGHLY 155 Sq. Inch Board gets 179.xx $ USD Price

scratch_6057 wrote:

> Quickly putting in the numbers for a quick quote at PCBCART,
> for a ROUGHLY 155 Sq. Inch Board gets 179.xx $ USD Price

Sounds pretty steep for a small project.  My boards are typically ~2x3 
inches, so I use Olimex's 160x100 service, single side is $26, double 
side is $33.  Shipping is a few more bucks.  No setup fee, free 
depanelization.  I've ordered several boards from them and have always 
been happy with the result.

Their 320x200 boards (~100square inches) are $104/132  single/double.

These four double sided boards totalled $13.75 each after shipping and 
extra charges for exceeding the hole limit:

http://members.cox.net/codesuidae/AVR-Boards.jpg

Dave K

scratch_6057 wrote:

>--- In Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com, ron amundson <mnphysicist@y...> 
>wrote:
>  
>
>>Some time ago, someone mentioned an outfit they had used in China, 
>>    
>>
>but I couldn't find the name, but the prices looked amazing Today, my 
>software guy told me of an outfit called pcbcart that he saw an ad for 
>in circuit cellar. 
>
><SNIPED> 
>
>I think the place in China you are looking for MIGHT be 
>Gold Phoenix PCB <http://www.goldphoenixpcb.biz> 
>155 Sq. Inch = 89.99  100 Sq. Inch = 79.99 $ USD
>
>  
>

<http://cgi.ebay.com/Hot-Deals-for-2-layers-PCB-7_W0QQitemZ7586017128QQcategoryZ36335QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem>

Which is better through Ebay, it is the same tech support email.  Went 
up $10, so is now $99 total through there, but with 200 inches total and 
the extra 45 is only the 10 it still comes out well ahead..

Doubling up on the 30 shipping is also allowed, although it may be a bit 
more it won't be 60.  Order 4 of these together for 800 sq inches, get 
them to do only one panelizaton charge for the lot, and it works out 
only a little more than Custom PCB after mask etc, with a bit better 
specs.  Board quality is relatively high.  Even with the panelization 
they come out very good..

  I've been sick since New Year's, just getting going again.  Got my 
rounder finished yesterday, rounded a board and put one together last 
night.  Looks good, needs an hour or two of code changes due to diferent 
wiring from the prototype.  I may stick up a short video once I get it 
working, should be a blinding little item..

Alan