Cgs synth

> Can anyone point me to a good service to get some PCBs made? I have
> used the ExpressPCB mini board service. They'll make three boards for
> about $60 USD, as long as the design fits certain criteria. For larger
> quantities or other sizes they are much more expensive.
>

> Can anyone point me to a good service to get some PCBs made? I have
> used the ExpressPCB mini board service. They'll make three boards for
> about $60 USD, as long as the design fits certain criteria. For larger
> quantities or other sizes they are much more expensive.

--- In cgs_synth@yahoogroups.com, Ryan Williams <destrukto@c...> wrote:
> i've used a few places. I pick one depending on how many I want and how
> big the board size is. Usually I only get single boards made so that
> limits things. I just can't justify buying 5 boards when I only
want to
> build one, and it might not even work. but sometimes the price
> difference is so much that i'd do it. there used to be a place that did
> 5-$10each boards, but now they made the minimum at 10-$10each boards.
> it's www.pcb4u.com , i have never used them but I've heard good things
> about the quality.
>
> www.futurlec.com -> quality is ok. nothing special, but better than
some
> I've seen. I havent' gotten soldermask on any boards yet because it's
> cheaper without. but, this option is good for many small boards. I've
> just emailed them about ordering 50 0.5"x0.5" pcbs and they said no
> problem. the price on these comes out to $0.16 each with a $15 setup
> fee. the cool thing is, the price is the same for any quantity.
> clearance is limited to 10mil and track width also so that leaves out
> some surface mounth parts. picture of my futurlec board here:
> http://www.sdiy.org/destrukto/img/vc-echo-side-edit.jpg
>
> www.sparkfun.com -> they do $2.50/sq. inch, minimum price: $2.50, 8mil
> clearance and track width. this is fine for small boards but gets
> expensive for larger boards. I'd only do this for single board orders.
> note: they now require atleast one successful order at $5/sq inch
before
> they'll give you the $2.5 price. this was to pay for too many bad files
> from newbies. picture of mine here:
> http://www.sdiy.org/destrukto/img/qvcdco-pcb-small.jpg
> it's the best looking board I have made but my picture isn't great.
>
> I tried olimex.com it's cheap but I don't really reccomend it. The
whole
> process kinda sucks. I had to fax them my credit card number and it
took
> a good while for the PCBs to arrive from whatever country that was. if
> you care to look at the picture, it's here (I didn't use solder mask
> because it was my first ever PCB, obvious from the picture)
> http://www.sdiy.org/destrukto/modular/img/rene-4069-vco-side.jpg
>
> -Ryan
>
> mmm_94117 wrote:
> > Can anyone point me to a good service to get some PCBs made? I have
> > used the ExpressPCB mini board service. They'll make three boards for
> > about $60 USD, as long as the design fits certain criteria. For larger
> > quantities or other sizes they are much more expensive.

> Thanks for the reply. Let me pick our collective brains a little more.
>
> I am working on my layout. What size holes should I spec for typical
> leaded parts? Is there a standard size? What pad size is good for the
> same?

> I like to use 35-36mil holes with 60-65mil pads. I just realized I
> haven't been following that rule to closely, but the bigger

> makes it easier to solder. I have those sizes on most resistor,
> capacitor, diode, and DIP IC footprint. I'm fixing the footprints

> have that don't use this size. I don't know if it's a standard size

> it has been reccomended to me by a few different people now.
>
> note that some parts like 1n4001 diodes, tempco resistors, or

> beads need bigger holes, I'm using 47mil hole and 78mil pad for

> this size is good for wire solder points also, but maybe add a

> the pad size.
>
> for power connectors, the 0.156" spaced headers I use 68mil holes

> 115mil pads.
>
> I use 152mil hole and 245mil pad for mounting holes that fit #6-32
> machine screws.
>
> I took me a few tries at making boards before I was happy with the

>
> -Ryan Williams
>
> mmm_94117 wrote:
> > Thanks for the reply. Let me pick our collective brains a little

> >
> > I am working on my layout. What size holes should I spec for

> > leaded parts? Is there a standard size? What pad size is good for

> > same?

> Hey all,
> I'm currently learning Eagle, who else on the list is using eagle?
> and if you are do you have any modified librarys good for synth diy?
> Any advice would be cool too.