Making PCBs was (Re: Hoo boy, PCB drilling)

[Tony Clark]

On Thu, 10 Apr 1997, Josh Brandt wrote:

> Boy, after warnings about panel wiring and all of that, why did nobody
> mention the utter tedium of PCB drilling? Hours later, the cordless drill
> battery dead, I'm about halfway through my little stack of Penfold boards...
> 
> Yow.
> 
> Anyway, I should actually have something that makes noise within the week or
> so. 8)

   Congrats to you on your efforts!

   I really find it amazing how many people are really making their own 
boards from scratch!  As someone who does circuit board layouts and is 
now teaching a class on making circuit boards, I really cringe at the 
thought of having to hand make a whole slew of circuit boards! (Although 
I'll certainly expose my students to the experience! ;)
   I recommend Alberta Printed Circuits as a great place to have your 
circuit boards made.  You can find them on the web at www.apcircuits.com
This is THE way to have professional boards done at a very cheap price.  
There is a $48.00 setup charge, and a $0.68 per square inch charge.  
Minimum order is two boards, so if you have a 5"X4" board that equals 20 
square inches, times 2 for two boards is 40 square inches, that comes out 
to $27.20 plus setup charge and shipping.
   Granted, for two boards, it is rather costly, but if you are going to 
make a run of them, like you Ric, you can get the cost per board way 
down.  The best part is that they come double sided, predrilled, and with 
plated thru-holes.  No solder mask though.  And on top of that, you'll 
have the boards in TWO days after you send the artwork files!
   Anyway, thought I might share my enthusiasm for this company as they 
have given me a way of producing cheap professional circuit boards.

   Tony

-------------------------------
I can't drive (my Moog) 55!
-------------------------------
Tony Clark -- clark at andrews.edu 
http://www.andrews.edu/~clark
-------------------------------