PCB programs and etching companies?

[Aaron Cram]

leaf at babble.vibrant.org wrote:

> hi...  I've seen numerous people suggest using 3rd party companies to
> create PCB's, and was wondering:
>
> 1)  what program(s) have diy users found to be helpful for creating the
> pcb layouts?
>
> 2)  what company do you send your pcb's to?  what's the timeframe for
> turnaround, the file format needed (do they handle online submissions?)
> and the $$$?

Check this out:  http://www.expresspcb.com/

They give away free software to make your PCB design in, and then you order
your boards directly from the software.  Their software is a bit lame, and
of course it won't import or export any standard CAD format.  But having
said that, it gets the job done and is *extremely* easy to use.

I havn't actually ordered any boards from them yet, so I can't make a
personal recommendation.  Their prices seem decent, and turnaround time is
quick, so I'll be trying them in the near future.


Hope this helps,
-Aaron