[sdiy] DIY PCBs

[The Old Crow]

On Wed, 25 Jul 2001, Bill Keys wrote:

> Nuts & Volts Magazine, here in the US, has an ad which says "download
> our free PCB artwork program" and then "send the file to us" and they
> will "produce 3 boards". Supposedly costs $59.00 or so for 3 boards. I
> don't have a copy near me to give the website, but if no one else
> finds it by tonight, I'll dig out a copy. They've been advertising for
> at least the last year......

  I'm familiar with the board house.  The only problems I have with their
3 boards for $60 service are:

  1) I can't send them CAM files from my preferred (Accel/EDA aka Tango)
PCB CAD.  They have to be files generated by their software.

  2) For someone who has used the Tango-series of PCS CAD tools since
1988, I can't stand their software--I'm too used to doing things the Tango
way.  If their software would import Tango files then I might change my
mind.

  3) The boards are a certain size only, something like 3.8" x 2.75".  No
silk screen, no solder mask.

  For 3 boards, I'll make my own.  For 100 boards, it is time to call the
board house.

Crow

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