[sdiy] Where do I go to have PCBs made?

[Phil Wheeler]

Hi Sam,

There are many online vendors. Some offer free PCB design tools. I've
used http://www.expresspcb.com/ since they have a free schematic
editor and linked PCB layout tool. Both are fairly simple tools, but
for a beginner it's not a bad place to start. You can get double sided
boards with plated through holes at a minimum, which works for simple
designs. Solder mask and silkscreening are offered in their higher
priced packages. Cost depends largely on board size and quantity.
Here's one that I had made:
http://www.sdiy.org/pnwheeler/work_in_progress.htm

It is a simple design but proved that the design-to-product cycle
worked for me, and the boards are proving very useful.

In the past I etched my own boards, but I prefer professionally made
boards with plated through holes. With care you can add very small
lettering on your design to indicate part numbers on the copper clad
surface, thus avoiding the cost of silk screening. That kind of
precision is almost impossible with home-etched boards.

Best of luck!
pnw

On 8/1/07, Sam Ecoff <secoff at execpc.com> wrote:
> Hi All,
>
> O.k.... so I have another big old noobie question. Adam's incredible
> WSG demo got me itching to build one of my own, but thus far, I've
> only built stuff when I could just order a finished PCB. So... the
> question now becomes, what do I need to do to get some PCBs made?
> Some kind soul (Lorenzo) did a layout which is available on Ray's
> site (http://www.musicfromouterspace.com/analogsynth/YOUR_FIRST_SYNTH/
> YOUR_FIRST_SYNTH.html). So... here are my specific questions:
>
> 1. Can someone recommend a vendor in the US who could make a PCB for me?
> 2. I know that there are several options available when ordering
> PCBs, phrases I don't yet understand like solder mask, silkscreen (I
> assume that's the white lettering like R1, R2, etc. I see on most
> boards?) So what I'm wondering is which options do I need?
> 3. I don't have EAGLE or any other layout software, so at the moment
> I'm left using what's already available. I'm open to purchasing a
> package at some point down the road, but I simply can't afford it
> right now.
>
> Thanks in advance for all of the kind help, support, and info. After
> a year of building stuff, I'm still such a newbie, but I've learned a
> ton of stuff, and I'm still having a blast! I've even sold a few of
> the modules I built and made enough to buy the Mrs. a new clothes
> washer and dryer. (All of a sudden she doesn't seem to mind me
> puttering at my work bench so much!)
>
> :-)
>
> Sam E.
> _______________________________
> Sam Ecoff
> Tanner/Monagle
> 1120 N. Market St.
> Milwaukee, WI 53202
> (414) 727-8190
> www.samecoff.com
>
>
>
>
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>


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