On 27/01/2010 00:59, Ronald Shaul wrote:
> Making your own PCB's is time consuming with questionable quality of the results. I've been using Express PCB (expresspcb.com) for quite a while.
>
> Their software is free and you can get 3 - 3x5 drilled, doublesided boards for $51. I have designed a board that was 8.5" by 3.5" double sided and ordered 2 for $110.
>
> Their quality was great and the boards were recieved in 3 days. The smallest trace was .007" and with many plated through holes.
>
> I have made my own PCB's before and the time, experimentation for results, drlling holes and fixing etch problems could not compete with this commercial process.
The photoetch process I use is very reliable and repeatable. The big
advantage over getting boards fabricated is that I can make a board,
assemble it and have it working in a couple of hours. PCB Train has a 24
hour service that I use if I need a double-sided board (£30 a board with
no solder mask or silk) but it actually takes three days before I have a
board in my hands.
Leon