Hello Jeff, hello homebrewing PCB folks.
First, something on-topic: When I was getting started with home
etching, I also made a test strip. I used my CAD program (KiCad) to
place 10 SOIC-14 footprints at 1-inch intervals, and wired each chip
to its neighbours with traces of various thicknesses. After printing
(see the blog entry from my last group email), I made marks at 1-inch
intervals on the back of the blank board. Then I got two pieces of
card, and slipped the blank between them with only the last inch
hanging out. Off to my UV light, and I started a timer. Every thirty
seconds I pulled out another inch, so that after about five minutes,
I'd exposed all of the strip. I then developed and etched it. What I
found was that for my UV light setup, and the blank I was using, 2½-3
minutes was fine. I was able to get reliable 8mil traces through
drafting paper with only one run through the printer. (I should point
out that my making of boards at home is entirely unconnected to the
professional PCBs I supply to customers)
On Tue, May 14, 2013 at 11:39 AM, Jeff Heiss <jeff.heiss@...> wrote:
>
> Do you mean $19 per board when 10 boards are ordered ($190 total)?
Haha, oh goodness no! I wouldn't do any business! That's USD19 total
for 10 boards.
As an example, this customer paid me the Australian equivalent of
USD19 for these boards:
http://nanibox.com/2013/03/kurobox-prototype/
He also paid USD3 for registered shipping, but that's it. (He and I
are both Australian so it was easier for us this way).
According to my records, for his order, I checked and processed his
order same day, board manufacture took 3 days, and shipping was 7
days.
There are some other important details: That's the up-to-5x5cm price,
and for Paypal it's +5%. For more info, read my guide:
http://tinyurl.com/hvpcbfaq
> What is the cost for one or two boards?
I have a 10-for-5 offer for boards that are up to 5x5cm (USD19), and
10-for-5 on up to 10x10cm (USD36, but smaller sizes are cheaper.
Also, thinner is cheaper). If you're really only after one or two, 'm
very happy to make 5 and throw 3 or 4 away before shipping them to
you. Or you can give them to budding engineers or use them for SMT
soldering practice.
Oh, and here's another happy customer:
http://electronics.ozonejunkie.com/2012/11/pcb-manufacture/
His boards were also USD19, but he also paid me USD25 for DHL.
If you're greedy, you can visit these too:
http://dangerousprototypes.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=4722
http://dangerousprototypes.com/2012/12/06/workshop-video-interview-with-mitch-from-hackvana/
Talking to my customers is the highlight of my day. I have a 24-hour
live chatroom where several dozen of my customers hang out and talk
about electronics, give feedback to each other on their PCB designs,
and generally have a good time. You're all welcome to join (see my
guide).
Like most of you I'm an engineer and a tinkerer. I love making stuff,
and I get a buzz out of helping others to make stuff.
Lest I wear out my welcome here, if you'd like to know more, please
send me a private email, or come chat with me and other customers in
the chat room.
Regards,
Mitch.