Archive of the former Yahoo!Groups mailing list: Homebrew PCBs

OK, after making a successful prototype, does anyone have any
comments on good or bad experiences with commercial PCB
fabricators that are good for small volume?

I just had a HORRRIBLE experience with e-teknet. Their prices
are good, they made a few good boards for us, including some
6-layer boards. Then, I had a fairly easy 6-layer board that
I ordered on Dec 4, 2003. I got the first batch of 7 boards
on Dec 28, 2003, and discovered they assembled it with the
layers in the wrong order. It took them 2 weeks or something to
decide they were responsible, and I got a second batch of
5 boards on Feb 22. These boards worked fine. But, I
ordered 12 pieces. Finally, after about 15 phone calls, they
sent 5 more boards on March 24. After building one up, it was
clear they did NOT test the boards, as I had requested in the
order. I consider that THE cardinal sin, not testing, and
supplying forged documents. It took me something like 10
hours to chase down the shorts. One was easy, the other was
deep in the board, and I had to burn it out 3 times, as the
short jumped from one power plane to another.

I had good luck with Advanced Circuits, but their prices are
pretty high, and I'm hoping I can find a reputable fabricator
that can do it for less.

(And, no, I DON'T have the technology to do 6-layer prototype
boards myself. I do 2-side no plated through protos with
a homemade laser photoplotter and dry film photoresist, though.)

If there is a better list to exchange this sort of info, please
let me know.)

Thanks,

Jon