Homebrew PCBs

What happens when you decide to go from Prototypes to Production, and all your ExpressPCB files are worthless?

These can be sent to any other board house nor can they be imported into any other CAD Program, can they?

I love ExpressPCB but I'm trying to get away from it because I just had some serious backfires when going to production.


  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Phil Mattison 
  To: Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com 
  Sent: Wednesday, December 27, 2006 12:56 PM
  Subject: [Homebrew_PCBs] Re: Newbie to list, old timer to this hobby and others


  Actually I've been debating whether to set up a quick PCB prototype
  fabrication outfit myself. I guess the iron-on toner technique works pretty
  well? Actually I have a UV exposure box so I probably could use positive
  resist pre-coated boards easier. I already have a small milling machine. My
  biggest hesitation has been what software to use for layout. It's so easy
  with ExpressPCB I've gotten spoiled. But you're right, it is expensive. I
  also would need a high-speed spindle.

  Any software/spindle recommendations?
  --
  Phil Mattison
  http://www.ohmikron.com/
  Motors::Drivers::Controllers::Software

  ----- Original Message -----
  From: lcdpublishing <lcdpublishing@...>
  To: <Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com>
  Sent: Wednesday, December 27, 2006 10:50 AM
  Subject: [Homebrew_PCBs] Re: Newbie to list, old timer to this hobby and
  others

  > I agree with what Dave stated. The economics just are not there for
  > me. I can buy a bunch of PCB stock on Ebay very cheap. I can print
  > a lot of layouts on a laser printer very cheap. The Ferric chloride
  > for etching is cheap, the ironing process is cheap, drilling the
  > holes is cheap. All of the above is also pretty easy once you get
  > the hang of it - much easier than doing your own PCB design and
  > electronics design which brings me to the real reason why!!!
  >
  > Being green about electronics, most of my designs do not work first
  > time out. Most of the stuff I have been designing does not lend
  > itself well to breadboarding or even perf boards. So, I do the best
  > I can in the design, layout the circuit, and make the PCBs myself.
  > If things go as usual, I may make the same board 3 or 4 times in one
  > day and that is very key for me. I don't like waiting 1 week, 2
  > weeks, 3 weeks, etc. for something I can do right now.
  >
  > So, really, there are two primary advantages to making PCBs at home;
  > Economics and Instant gratification :-)
  >
  > Chris
  >



   

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]