Homebrew PCBs

interesting idea.

my biggest problem is in board design software.

seems eagle is about as free as you get
with functinality.

what file types to they take ?

Dave




--- In Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com, "kingsettler2002" 
<jamesjain2003@n...> wrote:
> 
> 
> Hi All,
> ..so I used to make simple boards myself, but I think the price 
> points have come down so much for proto borads that it is really 
okay 
> to get them made professionaly...for as little as $13 a borad
> 
> I bought a few boards from pcbFABexpress (not to be confused with 
> pcbexpress) and this is what i found:
> The minimum quantity is 5 boards; (it may work for some of you but 
I 
> would like minimum to be a little less than 5)
> HOWEVER..the $13 for 2 layer price is applicable to this..you DON'T 
> have to buy 15 or 20 to get that price as other companies do.
> The boards have been GREAT in quality...no problems at all..you can 
> tell they get it made from some good shops.
> 
> 
> ALSO pcbFABexpress has a great referral program. Some silly name 
like 
> Gimme20. But essentially if you refer a friend to the site and that 
> friend orders boards..you get $20 off!
> 
> So I was able to get 5 double sided boards for about $40 using that 
> $20 online coupon! That's $8 a board..mask, silkscreen(legend) 
> tooling ALL INCLUDED..I don;t know how these guys can offer it at 
> such low prices --hope they have a biz model that works in the long 
> run..but in the short term i am enjoying the prices. 
> 
> I even got my senior year project boards (from college)re-made at 
> these prices..so they look nice and clean and I can prodly show 
them 
> around as the first boards I ever designed.
> 
> 
> has anybody used pcb-pool.com? Let me know if you have..i might try 
> them out too.
> 
> 
> James
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> --- In Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com, "Bob Roan" <bob@t...> wrote:
> > I am trying to make my own PCB boards and have identified at 
least 
> (!)
> > two areas where I need help.
> >  
> > #1 - When I held the drill in my hand to drill the holes, they 
> weren't
> > in very good alignment (probably an understatement.)
> >  
> > #2 - When I try a two sided board, I will have to connect the 
> circuits
> > on the two sides with what I think are called vias.
> >  
> > I'm willing to spend some money (under $200) would be nice on 
> equipment
> > to help me in these areas.  I particularly like the idea of cnc, 
if 
> I'm
> > correct that it would automatically position the drill, but I am 
not
> > very skilled at designing and assembling hardware.  But I might 
be 
> able
> > to do something simple.  I'm a pretty good programmer, so I might 
be
> > able to compensate on the software side for these shortcomings.
> >  
> > any suggestions?
> >  
> > thanks
> >  
> > bob
> > 
> > 
> > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]