Homebrew PCBs

PCBFABExpress accepts ONLY Gerber 274X format..
there are plenty of free or cheap design software available for 
example GC-prevue
http://www.graphicode.com/pages/products.cfm

For more dos and don'ts about what PCB FABexpress accepts, please 
look at their FAQ...at www.pcbfabexpress.com

thx,
James "now-my-boards-are-all-professional-looking" Jain


--- In Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com, "Dave Mucha" <dave_mucha@y...> 
wrote:
> 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]