Homebrew PCBs

--- In Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com, Andrew Villeneuve <andrewmv@...> wrote:
>
> Ken,
> 
> You're right, I was actually thinking about this product in my last post:
> 
> http://www.lpkfusa.com/boardfinish/promask.htm
> 
> The price point is targeting "small shop" more than "homebrew", but if the
> marketing is to be believed, it produces fab-plant quality results.  They've
> posted a video of the kit in action.
> 
> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hL1IuoUtVbw
> 
> Getting set up with this thing runs you US$650 for the materials to run 20
> boards, and you'll need to have a UV developer table to use it, since it
> uses photo masking for the resist mask.
> 
> You might be able to get by with skipping their starter set and just buying
> the consumables for $200 (look at their store on the website), but it's
> still pretty steep if, like me, you just thought solder mask "would be
> neat".
> 
> -Andrew
> 
>


Yeesh! At that price you'd be better off just having boards made! I strive to make my homebrew PCBs as good as possible, but if I want production quality, I'll send off for some professional boards. Homebrew is fantastic for prototypes though, on a couple of occasions I've not caught errors in my design or layout until I assembled on a board I made, it'd sure be a drag to order a batch of boards only to discover they don't work!