Homebrew PCBs

On Sat, Feb 11, 2012 at 9:01 AM, Steve <steve65@...> wrote:
> Thanks several of you for those explanations of "panelize." Very helpful.
>
> Allow me to push my luck with two more newbie questions.
>
> The itead studio web site has a line on their one of their PCB
> Prototyping pages which reads "*Drills line and long slot can’t be
> accepted."* I've seen similar constraints on other web sites.
>
> What is a "drills line"?
>

I guess a line of holes to snap apart boards.

 Some of these restrictions (panalize)  are there to keep you from
trying to 'get over' on them and get additional boards made at the
expense of more labor on their part.

 I have done several designs with ITEAD that had multiple (identical)
small boards that fit within the design dimension restraints. As long
as you are willing to do the work and cut the boards apart yourself
they don't seem to care what you do with the pcb area you purchased.

 On one board that I had made recently,  I had three identical copies,
 ITEAD even added snap apart grove lines to the board without my
asking. They obviously inferred my intent. This was very helpful, and
not a service they even offer. I really appreciated it, but it also
highlights the fact (and I've seen this with other cheap pcb houses)
that they are pretty quick to make modification to your gerbers if it
improves things (in their opinion). Some people may have problems with
that.

 I've been extremely happy with ITEAD (and SEED studio) and highly
recommend the service. Just don't push the limits too hard.

 -carl