HFU HF Underground
Technical Topics => Equipment => Topic started by: ChrisSmolinski on September 25, 2010, 1236 UTC
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Has anyone here used http://batchpcb.com/ ? I need to get some small runs of boards made.
On a related note - they let you sell your designs through them. Might be an interesting way for enterprising individual who has designed a grenade type transmitter to make the board available.
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I have not used them, but I have heard good things about them, and know people are generally happy with their service (haven't heard of anyone decrying how horrible they were or anything like that).
I would also be very interested in seeing a transmitter PCB made available. For educational purposes only, of course. ;)
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I've always used: http://www.apcircuits.com/
They have on-line calculation of cost, they offer a bare-bones "prototype" service (no extras) as well as their upscale full silkscreen and solder-masked boards using different laminates (GHz rated stuff) ...
For their prototype service, they have a restricted set of drill bits and non-solder-masked and no silkscreen (keeps costs down) and like a two-day turnaround with status updates.
Basic Prototype data received after 11:00 AM Mountain (13:00 Eastern) will be queued for formatting the next business day and ship the business day following that.
I like using them because there is no 'human' involved negotiating price, they have on-line price calculator:
http://www.apcircuits.com/ap/calculator (http://www.apcircuits.com/ap/calculator)
When ready to order, just FTP in the files zipped up or use their xfer utility to send in the Gerbers with their order form.
Added:
I hesitate to mention this, but, I've got a friend who operates a small company with Juki 'pick and place' (SMT placement line (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SMT_placement_equipment)) equipment ...
Update: Looks like setup charge is a little higher for APCircuits but per sq inch is a little lower and of course the turn around time for the batch guys could be like 20 days vs 2 or 3 for APCircuits ... there are other trade-offs, as the batch guys will do silk-screening and soldermask (I think) for that 2.50 a sq inch - that's not bad ... good find.
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I like using them because there is no 'human' involved negotiating price, they have on-line price calculator:
http://www.apcircuits.com/ap/calculator (http://www.apcircuits.com/ap/calculator)
OUCH!!!!! :o
Check out some ads for PCB places on DIY forums... you'll find PCB places that charge 1/3 for the same thing (seriously... not junk, good 1.5mm FR4 stuff w/soldermask & silkscreen, double sided plated through holes).
Peace!
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I like using them because there is no 'human' involved negotiating price, they have on-line price calculator:
http://www.apcircuits.com/ap/calculator (http://www.apcircuits.com/ap/calculator)
OUCH!!!!! :o
Check out some ads for PCB places on DIY forums... you'll find PCB places that charge 1/3 for the same thing (seriously... not junk, good 1.5mm FR4 stuff w/soldermask & silkscreen, double sided plated through holes).
Peace!
2-day turnaround, under 2.50 (this figure look more like 1.30 in 100 unit board qtys) a sq inch? I've looked in the past ...
Add: Their name (apcircuits) keeps popping up when searching for ppl who want (and have used them for) small qtys of cheap PCBs made:
http://www.sxlist.com/techref/pcbfabs.htm
http://web.media.mit.edu/~wad/pcbfab.html
http://chiphacker.com/questions/2829/recommended-pcb-houses-assemblers
A "user-submitted list" of PCB manf's:
http://www.opencircuits.com/PCB_Manufacturers
Edit: Ongoing to refine some info like APC's cost per sq inch and setup charge