Best Place To Have PCBs Made For You?

[troubledtom]

Oh yeah, I've heard the name Futurelec mentioned B4. Any others?

i hate that bizz.........they phucked me .
               - tom

[gtrmac]

They think of 500-1000 units as normal.

Thanks for the tips, RG. If this device of mine will sell as well as I think it might, I could conceiveably need 1000 PCBs, but this would be over time with probably 100 here and 100 there. 

EDIT: I guess it's kind of like in my world, AutoCAD is THE program that people use. Other programs are kind of outside the box. But the end result is all the same, a set of working drawings that someone can construct a building from, etc. But, people build the buildings, not some fancy schmancy drilling machine. 

Actually a CNC drilling machine does the work. 

I've been using www.custompcb.com with good results. Gary Cho, the owner apparently, has been very helpful and the service is reliable and very fast. I had my boards in a few days.

BUT THEY WANT GERBER, EAGLE OR PROTEL files.

I don't think there's any way around the fact that they need files that thyey can punch into their automation. They aren't making these thingsa by hand or they would be charging $100 apiece for them. Eagle is free and pretty easy to use. I'm using Protel 99SE but I use it at work so it's free for me, otherwise I'd be on Eagle like most other DIY'ers.

Once you start using this type of software you can't imagine life without it.

[Paul Marossy]

THEY WANT GERBER, EAGLE OR PROTEL files.

I don't think there's any way around the fact that they need files that thyey can punch into their automation. They aren't making these thingsa by hand or they would be charging $100 apiece for them. Eagle is free and pretty easy to use. I'm using Protel 99SE but I use it at work so it's free for me, otherwise I'd be on Eagle like most other DIY'ers.

Yeah, I understand that. I think they could do more than that is all I'm saying. Anyhow, at least one place will not let you use the freeware version of Eagle to make PCBs. I should look into Autotrax...

EDIT: Anyone have a link to this free download of Autotrax? All I could find appears to be something you have to purchase... 

[MR COFFEE]

Hi Paul,

Here's the link for AutoTrax. Halfway down the page. It's REALLY good.  Route manually of course.

http://www.altium.com/Community/Support/Downloads/

It is a DOS program, and the plotting program is separate, so there is a mild learning curve. Print out the manual and read it on the train or whereever. It's still easier and draws prettier boards than Eagle IMHO. You can skip scheatic capture with AutoTrax, too, just start laying out your board.

There's a guy who has a AutoTrax plotter thingy that you can use just like a particular printer or plotter model in the plotting program that will output a .pcx file for a do-one-proto-at-home on PnP before you send it off for 100 boards. That way you can get higher resolution out of your Laser printer than 300 dpi. It's free, too.

I'll look for the link ...

Bart

[Paul Marossy]

Thanks Mr. Coffee! I cut my teeth on DOS like 20 years ago now, so that doesn't worry me. I hate Eagle, to be honest. Maybe I'll like this one better...

[The Tone God]

Another free option is a suite called Kicad. I've been playing with it recently. It does schematic capture, PCB layout (the auto router is still pretty useless for effects), it generates the gerbers/NC files, has a gerber file viewer to preview the boards, and it does the 3D modeling stuff too.

Andrew

[Paul Marossy]

I've never heard of Kicad B4. Is it reasonably user friendly?

[The Tone God]

I've never heard of Kicad B4. Is it reasonably user friendly?

Ummm...depends on what you consider friendly considering you use AutoCAD but then hate Eagle. The interface is alittle weird and not completely intenuative but most tech progs are that way. Some of the componets I use were not in the libraries so I had to create some parts myself from scratch. You have to create the part's schematic symbol, then the part's PCB footprint, then if you want the 3D model. It takes some time to do and get the hang of. That is if you want to do the schematic portion. You could just drop into the PCB layout right away.

I'm still fighting alittle with the PCB layout interface as I am used to the Autotrax / PCB(Unix prog) keyboard style interface. What it does do nice is intergrate with the schematic portion so while you shoudn't use the autorouter you can still use the netlist to generate all your parts, do error checking on your connections, and use the ratnest to guide your traces. I've been enjoying that.

Andrew

[moosapotamus]

Just came across this at another forum...
Up to a $500 order for PCB fabrication, FREE!
http://www.4pcb.com/500free.htm 

~ Charlie

[A.S.P.]

Paul: yesterday I tried to link you here, but HC was down.
Maybe Catalinbread tells you what he uses, and where he gets it.
If you ask him in private.
He`s a quite new entrepreneur in the builder`s scene,
but an old ham at HC. (not sure whether he visits here).

[MR COFFEE]

Hi Paul,

Here are the other links I mentioned that will really help out with geting up to speed with Protel DOS PCB software. It sold for over $500 new, and is QUITE adequate and VERY fast after you learn to just enter key presses to get to functions - reaaly a LOT faster than the windoz softs I've used, including $5000 packages.

Good Resources include:

Protel DOS program command tutortial (it says it's for EasyTrax but some of the commands actually only work in Autotrax - go figure...

http://www-gth.die.upm.es/~macias/docencia/software/pcb/rcscadph.txt

They used to give away some nice libraries, but they seem to be less locaterable on their website than I remember. Maybe you have to email them now for the package of footprints in library format. If you can't get them from RCS, PM me and I'll send them to ya.

You can run it fine in lower rez (470 by whatever it is), or Airborne has really nice higher rez video drivers for XP. I still use the old ones and there are no compatibility funnies, but it takes a couple of minutes to get it set up, depending on how inclined you are to read directions first


Protel video drivers for XP at higher resolution

http://www.airborn.com.au/layout/easytrax.html

Once you get the hang of it, it's a first class package for both through-hole and SMT.

Learning it now will be well worth it down the line. Get it while it is still readily available on the net. Draws nicer designs than Eagle and such.

[Paul Marossy]

Thanks Mr Coffee. That'll be this weekend's project.