PCB layout and gerber file service

[MarkL]

I would like to recruit the services of someone who can design a PCB layout and gerber files from a schematic I provide them.  I'd like a set of files that I can send off to a PCB fabrication house that can yield some multi-layer PCBs with plated through holes, solder mask, and a silkscreen showing the component names/placement. 

Please contact me with a rate/price for this service if you are able to do this for me.  Thank you.

[R.G.]

And another flower blooms.

[MarkL]

I would eventually like to master the software that allows me to do this myself, and I will...in time.

[Govmnt_Lacky]

And another flower blooms.

With partial budding   

[MarkL]

Horticultural enthusiasm notwithstanding...it is just a skill set I do not yet possess.  Drawing up a schematic, breadboarding, and basic building on perfboard is one thing, but producing something a little more enduring  (and durable) requires a facility that draws from a different subset of experience. 

[R.G.]

I would eventually like to master the software that allows me to do this myself, and I will...in time.

Good! As the old saying goes, assume [meaning 'acquire', not 'pretend'] a virtue if you have it not. You might want to look at "PCB Layout for Musical Effects" available from Small Bear. It's software-neutral and consists mostly of advice on how to think about converting schematics to PCBs.

But there are some large number of hours to be spent learning any one of the software packages, or some moderately large number of dollars to be spent to get someone else to do it for you. Practically any of the PCB prototyping services will do the work for you for a price, and many private layout services exist that will do exactly what you're asking. They're quite expensive in most cases. Last time I touched this problem it was several hundred to several thousand dollars to get this done at a business that specializes in it. You might find a hobbyist here that will do cut rate stuff, which is I suppose why you ask here.

... producing something a little more enduring  (and durable) requires a facility that draws from a different subset of experience. 

Maybe. Well made perfboard is nearly as durable as PCB, and vero *is* a form of PCB.

Specific PCBs are quite expensive in either time or money if you only need one. PCB prototyping is much better than it used to be on this matter. You can get three copies of a PCB that is 3.5" by 2.8" with plated through, solder mask, and silkscreen for about $80 from ExpressPCB. There are other prototyping schemes to give you a variable number of protos costing between $100 and $200. In general, PCBs are very inexpensive in high quantity, but there is a minimum economical quantity of about 100 units. The same 3.5" by 2.8" PCB you got for $26 from expresspcb will drop to about $2.50 each in 100 unit lots and might be under $1.00 each in 1000 unit lots. The proto stuff usually arrives on your doorstep in 1 week from sending in the design by internet, and mass quanitities can be had in a couple of weeks. There is a big hump of dollars to get over

You can get the vast majority of the function of a double-sided plated-through solder-masked and silkscreened PCB with either toner transfer or photoresist technologies, and much more cheaply.

Most people here either (1) buy professionally made boards from a vendor who's invested the time and money for pre-made boards (2) dig in and develop the skills themselves to minimize the prices for third-party layouts and then perhaps (3) do toner transfer, photo-resist, or prototype boards. This path tends to avoid the big hump of dollars to get over.

Putting "pcb layout service" into google turned out 1.6M returns. Most of the first page were commercial layout outfits that could and would do exactly what you're asking. However, they're mostly vastly overqualified for the work you'll need, and specialize in many-layer, high speed, complex and dense layouts for SMD logic PCBs.

[Ronan]

Seeedstudio have a very economical pcb service for prototyping/small runs, their best deals are: qty 10 pcb's up to 4" x 4" shipped for around $34, and qty 10 pcb's up to 2" x 2" shipped for around $14. Through hole, 2-layer, silkscreen both sides, any shape you want within the size limits, and you can have up to 5 of the same design on the one pcb. Quality is good. Minor downside is approx 1 week for production and 2 weeks for Singapore post.

[R.G.]

Is that 10 PCBs for $34, or $34 each at quantity 10?

If it's the first, that's GREAT!

Not that long ago (to us OFs) no PCB house would touch an order for less than 50 boards. You could get less, but they'd charge you for 50. The progress of being able to get a few PCBs for a reasonable price is nothing less than astonishing when viewed from that distance.

[Ronan]

Yeah, the first one. About 5 years ago it was $80 setup fee before anything got made.
I've done about 8 orders through these guys and extremely happy with them.

[chi_boy]

Ditto for Seeed.  And free shipping for orders over $50.  They require Gerbers, but with the new order page you upload a zip file when you click "Order Now."  They make it pretty easy.  They made 8 different boards for me and no troubles yet. (That were their fault  )

They also provide a CAM file to make the Gerbers.  It's almost as easy as OSH Park, but a lot cheaper.  Usually about 4 weeks shipping to Chicago though.

[R.G.]

Cool. Sounds like the only difficulty is the 3-4 week time lag.

[bean]

Itead is a good service similar to Seeedstudio. OSH Park is fantastic if you just need a couple of prototypes.

Here's an example of a small batch I did through Itead very recently. Silkscreen and plated through quality was excellent. I got 150 of these, paid exactly $150 with shipping and the turnaround was about 10 days.

[J0K3RX]

Itead is a good service similar to Seeedstudio. OSH Park is fantastic if you just need a couple of prototypes.

Here's an example of a small batch I did through Itead very recently. Silkscreen and plated through quality was excellent. I got 150 of these, paid exactly $150 with shipping and the turnaround was about 10 days.

WoW! Thanks Brian for that link!! Just what I was looking for!  

[chi_boy]

Cool. Sounds like the only difficulty is the 3-4 week time lag.

That's ALL due to shipping.  If you ship by their express service, DHL I think, that can be significantly reduced.  But the price for shipping goes up to about $40.