PCB vs. Perfboard

hank reynolds 3rd · March 07, 2006, 07:55:53 PM

PnP and a dremel are coming with next months paycheck !!!woo hooo!!! and Boxes!!

Satch12879 · March 07, 2006, 08:19:51 PM

I recently got some prototype boards that I designed using Express PCB; other than for early stage prototyping I'm PCB all the way. They're THAT good.

Also Wik · March 07, 2006, 08:27:21 PM

Well, so far I've made 3 things on perf (1booster and 2smokeys), and none have worked, but I'm a trooper, and not to peeved by my failures, so I'm willing to try again. However I do currently have a 99% populated TS-808 board (one resistor short!) thats waiting to be completed and tested, hope it works.

I guess I AM a little iffy on perf - if the bazz Fuss i have planned for perf doesnt end up working I might try vero.

tiges_ tendres · March 07, 2006, 09:19:59 PM

I much prefer pcb. Yes, they take a long time to make, and a pain in the arse to drill, but I just think they look good.

The way I do everything is in shifts, I will spend my sunday printing everything I plan to build for the month on PnP, then cutting the boards to size, ironing, etching and drilling (again in shifts. Something is etching, whilst something else is getting drilled. Then if I get some free time in the week, I'll have aflick through the finished boards, and see if any tickle my fancy. I find this keeps me out of trouble!

I do have some exceptions. rubys, bazz fuzz, that kind of easy circuit, I'll usually perf those up. Easier to mod that way.

burnt fingers · March 08, 2006, 12:24:50 AM

I have only perf boarded as of yet. I am intrigued by vero because of all the layouts here. I would probably make my own PCBs if I had a laser printer and a reasonable place to do the etching. I guess I'll just keep using perf for now. I kinkda like the challenge of laying everything out myself.

Scott

gtrmac · March 08, 2006, 01:43:14 AM

I enjoy doing the layouts with software and I like to see the results as opposed to my sloppy looking perfboard stuff.

I send the Gerbers to www.custompcb.com. I'm sure my wife would not appreciate me messing with a bunch of toxic chamicals in the house.

RaceDriver205 · March 08, 2006, 04:15:55 AM

QuoteI won't turn down a PCB, i just hate making them. I get iffy results, and it is brutally slow

Really? What method do you use for making PCB? And do you still use perf for Complex circuits (flangers etc)?

I dont use perf/vero cos i cant follow the connections, and I cant debug it when it doesnt work.
Did make a metronome out of vero, and the JFET measurer on 3-hole perf tho.

nelson · March 08, 2006, 05:42:14 AM

My primary method is PCB, but I do vero simple circuits when I feel its not worth the time to etch a PCB. I can etch and drill a PCB in 40 mins, depending on the size. I dont use a drill press but a dremel makes the drilling really fast and less labour intensive than a standard drill.

I havent used any PCB houses. Although I might start. Just need to convert all my layouts to gerber files, which I have no idea how to do.

phaeton · March 08, 2006, 11:03:46 AM

Anyone have any PCB made by Futurlec?

Their prices are very attractive, compared to others i've looked at. Of course, Futurlec's reputation here is kind of hit-or-miss.

I wouldn't mind etching the PCBs myself, (and I might anyways just for the experience). Problem is, today is the first day in months that the temperature outside is greater than 30F, or even 20F. When the weather is warm out I can mess with all these noxious chemicals outside, but storing them in the house isn't very attractive. And I don't have a drill press. I have a hand drill which I can use to make them one at a time, but in some cases it might be advantageous to stack a few on top of each other, clamp them down, and drill each hole through all of them at once, no? Never tried it so I don't know if it doesn't work like that or not.

The other thing, is unless I'm reading this incorrectly, by time I gather all the copper, the pen (or transfer sheets), the etchant, trays, bins, and stuff, it's actually the same or cheaper to have it done than to do it yourself?

Quackzed · March 08, 2006, 11:23:15 AM

You mean theres an alternative to supergluing parts to cd case covers

my favorite is ,once im happy with a circuit, and it works the way i want.. blam!!! LIQUID NAILS BABY!!!!

otherwise i'd be taking stuff apart and tweaking forever!!!

nothing says forever like a solid block of liquid nails!!!

Connoisseur of Distortion · March 08, 2006, 05:04:12 PM

Quote from: Quackzed on March 08, 2006, 11:23:15 AM
You mean theres an alternative to supergluing parts to cd case covers

my favorite is ,once im happy with a circuit, and it works the way i want.. blam!!! LIQUID NAILS BABY!!!!
otherwise i'd be taking stuff apart and tweaking forever!!!
nothing says forever like a solid block of liquid nails!!!

there is an alternative. drill that cover, and place components through!

$uperpuma · March 08, 2006, 05:51:02 PM

I have really enjoyed etching pcb's with PnP... I am only on my 3rd project so I don't have vast experience... but its been VERY easy with the PCB's

Brian Marshall · March 08, 2006, 09:51:39 PM

ive been ordering my PCB's lately... i gave up on perf a long time ago... now im trying to get awayfrom breathing pcb dust

Brian Marshall · March 08, 2006, 09:57:08 PM

most of the time i cant even get futurlec to email me back...

in your situation, id stay with perf for a while. but depends on the project really. a lot of the diy sites will sell you finished pcb's. I have gotten some from GGG before. like the pt80... putting that thing on perf would be a nightmare. typically i dont like to perf anything that takes a lot of planning... fuzzes, dist+, boost... fine.... but not an echo.

Quote from: phaeton on March 08, 2006, 11:03:46 AM
Anyone have any PCB made by Futurlec?

Their prices are very attractive, compared to others i've looked at. Of course, Futurlec's reputation here is kind of hit-or-miss.

I wouldn't mind etching the PCBs myself, (and I might anyways just for the experience). Problem is, today is the first day in months that the temperature outside is greater than 30F, or even 20F. When the weather is warm out I can mess with all these noxious chemicals outside, but storing them in the house isn't very attractive. And I don't have a drill press. I have a hand drill which I can use to make them one at a time, but in some cases it might be advantageous to stack a few on top of each other, clamp them down, and drill each hole through all of them at once, no? Never tried it so I don't know if it doesn't work like that or not.

The other thing, is unless I'm reading this incorrectly, by time I gather all the copper, the pen (or transfer sheets), the etchant, trays, bins, and stuff, it's actually the same or cheaper to have it done than to do it yourself?

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PCB vs. Perfboard