Hand drawn PCB manufacture

trjones1 · March 27, 2011, 02:34:02 PM

Are there any PCB manufacturers who will accept hand drawn art? I'd like some limited runs of PCBs made, but PCB design software is completely incomprehensible to me and I'd rather spend a fraction of the time with pencil and eraser than sink even more time than I already have into something that I won't be using very much anyway.

joegagan · March 27, 2011, 02:48:04 PM

i think john lyons can do it. his boards are excellent.

Hides-His-Eyes · March 27, 2011, 04:32:22 PM

Perhaps Brian at guitarpcb too depending on the quality of the art you can provide

trjones1 · March 27, 2011, 07:15:40 PM

Cool, thanks. I'll investigate those options.

smallbearelec · March 27, 2011, 11:17:21 PM

If the learning curve for Eagle is too steep for you, (and I agree that it is steep,) have you considered using a program that can draw lines like MS Paint or Powerpoint? If you already know one of them, providing the designer with a file that is more or less what you want and free of erasures might save you considerable grief. You can also make changes much more easily.

This is how I used to do PCB art before I bit the bullet and forced myself to learn a purpose-designed package. If you will take the time to make your jpg as close as possible to actual size, it's a workable way to avoid learning a CAD program.

bancika · March 28, 2011, 05:04:05 AM

try my application

here's the layout I've drawn with it http://diy-fever.com/temp/iic+d.pdf
should be easy to get started.

Scruffie · March 28, 2011, 06:34:23 AM

What's the layout for? If you give me a Free PCB I might be tempted in to doing it in Express PCB for you

deadastronaut · March 28, 2011, 07:02:28 AM

Quote from: Scruffie on March 28, 2011, 06:34:23 AM
What's the layout for? If you give me a Free PCB I might be tempted in to doing it in Express PCB for you

Scruffie · March 28, 2011, 07:09:49 AM

Quote from: deadastronaut on March 28, 2011, 07:02:28 AM
Quote from: Scruffie on March 28, 2011, 06:34:23 AM
What's the layout for? If you give me a Free PCB I might be tempted in to doing it in Express PCB for you

I can't help being a PCB addict! Don't mock me

Almost finished the Big Muff TS Dr Boogey Now Btw, just waiting till i'm done with the trimmers on the breadboard so I can put them in.

deadastronaut · March 28, 2011, 07:42:36 AM

cool...

trjones1 · March 28, 2011, 08:49:36 AM

Hi Bancika, I've been using your DIYLC for making veros for a while. Thanks for that! Although I'm still on 1.0. I didn't realize that I'm already two versions behind. I'll have to download the beta and try it out.

And Scruffie, I may just take you up on the offer if these other options don't work out. I started my hand drawn layout last night and it's pretty difficult. I'm going to have to stock up on erasers.

markeebee · March 28, 2011, 03:32:06 PM

How many is a 'limited run'?

I'd be happy to draw and etch a couple/few as a friendly favour (including an extra for Scruffie

), but I wouldn't want to do the kind of quantities that would normally require payment. Did that make any sense?

trjones1 · March 28, 2011, 05:03:48 PM

Thanks for the offer, but I'm looking for a quantity where I'd need to pay someone. Probably 2-3 dozen. I think I'm going to give Express PCB a try myself. Eagle is too much of a pain and I'm done with it. Is Express PCB any more intuitive or easier to learn?

Hides-His-Eyes · March 28, 2011, 05:15:33 PM

Yes but it's a bit of a chocolate teapot when you come to actually get the boards made

davent · March 28, 2011, 05:44:05 PM

If you're going to make boards yourself, ExpressPCB is pretty easy to figure and use. If farming out board production you're limited to using them to make your boards, (although someone posted that one of the SE Asia suppliers will do ExpressPCB files so... two choices.) You really need software that will give you, i believe is Gerber files, which everyone else wants, then you can shop your job the around world to get yourself a deal and the options you want to see on the boards. I don't know of gerber program that's as easy to use/learn as ExpressPCB.

dave

trjones1 · March 28, 2011, 06:00:22 PM

I know that Futurlec advertises ExpressPCB compatibility with their board manufacturing.

Is there any reason not to use ExpressPCB's own manufacturing? I'm not sure what the implications of being a "chocolate teapot" are

.

EDIT: Oh wait, I get it. My question about ExpressPCB's manufacturing stands though.

defaced · March 28, 2011, 09:36:16 PM

QuoteIs there any reason not to use ExpressPCB's own manufacturing?

Price. I was seriously in sticker shock when I priced some boards through them, and being locking into a single (or very limited number) of board houses doesn't sit well with me. My design, my gerbers, my choice of who make the boards. Because I usually only need a couple of boards of each design, I use Batch PCB.

Hides-His-Eyes · March 29, 2011, 06:30:28 AM

Dorkbot will do three boards for $5/sq inch, so for a 10sq" board it cost me $55 with postage to the UK

Expresspcb once quoted me $200 for the same

trjones1 · March 29, 2011, 09:02:35 AM

Hmm, those numbers are pretty eye opening. Futurlec quotes prices in the $2-3 range per board. Can the disparity really be so great? I guess this is why so much manufacturing is moving to the far east.

Hides-His-Eyes · March 29, 2011, 01:15:24 PM

Well, that's what's known in insurance as a "@#$% off" quote. Dorkbot boards are made in the USA but require eagle .brds or Gerbers; expressPCB charge you for the convenience of using their free software, and for the fact you can't really shop around with it. You have to weigh up your priorities in that respect.

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Hand drawn PCB manufacture