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Cheap prototype PCB boards?
Hi.
I have bought 2 layer PCB boards for my designs from
http://www.h-instruments.ecrater.com, price starts at 29.95$ for 5 pcs with shipping. The quality is fine, but I was wondering if you know of a even cheaper producer? I have few projects running.
The pcbcore link doesn’t seem to work anymore…
I’ve just ordered another board from pcbgeek.com. I’ve used them several times before with good results; $90 for as many (identical) boards that fit in 200 sq. in.; max individual board size 7“x7”.
The board I just ordered is 3“x5”, so it should yield 12 or 13 boards.
I’ll report how that comes out; should be back in less than two weeks.
Gary
Thanks Sudhir
So maybe H-Instruments.ecrater.com is the cheapest supplier of PCBs I can get, 29.95$ instead of 55$ it is almost 1/2 price. Process time is 5-10 days and shipping takes 6-15 days.
John,
I’ve struggled long and hard with the question “Where can I order ONE PCB without paying for ten?” and I really did not get an answer despite living in India where PCBs are cheap (but there’s no one to handle 1-off orders at reasonable prices). It got in the way of my relationships with my own customers (I design audio crossovers) when they wanted 2 boards for a crossover proto.
As a service primarily for the DIY community, I have (yesterday!) launched a PCB batching service that I believe answers this question head-on.
Details on my website http://www.audesine.com.
-Ram
@Ramkumar and Sudhir MT,
do you know of any manufacturers whom I can use for producing prototype quantites(2-5 nos.) of a 2 layer,8mil SMD board(0805 passives and a 48pin SSOP which has a 25mil pin pitch)
Its kinda urgent,since its for a student project I need to submit soon.
I have had great experience with Advanced Circuits (Colorado, USA) http://www.4pcb.com
If you choose their “$33 each” special, you get 4(+1) PCBS for $135, which comes out to about $27 a piece.
The heaviest cost is the making of the positive or the negative, from the layout. If you can make this yourself, then the pcb manufacturer will charge only for the PCB itself. I use a lazer printer, the manufacturer needs a negative (Tracks are clear) and then they make and drill the board and charge by square area. Why it is cheaper for 5 or 10 boards is because the artwork is split over the amount of boards made. It is a bit difficult to get a blacker than black print on a transparency, sometimes I print two and stick them together.
Trevor
You could try making them yourself. It does take some skill and although you can do two layer, you won’t get plated through holes. A laser printer and cheap glossy catalog paper and an iron, or modify an inkjet printer that uses pigmented ink and bake the ink.
I’ve used http://www.bittele.com a lot, they usually do pretty well, cheap for proto boards.
http://www.4pcb.com has a $500 discount on first time customers. it looks worth a try
Hi Guys:
We are a pcb fabricator and are willing to offer prototyping service with very competitive price. Here’s our company info with UL, File Number: ZPMV2.E253641
http://www.zaponpcb.us.serious inquiries only
judy
Hi John, so which one do you suggest? 4pcb or bittele? Can bittele do PCB fab/ assembly locally(NA)?
Hi.
I would say, look at the offers from http://h-instruments.ecrater.com/c/1403757/2-layer-custom-made-pcb-prototype, if you can use airmail shipping it is cheap and good quality, I have used them and I am very happy with their work.
I am finishing a pcb board (<100x100mm) now and I will order it from
http://h-instruments.ecrater.com. Top quality and only 65$ for 5 pcs or 85$ for 10 pcs! With airmail shipping includet.
Hi John Mar,
Thanks for the info. I will definitely keep that in mind.
@ John Rosenbaum : How has your experience with Bittele been as you mentioned you had been using them for long time? Have you tried 4pcb? Are you able to compare between those two? Are you able to compare each with John Mar’s h-instruments…?
Hi John,
Take a look at this post. Gary had some interesting comments about a cheap board house in China.
http://www.eeweb.com/electronics-forum/chinese-pcb-fabricators