vcp
Well-Known Member
For you guys wanting to build your own electronics... it's looking like I can probably get some free pcb's fabricated occasionally. In the new job I just started, we are probably going to be doing a lot of small test boards. The boards we build are usually unsuitable for the inexpensive per/board fabrication services (Advanced Circuits, Olimex, et al.) because of the finishes, layer count, filled & B&B vias we use. So, we wind up needing to order at least a single panel (usually 12"x18") from a higher-end proto fab house. Now, the last board we ordered was ~$2K for 100 boards, each about an inch square, ~$20/board. If we had ordered 10 boards, it would have cost $200/board - we're really paying by the -panel-, not the board. Now, we rarely really need 100 boards. So, rather than just getting too many extra board copies that we'll probably throw away, instead, we can put anything else we want on the panel to fill it out. Free boards - get it?
No promises, no set schedules. If it happens, it would happen as board space/time becomes available. And one of the big factors on time is that the layout would have to be finished ahead of time, ready to drop onto the panel when the real work design is ready to go, i.e., the work schedule cannot be delayed.
Size would be limited to a few square inches, tops, but that should fit most on-board electronics.
To do this I would need either 1) finished (and clean!) RS-274X Gerber files; or 2) layout in PCAD200X format, or something readily translatable* into PCAD; or 3) if I do the layout - schematic in .pdf or whatever, plus complete parts list and mechanicals.
*readily translatable does not include Eagle, PCB123, and most other low-end freeware, etc. layout programs.
GC
(oh, btw, we have a desktop reflow oven too)
No promises, no set schedules. If it happens, it would happen as board space/time becomes available. And one of the big factors on time is that the layout would have to be finished ahead of time, ready to drop onto the panel when the real work design is ready to go, i.e., the work schedule cannot be delayed.
Size would be limited to a few square inches, tops, but that should fit most on-board electronics.
To do this I would need either 1) finished (and clean!) RS-274X Gerber files; or 2) layout in PCAD200X format, or something readily translatable* into PCAD; or 3) if I do the layout - schematic in .pdf or whatever, plus complete parts list and mechanicals.
*readily translatable does not include Eagle, PCB123, and most other low-end freeware, etc. layout programs.
GC
(oh, btw, we have a desktop reflow oven too)