Hi Folks,
I just want to share my experience of getting started with my first "professional-like" PCB.
For years, I've made PCB: first using a pen, on bare boards, then migrated to tape & rub-on kit. The next step was using positive sensitive boards. That allowed me to produce more than one of the same....Was great !
First ones were using tape and still, those rub-on kit, but on a transparency ! My last migration was to use Autocad (custom object, like DIP, pad, etc ) and a LASER printer. Results were pretty impressive.
Many time I had tried to learn software like Protel, Eagle, Orcad, etc ... But the "getting-older" bear in me was just getting frustrated as these software did not seem "user friendly" enough.
That was until I found Jeremy Blum's tutorial; I hate this kid...Everything about electronic seem so simple, so obvious. I went thru his 3 tutorials, and that was enough to get me started "full-throttle" with Eagle. Here are the links for those interested:
Tutorial #1:
Tutorial #2:
Tutorial #3:
I watched them about 3 weeks ago, and since then, I have created a library that included all the components that I regularly use. Makes my life easier ! Should have done that many years ago ! (well giving Jeremy's age, he was probably not born yet !)
Now in terms of having my PCB manufactured, I've done a fair amount of research, and settled for www.pcbway.com (which is also the same as www.pcbgogo.com . Figured that out while requesting a quote from both..)
The price was pretty good: 10 boards for 10$ (up to 100mm x 100mm per board). If you are in no hurry, shipping with EMS was 10$. The process of submitting your design could not be any simpler...
Made an order of 4 designs at 10 boards each, with DHL delivery (Canada). 65 $ for 40 boards...not bad ! Sent order on Tuesday, received my boards the next Monday! Damn good if you ask me !
I received my boards yesterday. I must admit that I was <beeep> IMPRESSED ! BTW, they are not good in math, as I received 11 boards of each design !!!! (I guess that's fairly standard practice)
OK...2 of my design were wrong (one had a trace overlap, the other had a wrong footprint for a relay, but these were caused by me still in the "learning curve") but the quality is just amazing. Once assembled, my boards look like commercial made boards ! Silkscreen and soldermask is not something I was used to with my "hand-made" ones. I almost cried....
Some of you won't be impressed as they've been making their board like that for years, but let me just enjoy that moment !!!
I've ask Aimee (from PCBWAY.COM) if they could have other offer, like smaller boards (50mmx50mm) at a better price, or if I could combine multiple design on one 100mm x 100mm board (let say at 15$), because sometime, I have many small one-of-a-kind design. I will see what she reply, and keep you posted if there is any interest !
Anyway, as far as I'm concern, they have "won my heart" and my business..
That's it folks ! I had to share it with people who care, because my wife didn't give a <****> about it ....
I just want to share my experience of getting started with my first "professional-like" PCB.
For years, I've made PCB: first using a pen, on bare boards, then migrated to tape & rub-on kit. The next step was using positive sensitive boards. That allowed me to produce more than one of the same....Was great !
First ones were using tape and still, those rub-on kit, but on a transparency ! My last migration was to use Autocad (custom object, like DIP, pad, etc ) and a LASER printer. Results were pretty impressive.
Many time I had tried to learn software like Protel, Eagle, Orcad, etc ... But the "getting-older" bear in me was just getting frustrated as these software did not seem "user friendly" enough.
That was until I found Jeremy Blum's tutorial; I hate this kid...Everything about electronic seem so simple, so obvious. I went thru his 3 tutorials, and that was enough to get me started "full-throttle" with Eagle. Here are the links for those interested:
Tutorial #1:
I watched them about 3 weeks ago, and since then, I have created a library that included all the components that I regularly use. Makes my life easier ! Should have done that many years ago ! (well giving Jeremy's age, he was probably not born yet !)
Now in terms of having my PCB manufactured, I've done a fair amount of research, and settled for www.pcbway.com (which is also the same as www.pcbgogo.com . Figured that out while requesting a quote from both..)
The price was pretty good: 10 boards for 10$ (up to 100mm x 100mm per board). If you are in no hurry, shipping with EMS was 10$. The process of submitting your design could not be any simpler...
Made an order of 4 designs at 10 boards each, with DHL delivery (Canada). 65 $ for 40 boards...not bad ! Sent order on Tuesday, received my boards the next Monday! Damn good if you ask me !
I received my boards yesterday. I must admit that I was <beeep> IMPRESSED ! BTW, they are not good in math, as I received 11 boards of each design !!!! (I guess that's fairly standard practice)
OK...2 of my design were wrong (one had a trace overlap, the other had a wrong footprint for a relay, but these were caused by me still in the "learning curve") but the quality is just amazing. Once assembled, my boards look like commercial made boards ! Silkscreen and soldermask is not something I was used to with my "hand-made" ones. I almost cried....
Some of you won't be impressed as they've been making their board like that for years, but let me just enjoy that moment !!!
I've ask Aimee (from PCBWAY.COM) if they could have other offer, like smaller boards (50mmx50mm) at a better price, or if I could combine multiple design on one 100mm x 100mm board (let say at 15$), because sometime, I have many small one-of-a-kind design. I will see what she reply, and keep you posted if there is any interest !
Anyway, as far as I'm concern, they have "won my heart" and my business..
That's it folks ! I had to share it with people who care, because my wife didn't give a <****> about it ....
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