Online (small batch) Custom Circuit Boards

[Charles Coslor]

Just read about this. I am sure if there was a will, there'd be a way, and we could make our own PCBs, but it is worth taking note of this.

http://www.wired.co.uk/news/archive/2012-10/16/build-circuit-boards-online

[Martin Passmore]

I like the sound of these guys.

It did remind me of an ad I saw recently in a magazine

http://www.elektor.com/

which led me to this, perhaps now fading discussion

http://www.cnczone.com/forums/general_electronics_discussion/18997-has_anyone_used_expresspcb.html

about

http://www.expresspcb.com/

with varying comments on the service; most people liked it. (3 boards for $51) One other thing that did come up in a search is that their free but proprietary CAD program can't be used by other manufacturers. It's for Windows but runs on Wine, they regard it fairly well.

http://appdb.winehq.org/objectManager.php?sClass=application&iId=1811

martin

On Thu, Oct 18, 2012 at 10:41 AM, Charles Coslor <charliec...@gmail.com> wrote:

Just read about this. I am sure if there was a will, there'd be a way, and we could make our own PCBs, but it is worth taking note of this.

http://www.wired.co.uk/news/archive/2012-10/16/build-circuit-boards-online

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[Jeremy Ruhland]

I've been using oshpark (formerly dorkbotpbx) for my last few designs, they've had pretty decent quality and are slightly cheaper than expresspcb, without the major downside of having to use a particular piece of software.

Circuit.io looks cool, and while their webapp seems very user friendly, it feels underpowered (having learned eagle). I haven't seen anything related to their pricing, or if they're using a different service for that, we'll have to see when they get up and running.

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[Martin Passmore]

This showed up on my Gmail page as I was reading Jeremy's comments--they sound decent also:

http://www.omnicircuitboards.com/

martin

[Mari Mamo]

Martin,

I know of someone that has designed and built his share of circuit boards over the years, some for work and some for various hobby projects. He said for experimental use they were usually perf-boards (perforated), but in some cases, after such prototypes were tested, the designs were sent out to be manufactured. For a while he played around with a kit for etching the boards himself.  But, he certainly never made use of the internet for the purpose. There was no internet back then!

I have been reading the posts and thought of Freske. I have invited him and a few others who were not aware of BHS.

 <Mari

[Martin Passmore]

Hi Mari

I feel a bit of a fraud posting anything about PCBs because the last time I actually built anything electronic that worked, was in the mid '50s during idle nights aboard ship when I made a 2-tube radio with a soldered brass scrap chassis (not much aluminum sheet aboard diesel freighters). What I do understand and hope might be useful to others is a long experience with heavier equipment and old-fashioned machine tools, and to a lesser degree industrial electrics and wiring.

I forwarded the items about PCBs when I came across them because I realize their strategic significance for builders, and I'm willing to put effort into supporting anything that helps open innovation. It's looking to me like the critical choke points for now are patents and hardware.

I love the new energy that's manifesting in the group after all the false starts and look forward to meeting you and your friend Freske

Martin

PS While I never got as far as needing to design a PCB, I have used breadboards a little in learning projects. But I'm fond of the idea as a metaphor in discussing transportation:

gliding south under the clouds to SeaTac, downtown Seattle looks like an old Pentium with the case off. But computers long ago gave up single-layer motherboards, and it's time cities did too. I want to see the paved ground prioritized for motors and freight, so that walkers and bikers get to use the space above the streets; buyways and spokeways, if you will.

Having to look out for traffic does not contribute to the shopping or the cycling experience. The feeling is mutual. And the cost would be asteroidal compared with freeways or rail.

I hope this off-topic extrapolation of the hacker ethic is not too unseemly and grandiose...

[Mari Mamo]

No this is not about circuit boards today .:) 

MariI here.

I live in Fairhaven and came with David M..Martin are you attending this years Linuxfest? 

I could sure use a ride to the event. 

Thank you.

Mari