Edward, 1. PCB production is usually a bit of a gamble, and I have got plenty of boards back with mistakes in them even after years of practice. Double checking everything is a very good idea. I have got to the point where I budget half a day to carefully pick through a set of Gerber files before sending them out. It takes ten minutes to make them and 4 hours to check them. I also like to hand them off to another engineer or a technician to check against the schematic, look for blunders, etc. 2. I have only worked by sending Gerber files to PCB houses, which is rather tedious. If Olimex accepts Eagle raw data as you indicate (seems like I remember they do) this will be easier on you. 3. Common mistakes with Gerber files: leaving out a silkscreen layer not adding a border to every layer for alignment (this is unneccesary if sending Eagle files) line wieght too small to print Not checking the files carefully in a Gerber viewer before sending Not putting your name, contact info, drawing and revision number on every layer Olimex should have guidelines on line weight. Some houses might say that they cannot print test at less than 0.2mm line width, to pick a number out of the air 4. Mistakes you might make in Eagle: line wieghts or traces too thin Stuff drawn on the wrong layer, for instance board outlines on the copper layer spacings too close Component outlines inaccurate or interfering Component outlines on the wrong side of the board Not putting your name, contact info, drawing number and revision number on the schematic and the board Not putting a Revision number in the filename Rev numbers not matching If this is a production project I would budget at least three rounds of PCB prototypes. As you gain experience, you should be able to reduce that to one round and two in an occasional project that goes awry. If it is a short run hobby project, expect to have some "change order wires' on the board. Revision numbers are important. Often the PCB house will catch a problem, you will send them a rev, and they will go ahead and print the first set you sent them because rev's are not clearly spelled out. For any project, I would not push the line spacings and wifdths to less than you absolutely need. Maybe Olimex can print 0.1mm lines at 0.1mm spacings, but why push it? If .75 or 1mm traces will fit on your board with 1mm spacings, give yourself some room. This is likely the case if it is a thru-hole project. Also, for very little extra money you can have some extra prototyping boards. I usually add an array of 0.1" spaced thru-hole pads around the board to fill it out to a handy size like 4" X 6". On a later project you might consider panelizing your board to save money. One 6"X6" board can cost less than 36 1"X1" boards. Don't bother with that yet it adds complexity to an already tedious task. -- Lawrence Lile Senior Project Engineer Toastmaster, Inc. Division of Salton, Inc. 573-446-5661 voice 573-446-5676 fax Edward Cooper Sent by: pic microcontroller discussion list 02/24/2004 12:09 PM Please respond to pic microcontroller discussion list To: PICLIST@MITVMA.MIT.EDU cc: Subject: [EE:] My first PCB production Hi I'm about to order a couple of PCBs from Olimex, this is the first time ever I've done this, and just wondered what the common mistakes maybe? Does anyone have a link to a website with helpful hints? I've looked at the Olimex site which seems quite helpful just looking for any other suggestions is Olimex a good idea for a beginner like me? I've used Eagle and am not entirely sure what format is best to send them too, they mention taking eagle files directly, those who use Olimex, what format do you use? The double sided boards, will they look like professionally mad boards, ie with an insulating mask over the traces, and a silk screen of all the stuff i've written in Ealge on the front? Sorry if anyone feels these questions are answered in help or online files, I just want to hear some personal feedback from anyone who have used Olimex or similar to make their first PCB recently! I just don't want to throw away money or look like an idiot.... Thanks for any help. Ed -- http://www.piclist.com#nomail Going offline? Don't AutoReply us! email listserv@mitvma.mit.edu with SET PICList DIGEST in the body -- http://www.piclist.com#nomail Going offline? Don't AutoReply us! email listserv@mitvma.mit.edu with SET PICList DIGEST in the body