Well, the more I look at the links you folks provide, and the
sorts of projects you're doing, I realize that DIY boards are
just not the way to go.  I also realise how many engineers must
be on this list; they have real work to do, not the play stuff
I'm messing about with.  I thought about buying Eagle, and perhaps
I will yet, but I have to get some successes under my belt before
I get to that stage.

Gustaf


> -----Original Message-----
> From: pic microcontroller discussion list
> [mailto:PICLIST@MITVMA.MIT.EDU]On Behalf Of Jesse Lackey
> Sent: Saturday, February 28, 2004 11:38 AM
> To: PICLIST@MITVMA.MIT.EDU
> Subject: Re: ] My first PCB production
>
>
> I used to do my own boards; got a specially-modified laminator to do the
> "press-and-peel" iron-on toner resist stuff, even.  Got a process down,
> and could make decent boards.
>
> But.
>
> For 2-sided, getting the registration right on is a pain.  I only made
> one small 2-sided board, ever, and the underside was 90% ground fill,
> and not traces and vias everywhere.  Worked fine but I knew anything
> complex was going to be a big hassle.
>
> Which is the next point ... 2-sided w/o vias is a real drag.  I got a
> via kit, you punch these little metal cylinders into the board and
> solder, but ... what a drag, and you can't put a chip above the via, at
> least not the high pin count ones that really need to sit flush to the
> board.  Wound up never using the kit.
>
> Ug, all this.
>
> I use barebonespcb.com, basically its 2-sided plated-thru, tin finish
> (not a very good finish but functional and solderable), shipped
> next-day.  No restriction on drill sizes, I panelize from
> Eagle-generated gerbers with gerbmerge and send them a bunch of designs
> at once.  Excellent results and good customer service (I gave them the
> wrong zipcode once and another time changed shipping from 2-day to 1-day
> UPS, no problem).
>
> I only wish they had a similar 4-layer capability.
>
> Best -
> J
>
>
> Gustaf J. Barkstrom wrote:
> >>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?
> >
> >
> > A couple of boards, as in two? I have been following this thread, but as
> > I've gotten
> > back into electronics in the last couple months, I've rounded up items
> > to make my own PCBs.  Is the project sufficiently complext that
> you can't
> > make the boards yourself?  If you are only making a couple of boards, I
> > would
> > invest in some small supplies to do it yourself.  Of course,
> there are two
> > factors that have allowed me to not need PCB services yet: 1) I
> have lots
> > of extra time, no wife, no children, etc.; 2) I don't have any really
> > complex
> > board designs (yet).  And of course, my boards are only 1 or 2 sided, no
> > silkscreen,
> > and so forth.
> >
> > Gustaf
> >
> > <snip>
> >
> >>Ed
> >>
> >>--
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> >>
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>
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