On Sun, 25 Jul 2010, Olin Lathrop wrote:

> V G wrote:
> > I've been going crazy with the posts lately, but that's because I'm
> > working on a project for my university and I want to get it right.
>=20
> Which university?
>=20
> > I am going to etch my own circuit boards,
>=20
> That makes no sense.  That's for penny pinching hobbyists that value thei=
r
> time at next to nothing.  You are doing this for a real job where your ho=
urs
> cost your employer real money.  For $109 you can 100 square inches of
> finished PCB from Gold Phoenix, with silkscreen on top, solder mask top a=
nd
> bottom, plated thru vias, electrically tested, and delivered.  Unless you
> work for the University of Outer Bizzarristan and get paid a bowl of rice
> and three yak dung paddies a day, you are doing your employer a disservic=
e
> by costing more to make a inferior product.
>=20
> Also keep in mind that your employer's cost to keep you around is more th=
an
> you get paid.  For example, how many yak dung paddies does it take to kee=
p
> your office heated, what do they have to pay the yak hearder for the
> paddies, etc?

There are many employers that pay you for an 8 hour day and expect 16=20
hours of labour in return. Yes it costs them real money to provide you=20
with a desk or a bench but it costs them peanuts extra if you are at your=20
desk (or bench) for a few extra hours a day.

Some employers make you jump through hoops before autherising a purchase=20
and heaven help you if you end up needing to mod the board after it=20
arrives. Yeah, I know, "bad employers", "go find another job", etc...=20
still happens though.

Regards
Sergio Masci

--=20
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