On Wed, Mar 23, 2011 at 4:17 AM, V G wrote: > On Wed, Mar 23, 2011 at 1:27 AM, William "Chops" Westfield > wrote: > >> It depends. Couple bucks for blank copper clad. >> > > Agreed. > > >> Couple bucks for etchant. >> > > That's a one time thing. A bottle will last a LONG time. If you use the > HCL/H2O2 method, you can make it last forever and it's VERY cheap. > > >> Significant bucks for the high-grade ink cartridge (for >> direct to PCB printing) (which may or may not dry up between PCBs (I >> hate inkjets!)) > > > Or, just a laser printer (that most people have anyway) on label backing > paper that you can get for free. > > >> or a couple bucks for special transfer paper or >> transparency paper. > > > It'll last you a lifetime. > > >> Couple bucks for drill bits. > > > Tungsten carbide bits will last you pretty much forever and they're prett= y > cheap. > > >> Couple bucks for tool to cut the PCB material. > > > Again, it'll last you forever. > > >> Moderate amount for an inkjet printer >> to modify, or for a laminator, or for an iron, or for a contact >> exposure frame. Couple buck for other chemicals, sandpaper, etc. >> > > Sandpaper costs pennies, most people already have a laser printer, most > people have a clothes iron. > > >> I dunno. I've spent a couple $K for an LPKF (mill) to get that >> "instant turnaround." But it's not really that "instant", and I'm >> increasingly uncertain that it was a worthwhile purchase. > > > So what you only really need is the copper board. Everything is already > lying around somewhere or will last "forever" or costs pennies. > I agree, there is a startup cost, but that cost is very cheap and probably less than the cost of a decent sized professionally made PCB. I'd seriously rather make them myself. 30 seconds to print, a few minutes to iron, a few minutes to etch, a few minutes to drill/sand and there you have it. I can have a design to end product in 30 minutes (done so a few times already). And for small things, that's priceless. Compare that to $20 + shipping + 2 weeks. Not worth it in my opinion. --=20 http://www.piclist.com PIC/SX FAQ & list archive View/change your membership options at http://mailman.mit.edu/mailman/listinfo/piclist .