Hi,

http://www.seeedstudio.com/depot/fusion ... Path=64_12

Basically you send them the pcb files and you order a few pcbs at cheap prices. They will keep the design on file and let others order the same pcb directly from them. Max is 10cm x 10cm for that type of stuff, I am not sure if it will work for FreeEMS.

"The initiator make a board (maybe own design or any work under open source license), get 5 pieces PCB for just $30, we share the manufacturing costs and produce extra. The extra PCB will be stock by us and listed on a very affortable price like 5-8$ with minimal shipping cost. (About 2-3$ flat rate). You may share the $30 with other people, end up getting an industrial standard one for less than 10$."

Specification

* FR-4 material 0.4-1.8mm thickness
* 6mil spacing minimum
* 6mil traces minimum
* 10mil minimum drill size
* Board Outline precision ?.2mm
* Soldermask both sides
* Silkscreen both sides
* 1oz Copper
* No limit on the number of vias
* No limit on pads or components
* Color: Green
* 100% E-test
* Only one design per serivce."

Their specs are very good for prototyping and pricing is the best I have come across. Price is not so good for large volume.

Interesting!
Thanks
seank

A mate linked me this a while back, pretty interesting little service :-)

I'm in for interesting too.

This sample board though, uses Hot Air Solder Level to cover the pads. Which doesn't work very well for the smallest SMD discretes and small fine pitch leadless packages. The surface is too uneven, and total solder-per-pad is too variable. The components fall off during placement, or tombstone during reflow. The uneven surface also interferes with the solder stencil. Electroless plating is the best choice for flat and planar pads.

For almost everything else, I don't know how you beat their Domino deal at 12¢ a sq. cm., a $49 set up fee, and free shipping.
http://www.seeedstudio.com/depot/protot ... 64_12.html


http://www.seeedstudio.com/depot/images ... F00016.JPG

HASL is ok for proto stuff, I have used it for QFN devices and 0402 packages, soldering with a fine tipped iron.

I tend to use a stencil + paste now, so the "bumpy" finishing does not really matter that much to me.


I have a pcb that is 80 cm^2 in qty of 100, myropcb can do it for 300 with shipping, ~$3 per PCB

seeed studio would have cost me, 80x0.12 + 49 = $1009, ~$10 per PCB

PCBpool quoted me $500 without shipping, PCBpool's PCB quality is the best I have ever come across, their PCB has a silk sheen to it and the default tinning is a chemical tin that makes the pads super flat. Also worth mentioning that their prototype prices are very competitive and they include a free metal stencil. Their silkscreen is crappy for fine text, aside from that everything about pcbpool is cream of the crop.

Well that is some kind of pricing from myropcb. I am not even used to that, I'm sure I could get used to it.

Thanks Alan! Good info.

Someone who is in winter (not me!) and reading this should cross link to the thread on PCB manufacture that I think I started a while back (though it might have been someone else).

Fred.

I think you mean this link.

viewtopic.php?f=5&t=170&hilit=batchpcb

Here we discussed batchpcb and other mfg's.

Yep, that's it, thank you! :-)