Q: Suggested places to fabricate PC boards

[mmagliaro]

I would like suggestions for places you have PC boards made - the sort of places that will do low-volume
production (for hobbyists, like us!).   I want a place where ideally, I can send them some standard data,
like Gerber files, and they will send me back nice etched, drilled boards.  I have used Advanced Circuits in the past,
and they do a very nice job, but they are expensive and require that you use their proprietary board software
and file format (i.e. NOT Gerber files that you can generate from most standard PC board design tools).

Suggestions?  Thank you.

[C855B]

Many, many years ago (>15) I used expresspcb.com for a successful project. They also rely on proprietary software, but back then it worked fine for me and their prices were quite reasonable. I just checked to verify what they offer today, and the prices are still reasonable for a prototyping shop. Boards were of high quality; about the only complaint I would have with them for my current MRR needs is the board material is limited to 0.059"; I would want thinner substrates for things like DCC decoder adapter boards.

[John]

I would contact rpaisley up in canada -- he has boards made for his project circuits .might be a good source of info

[wvgca]

for low volume there is OSHpark, cost is medium, shipping is usually around two weeks ... i usually use eagle for a layout software, for slower turnaround but noticeably lower prices, there is ALLPCB , i have used both in the past

[mmagliaro]

I suppose so far, having checked these all out, OSHPark is a favorite in that they are USA made, I can upload a KiCAD file to them and I don't even have to bother exporting the Gerber files "just so" as required by the board house.    They are a little spendy, but cheaper than Advanced Circuits.  I didn't mention this in my original post, but I would prefer to use a place in the US.  I know they will be more expensive than the places in China.

[timwatson]

These are the guys I have used before they are pretty good and inexpensive. I was impressed for all the things they offered.
https://jlcpcb.com/ or they were before the shortages.

Sorry just read US manufacture. I am not sure that’s these guys.

[mmagliaro]

These are the guys I have used before they are pretty good and inexpensive. I was impressed for all the things they offered.
https://jlcpcb.com/ or they were before the shortages.

Sorry just read US manufacture. I am not sure that’s these guys.

Thanks, Tim.  I knew about that place also.  They are super cheap and I've seen their boards, which look very good.
But they are in China and Taiwan (and Germany).  I want to see what I can do within the US first.

[narrowminded]

Is the need immediate and how many are you looking for?  I have a small CNC machine coming together and will have an optional vacuum table for it that might be handy for jobs like this.  I also will be working with a regular cadd program, at least initially, for my needs.  I'm not necessarily looking for jobs but would be quite willing if it would help. 

[mmagliaro]

Is the need immediate and how many are you looking for?  I have a small CNC machine coming together and will have an optional vacuum table for it that might be handy for jobs like this.  I also will be working with a regular cadd program, at least initially, for my needs.  I'm not necessarily looking for jobs but would be quite willing if it would help. 

Thanks, and it's not a rush, but I was just tinkering around, neatening up my schematic and board layout for the DC throttle circuit
I use (since there have been some threads about DC throttles lately, and it made me start thinking about it again).  So then I thought,
I wonder if I could get a few boards done for me in the new layout, all nice and pretty with silkscreening and so on, and when I
saw that the US prices were over $30 per board, I was shocked.  I didn't think it would cost that much.  But apparently, it does.

Here's the board I got back from Advanced Circuits.  I have no complaints about the quality.  It's a nice sturdy board, the holes and plating are great and the silkscreening is crisp.  But at $33/each... ouch.  And I have since rearranged this layout to make it cleaner, easier to read, easier for more generally-available components to fit... so yeah, if I could get a place to knock them out for more like 10 bucks, that would be great, but I think that is whistling in the wind for a US maker.

[wvgca]

us makers are quite a bit higher than asian .... for lowest cost and medium delivery charges check out asian suppliers with [for example] DHL courier delivery ...
cost comparison for [i think] 19 suppliers is here https://pcbshopper.com   

[mmagliaro]

Well, I found  https://aisler.net/
They are in the Netherlands, but they manufacture their boards in Germany for European customers and in the US for US customers, which enables them to offer free shipping and avoid customs delays and import duties.

I'm letting them do a run of 6 boards for $6.50 each.  No, that's not $1 or $2 like some of the Asian makers, but I also don't have to pay $20 or more for shipping and it's cheap enough to be reasonable for "little fish" like us.  $6.50 I can live with.  $25 or $33, not so much.

[John]

I'm letting them do a run of 6 boards for $6.50 each.  No, that's not $1 or $2 like some of the Asian makers, but I also don't have to pay $20 or more for shipping and it's cheap enough to be reasonable for "little fish" like us.  $6.50 I can live with.  $25 or $33, not so much.

And in light of the world order -- it's made here and provides jobs for our citizens .

[mmagliaro]

And in light of the world order -- it's made here and provides jobs for our citizens .

This was not lost on me.  That's why I was trying to find a source within the US if at all possible.

[peteski]

This was not lost on me.  That's why I was trying to find a source within the US if at all possible.

LOL, the last time I checked Netherlands were not part of the USA, but at least they're not China. 

[mmagliaro]

LOL, the last time I checked Netherlands were not part of the USA, but at least they're not China. 

Agreed, I would rather go to the Netherlands.  But notice my earlier post.  This company has manufacturing facilities
in Europe and the US.  For orders placed from the US, they actually do make your boards in the USA (which is how they can afford
to give me free shipping!    )