Pcb manufacturer, Eagle and Gerbers???

[Spirtos]

Hi, I'm looking for a PCB manufacturer inside European Union with low cost if its possible and without minimoum order (even a small prototype pcb with soldermask, silkskreen etc) and I would want suggestions. I have read for Olimex but I hear different opinions about their quality.............
I also have some problem with Gerbers. Generally I use Eagle, and I have made gerbers for my local pcb manufacturer. For first time (and after some reading in the forum) I am trying to use GKprevue software to check my Gerbers and make changes if its possible. The point is that even older gerbers, which have been produced pcbs from a local manufacturer without problems (except pads width, a standard problem of Eagle), have problems according to the GKprevue software! Specifically in .dri and .drd files I have many errors and warnings! I am not familliar with gerbers and viewers so if someone can help me is welcome

Please forgive any mistakes in English I hope I was clear.

Spiros

[peranders]

First you must study Eagle a bit more. Check all D-codes but I assume that Eagle supports 274X format for gerber files. Then you will have all D-codes (apertures) inside the file.

I have seen Olimex pcb's. Just the one I havwe seen didn't look too exciting but for hobby is OK.

[BWRX]

peranders is right. Check to make sure the design rules you have set in the new program are the same as the ones set in EAGLE.

EAGLE is capable of producing 274X and that is the format that most manufacturers want anyway.

[gmikol]

Spiros--

I just got my shipping confirmation from Olimex. When I get the boards I'll scan one of them so you (and everyone else) can see what they look like.

For what it's worth, they've been pretty easy to deal with so far.

--Greg

[Spirtos]

Thank you all, Greg I'll be waiting to see your boards before I order anything.

[dfdye]

Originally posted by peranders
I have seen Olimex pcb's. Just the one I havwe seen didn't look too exciting but for hobby is OK.

I'll second that opinion. I have ordered from them a couple of times, and they are quite nice and easy to deal with. Their boards are OK quality--definitely good enough for prototype or one-off work, but also not the greatest I have ever seen. The first batch I got from them had a slightly misaligned soldermask, but it was acceptable, especially for the price. All of the boards I got back from them worked fine, which is my ultimate test! I would like them more if they had an option for heavier copper, but for the price I haven't found anything better that will let you put multiple parts on the same board.

My biggest gripe is waiting on international shipping, but for the price I can wait for hobby stuff. (plus, you are MUCH closer, so it shouldn't be too much of a problem for you!)

[dfdye]

Since you guys wanted to see some scans of the Olimex boards, I figured I could oblige since I have a few left over from my last round. This is obviously the circuit side. You should be able to see that the solder mask is ever so slightly off, but not enough to be a problem. All of the boards I have soldered up so far have worked like a charm. (No comments about my goofy layout, though! )

[dfdye]

Here is the silkscreen side. Like I said, they are perfectly servicable! A little rough around the edges, but they have worked fine for me so far. I have a set of double sided boards in the mail, and I will post pictures when they come in.

[dfdye]

PS: The goofy holes for the chips are my fault! I specified the hole too small and had to drill them out a little. I wouldn't want you guys thinking Olimex screwed that up!

[Spirtos]

Thanks Dfdye,
I think, as Peranders allready said that for hobby stuff is OK, and their prices aren't but at all. One more question, I am not absolutely sure about my gerber files, so what should be if I sent them to Olimex for production? Are they check for errors and they inform the customer?


Spiros