BatchPCB - this looks cool and useful for DIY

[taj]

www.batchpcb.com

This looks like a very cool way to manufacture and distribute short run amplifier PCBs once a layout is done. It looks like it would make group buys a lot easier to manage.

I have no involvement with that business. I just saw a short article on the IEEE website that mentioned it.

..Todd

[firechief]

Cost is about 1/2 of what I currently use. Always looking for a beter answer.

[mlloyd1]

looks interesting ...\
thanks for the pointer.

mlloyd1

[error401]

I've used these guys for quite a while. Very good service. The web interface and DRC are better than everything else I've used, board quality is very good, and of course so is the price.

Beware of the turn time though, it will take minimum 4 weeks to receive your boards, in my experience it's usually closer to 6.

Also interesting is that you can 'release' your project for sale on their site marketplace. Upload the gerbers and other folks can then order their own boards directly.

[nigelwright7557]

I have found Chinese manufacturers to be very good.
I get a batch of PCB's from China for the cost of tooling in the UK !

[Greg Erskine]

Originally Posted by taj

www.batchpcb.com

This looks like a very cool way to manufacture and distribute short run amplifier PCBs once a layout is done. It looks like it would make group buys a lot easier to manage.

I have no involvement with that business. I just saw a short article on the IEEE website that mentioned it.

..Todd

Hi Todd,

Short time, no speak.

I have a PCB will BatchPCB at the moment. Crunching through the numbers, they are only economical for small run and/or small PCBs. i.e 4 x sub 1" squ PCB cost $5 each (includes delivery). A small amp sized PCB costs something like $25 each. If you only get 2 then $50 is still OK. But increase that to 4 boards then its $100 and you can do better.

If I made this small PCB available for others to purchase, it would cost $2.50 plus delivery.

Products

regards

[nigelwright7557]

Originally Posted by Greg Erskine

Hi Todd,

Short time, no speak.

I have a PCB will BatchPCB at the moment. Crunching through the numbers, they are only economical for small run and/or small PCBs. i.e 4 x sub 1" squ PCB cost $5 each (includes delivery). A small amp sized PCB costs something like $25 each. If you only get 2 then $50 is still OK. But increase that to 4 boards then its $100 and you can do better.

If I made this small PCB available for others to purchase, it would cost $2.50 plus delivery.

regards

In contrast I have just had 10 pcb's 9 inches by 7 inches made in China for £107 and that includes p+p.
They seem to provide a good service even though it does have to come half way around the world to get to me. Turn around time is usually a month in total.

[taj]

The part that caught my eye was the marketplace. You provide the design, pay for setup, and people buy the PCBs. If it's too expensive to do that way, then their business model is not what I thought it was.

I was thinking something like CafePress.com for PCBs. I guess it's not close enough. I'll keep waiting.

..Todd

[Greg Erskine]

Originally Posted by taj

The part that caught my eye was the marketplace. You provide the design, pay for setup, and people buy the PCBs. If it's too expensive to do that way, then their business model is not what I thought it was.

No, that part is OK if you compare it to what it would cost to get a PCB or two made by yourself.

This issue is with our group buys, when the number of PCBs gets into the hundreds, the cost of a PCB drops to only a couple of dollars per PCB. A lot cheaper than above. Of course the group buys only work because someone is graciously donating their time at nil cost.

BatchPCB forum: http://forum.sparkfun.com/viewforum.php?f=16

[error401]

For somewhat larger quantities, Gold Phoenix is the PCB manufacturing house that BatchPCB uses. $100 USD for 155 sq. in 2-layer, free panelization with much better turn time.

Still can probably do better for large runs though.