Custom PCB Board from JLCPCB
I decided to use a fully vented 5U enclosure for my Tubelab SSE project. As many of you know, the SSE offers various options including tube/SS rectification, UL/Triode mode, and cathode feedback/no feedback. As part of my idea with this enclosure, I thought to have all the switches and controls for these options reside on a separate PCB, also inside the enclosure. This way, there's no clutter on the front panel. I'll call this second PCB the "Control Board".
To create my Control Board, I used the services of JLCPCB. They advertise $2 for 10 pcb's! Having never done this before, I'd no idea what to really expect but the reviews I found were quite positive so I decided to give it a shot.
I went to EasyEDA.com and used their editor to design my PCB. Then a couple of mouse clicks later it quickly linked me to the PCB Prototype & PCB Fabrication Manufacturer - JLCPCB website and automatically created an order. Super simple, and yes indeed, $2. For 10 PCBs. And free shipping. Amazing.
A short few days later, I get my DHL package. Here's what was inside:
IMO, they turned out fabulous. Exactly what I was hoping for. If you're thinking about a PCB don't hesitate to give JLCBPC a shot. Still waiting for parts for the rest of my build but I'm excited!
I decided to use a fully vented 5U enclosure for my Tubelab SSE project. As many of you know, the SSE offers various options including tube/SS rectification, UL/Triode mode, and cathode feedback/no feedback. As part of my idea with this enclosure, I thought to have all the switches and controls for these options reside on a separate PCB, also inside the enclosure. This way, there's no clutter on the front panel. I'll call this second PCB the "Control Board".
To create my Control Board, I used the services of JLCPCB. They advertise $2 for 10 pcb's! Having never done this before, I'd no idea what to really expect but the reviews I found were quite positive so I decided to give it a shot.
I went to EasyEDA.com and used their editor to design my PCB. Then a couple of mouse clicks later it quickly linked me to the PCB Prototype & PCB Fabrication Manufacturer - JLCPCB website and automatically created an order. Super simple, and yes indeed, $2. For 10 PCBs. And free shipping. Amazing.
A short few days later, I get my DHL package. Here's what was inside:
IMO, they turned out fabulous. Exactly what I was hoping for. If you're thinking about a PCB don't hesitate to give JLCBPC a shot. Still waiting for parts for the rest of my build but I'm excited!
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You certainly can't complain about those prices!
I spent about 90 seconds poking around their web site and it looks like they offer very limited options. Which, of course, is a key factor for holding prices down. But especially for situations like yours it would be nice to specify other colors for the silkscreen and soldermask.
Dale
I spent about 90 seconds poking around their web site and it looks like they offer very limited options. Which, of course, is a key factor for holding prices down. But especially for situations like yours it would be nice to specify other colors for the silkscreen and soldermask.
Dale
I just ordered 5 prototype boards. We'll see what they look like when they arrive.
I would have preferred to order from a US based company but for 5 boards from here it was less than $15. The quote for 5 boards from two US companies were each over $300.
That was a cost difference I could not ignore.
I would have preferred to order from a US based company but for 5 boards from here it was less than $15. The quote for 5 boards from two US companies were each over $300.
That was a cost difference I could not ignore.
That's dirt cheap, and looks like definitely worth the money. I need to poke around on there and design some stuff for sure.
JLCPCB is really good, I have used them exclusively for a while now for small and large (100+ boards) projects alike ~
I used JLC to fab the first 20 boards for the M2x power amp. Amazingly low prices, very fast shipping to the USA, and best of all, an extremely cute drafting pen with a very fine point, in an eye catching soda-straw housing. The pen was free!
I laid out the board myself using KiCad, and uploaded the Gerber files to JLC. Quick and easy.
I laid out the board myself using KiCad, and uploaded the Gerber files to JLC. Quick and easy.
got some 2oz boards from there at nice price and free dhl express shipping, yes dhl express, not some other slow dhl service
I've used JLCPCB for a number of boards over the past year or so. 2 layer, 4 layer, .032, .064, .08 thickness and most with included SMT stencils. I have boards coming this week that are 4 layer and will have 6 mil space and trace, so that will be a good test of what they can do.
The only issue I've run into with them is a board or 2 that the soldermask was a bit uneven and the coloration varied a bit. Obviously no functional problem, but easily noticeable when the boards were visible.
Another good point to them is that they review the gerbers very well. My most recent designs had a few unique things on it and they caught each one and asked me to verify. So I was pretty happy with that
The only issue I've run into with them is a board or 2 that the soldermask was a bit uneven and the coloration varied a bit. Obviously no functional problem, but easily noticeable when the boards were visible.
Another good point to them is that they review the gerbers very well. My most recent designs had a few unique things on it and they caught each one and asked me to verify. So I was pretty happy with that
So, easyEDA is pretty fun- I've been working on a (pretty rough, but in my opinion not too bad) PCB for the flea amp in my signature, and will probably go for JLCPCB for the first ten to see how I like them. Might have to do a small panel of mosfet ripple filters too.
(Yes I know the silk screen is all wonky, and that it needs mounting holes! I'm getting there lol)
(Yes I know the silk screen is all wonky, and that it needs mounting holes! I'm getting there lol)
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I used to use PCBWAY but changed to JLCPCB recently.
PCBWAY do give a few more options but are more expensive.
The UK prices for pcb manufacture are extortionate.
I paid $11 for 10 off 100mm by 100m pcb's via air mail with JLCPCB.
Hopefully the import duty will be less than when I used DHL with PCBWAY.
For the past month or so, ALLPCB has been giving free DHL express shipping, at least to me in the US. So I've gotten 6 day turnaround, from web-click on my computer, to DHL ringing my doorbell asking me to sign for the parcel. 100 small PCBs (M2x "Austin" input stage daughter cards) for $43 including express shipping and PayPal fees.
Invoice attached for your enjoyment.
Invoice attached for your enjoyment.
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They did the same last year and I gave them a try. Regrettable experience.
Undersized holes, even though I always use standard metric drill sizes. Patches of missing foil in copper pours and poor silk-screen printing. To their credit a customer representative addressed my concerns and re-manufactured some items. However, in the end the product was not at the same level of quality I get from PCBWAY. I don't plan on using ALLPCB again.
Undersized holes, even though I always use standard metric drill sizes. Patches of missing foil in copper pours and poor silk-screen printing. To their credit a customer representative addressed my concerns and re-manufactured some items. However, in the end the product was not at the same level of quality I get from PCBWAY. I don't plan on using ALLPCB again.
That's surprising! I am extremely pleased with the quality of the PCBs that ALLPCB sent me. Maybe I just had good luck. Or maybe you just had bad luck. Or maybe they've improved their process quality since last year. Or maybe a little of each.
As i mentioned, a representative did his best to resolve the issues. I want to believe that they have improved their process in the past several months.
🙂
🙂
Got my PCBs, ordered friday night, had them tuesday morning (!) with free shipping. They look fantastic!!
The only issues on the boards are minor silk errors that were totally my bad. VERY HAPPY with my experience with them, and really liked how easy and intuitive EasyEDA is to use. Highly recommended.
The only issues on the boards are minor silk errors that were totally my bad. VERY HAPPY with my experience with them, and really liked how easy and intuitive EasyEDA is to use. Highly recommended.
Many of these cheap PCB companies are actually agents fronting a pool of fabs, so there is a bit of a lottery which fab actually does the job. The result is variable quality.
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