Printed Circuit Boards manufacturer

Anyone have recommendations for small run (10s rather than 100s) single/double sided that you've used preferably in the UK?

Also I'm currently learning FreePCB - anything better/easier that you like (that's as cheap:smile:)?

TIA

Stirling i use 'Eagle' and most manufacturers will except the format.

another vote for Eagle

Another shout is to join the PCBGCODE yahoo grop as there are guys there that may do that sort of run for you?

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Originally Posted by stirling

Anyone have recommendations for small run (10s rather than 100s) single/double sided that you've used preferably in the UK?

TIA

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I've done that sort of quantity on my mill before now:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vDNScafwTYw

I'll try it on my router soon with higher spindle speed. All good fun :)

Thanks for all your replies. Will certainly give Eagle a shot. Still interested if anyone has used and can recommend a commercial pcb supplier.

Stirling,

It depends on the quality you are after, I have used many of them over the years:

For top notch boards (at a price)

I would always recommend Express circuits, they make some fantastic stuff but be prepared for the price, they are generally high technology.


http://www.http://expresscircuits.com/

For cheaper PCB's, with a reasonable quality (we use them for prototyping)

http://www.pcbtrain.co.uk/ (this is Newbury Electronics)

http://http://www.pcb-pool.com/ (Irish)

The quality of the boards is more than respectable and the lead time etc is good, one note would be if you are soldering surface mount I would avoid HASL finish and go with a Immersion finish as the pads will be much flatter.

I have a quite a lot of PCB experience, especially with Motor drives and high current boards, but have dabbled in RF and other such terrors!! (as do many of the guys I work with) we use Altium (not cheap), so if you ever have any questions then drop me a line, I am alos up for some "beer Token" pcb design if it is not commercial!

Hope that helps

James

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Originally Posted by 2e0poz

Stirling i use 'Eagle' and most manufacturers will except the format.

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Eagle files put Olimex in to a full hair tearing rant :naughty:

Click on "TECHNICAL INFO" then scroll down to...

FILE FORMATS we accept:

http://www.olimex.com/pcb/index.html

Thanks both for the info - exactly what I was looking for - I'll peruse and digest.

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Originally Posted by Jimmybristol

http://http://www.pcb-pool.com/ (Irish)

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I used PCB-Pool a lot, but they don't do assembly. Their boards are very good quality. They accept many PCB file formats, however they charge more for Gerbers which I use.

I used www.bittele.com 's online quote to get my card assembled. It's 30mmX50mm has 1 bga, 60 smd, 10 through hole parts. I'm putting together a real package with BOM and data sheets and gerbers for them to give me a more detailed quote. When I get the run back, I'll send you pics and my expert opinion.