Comments on: Cheap Prototype PCB Comparison

By: Purple PCB Philosophy | The Amp Hour Electronics Podcast

Purple PCB Philosophy | The Amp Hour Electronics Podcast — Wed, 12 Jun 2013 05:16:44 +0000

[...] There is a list comparing many of the different services and how to optimize for cost/size. Quality is top priority at OSHpark though. [...]

By: ewertz

ewertz — Wed, 13 Feb 2013 11:05:59 +0000

$33 per board — minimum order 3. Unless you qualify for the sweet education discount AND you only have one design on the board. The $33 education discounted deal can be a sweet deal under the right circumstances.

By: ewertz

ewertz — Wed, 13 Feb 2013 11:02:05 +0000

You stopped reading too soon.

By: Paul Stoffregen

Paul Stoffregen — Tue, 12 Feb 2013 22:16:34 +0000

@Kyrre – The problem isn’t only 4+ layers. Most BGA parts these days are 0.8 mm pitch, which usually requires a 0.45 mm pad. The diagonal distance between pads is 0.68 mm (or 26.8 mil), where you need to fit a via.

Even OSH Park can’t really meet this with their 4 layer specs, and the process is worse for all the others. The OSH Park minimum drill is 13 mil and the required annular ring is 7 mils, which means the minimum via diameter is 27 mils. You’ve got to fit the via, and required clearance to those BGA pads, into only 26.8 mils.

By: psychoul

psychoul — Fri, 01 Feb 2013 12:38:08 +0000

Brad, excellent analysis. Really useful results. Of course in my opinion there are differences in the quality as well. I will consult you heatmap for my next pcb order!

By: Kyrre

Kyrre — Thu, 31 Jan 2013 02:21:55 +0000

How about 4 layer?
Some of us would like to use those beautifull bga’s and such…

By: camerin

camerin — Wed, 30 Jan 2013 20:37:03 +0000

Out of curiosity have you tried advanced circuits. 2 last I checked you could get 2 layer FR4 with 6mill tolerance for flat fee of 33 USD each. size up to 10 cm x 15 cm. but that was a few years back. 33each.com

By: Adam Schabtach

Adam Schabtach — Wed, 30 Jan 2013 19:32:10 +0000

Hey, thanks a bunch for this post, and for the update with the minimum-order chart. I’ve often wondered exactly how these three houses compare for various possible orders, and I usually don’t need more than a few boards. Much appreciated!

By: Zach

Zach — Wed, 30 Jan 2013 16:44:19 +0000

Excellent analysis. I’ve long thought that there needs to be a online calculator that takes Gerber files, along with other variables such as quantity/speed, and tells you which PCB fab service would give you the best pricing. Your work comes very close to doing just that!

By: Brad

Brad — Wed, 30 Jan 2013 14:27:46 +0000

Whoops! Fixed.