Guides/PCB Fabrication

This is a guide on generally how to get PCBs fabricated. It is NOT a guide on how to etch PCBs - that's the PCB Etching Instructions page.

Introduction

There comes a time when an electronic circuit just needs something a bit more permanent to be built on. That's when you will want to build a PCB.

Etching in the space

The space has some etching facilities, for which you can view the instructions here: PCB Etching Instructions.

Be warned, though, there are no tinning, through hole plating, silk screening facilities. It's great to get you by for a quick turnaround prototype, but for anything more fancy, you'll probably want to send your design off to the professionals.

Fabrication Houses

There are a number of places which can fabricate your board, here are some possibilities

• UK/EU commercial suppliers. Fairly expensive but can be fast and good quality.
  • Spirit Pretty well priced. Also provide a free & fast 'Naked' PCB service [1]
  • Stickleback "offers a good low cost pcb service for 2 layers PTH provided that you don't want less than an 0.6mm hole size and an 0.2mm wide track or feature"[2]
  • Eurocircuits EU based PCB house - several proto services. Fairly cheap for stainless SMT stencils.
  • PWT UK based full-capability PCB place for stuff Screenbond can't do. Typically cheaper than Eurociruits for 4-layer
  • Screenbond UK based PCB house with unusually low tooling costs (typ £40). 1 & 2 layer only. Can do 24hr turnround if you have deep pockets.
  • PCB-Pool Proto/low-volume oriented PCB service, not the cheapest these days but offer a free stainless SMT stencil.
  • PCB Train Fast turn around, good prices. Also have an assembly service and a 1 day (~£40 all in) prototype service for uncoated 2 layer boards.
• Far-eastern commercial suppliers. Probably cheaper for really large batches
  • PCBCART PCBs from China. Very cheap once you get over a square foot or two. Reliable, Quality generally good. A gazillion options - funky resist & silk colours (Matt black is cool!) , thicknesses etc.
  • Elecrow
• Far-eastern hobbyist suppliers such as Seeed Studio.
• Community cooperatives such as DorkbotPDX combine designs from multiple users to make an economic panel, then split it up.

Comparisons

For some kind of reference for comparison, here is a table of quotes for a fairly standard small board:

• Minimum quantity of boards
• 20x50mm
• 2-layer board
• No particularly coloured silkscreen/soldermask
• Through hole plating
• 1oz copper
• HASL or immersion silvering (whichever is cheaper)
• FR4 1.6mm (or nearest cheapest equivalent).

Service	Approx Turnaround time	Approx Shipping time	Silkscreen	Cheapest shipping cost	Total quote	Number of PCBs	Cost per PCB (delivered)
Ragworm.eu	10 working days	2 working days	Orange only	£0.00 (included)	£5.95	1	£5.95
OSHPark see specs	12 days	7 - 14 days	Purple only	£0.00 (included)	£4.50	3	£1.50
PCB Train Express service (no silkscreen, just copper)	2 days	?	None	£0.00 (included)	£30.00	1	£30.00
PCB Train 2 layer (with soldermask and silkscreen)	10 days	?	Green only	£0.00 (included)	£44.10	1	£44.10
PCB Pool 2 layer Bare board	8 days	?	None	?	£60.16	10	£6.02
PCB Pool 2 layer (silkscreen + soldermask)	8 days	?	Green	?	£117.30	10	£11.73
ITead 2 layer	?	4 - 5 days	Green	£2.29 (Airmail)	£8.10	1	£8.10
Eurocircuits	25 days	?	Green	£7.66 (Economy)	£33.02	1	£33.02
Elecrow 2 layer	?	7 to 25 days	Various	£2.70	£8.52	10	£0.85

NB: this is not an endorsement - prices may change, but this could be an indicative guide on roughly how much you might expect to pay.