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
- 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 |
| Seeed Studio Fusion PCB | 5 - 7 days | 0-25 days (Registered airmail) | Green | £4.39 | £10.21 | 5 | £2.04 |
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.