Re: pc boards (fwd)

["Tesla list" <tesla@xxxxxxxxxx>]

---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: Fri, 08 Jun 2007 17:47:17 -0700
From: Jim Lux <jimlux@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: Tesla list <tesla@xxxxxxxxxx>
Subject: Re: pc boards (fwd)

At 03:49 PM 6/8/2007, you wrote:

>---------- Forwarded message ----------
>Date: Fri, 8 Jun 2007 17:43:21 -0400
>From: Chip Ford <chipford@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
>To: tesla@xxxxxxxxxx
>Subject: pc boards
>
>Here is a topic to kick around. This may have already been descussed in
>depth. I don't know? I am kinda new but not a beginner. I have been
>looking around and trying to figure out the "most practical" way to make
>"decent" pc boards.

These days, there are all the PC prototype houses (pcbexpress, 
expresspcb, pcb4u, etc.) that do a fine job with quick turnaround at 
very low cost (<$50 for a few small boards).

Unless you have LOTS of free time, it would be hard to beat 
that.  Just the time to drill all the holes, not to mention the 
hassle of front/back registration, plating through, etc.

I've done all the PC proto methods, all the way from x-acto knife and 
copper tape to full on photolithography and plating, and, as far as 
I'm concerned, unless you need extremely fast turnaround (<1 day) or 
you can get by with single sided boards only, homebuilt PC boards 
aren't worth it.  The equipment alone to do good two sided boards 
will cost more than getting a bunch of boards made, not to mention 
all the hassles with chemicals, storage.

OTOH, it IS very cool to be able to do it all yourself.  There is a 
certain "geek chic" in being able to have an idea at lunch time, and 
by the next morning, have it all built.  It's sort of like the 
tradeoff between buying machine tools: mill, lathe, tooling, etc., 
and hiring a machine shop.  You can get a lot of machining done for 
the cost of all the tools and tooling, but there is satisfaction in 
just whipping out to the garage and making that bracket.

Jim