Low Cost PCBs - What Can They Look Like?

RE: Low Cost PCBs - What Can They Look Like?

mcb1 — Wed, 18 Jan 2017 07:12:31 GMT

So I added all my extension rings onto the lens and took these.

[View:/resized-image/__size/620x412/__key/commentfiles/f7d226abd59f475c9d224a79e3f0ec07-fa69957c-e69a-4a24-9eca-3202883e7956/6204.contentimage_5F00_183341.jpg:620:412]

There is some offset of the solder mask, however it doesn't seem consistent over the board.

[View:/resized-image/__size/620x412/__key/commentfiles/f7d226abd59f475c9d224a79e3f0ec07-fa69957c-e69a-4a24-9eca-3202883e7956/4150.contentimage_5F00_183342.jpg:620:412]

There is a vertical shift, and the silkscreen is getting a little broken.

It should be noted that the row is 0.1inch spacing.

[View:/resized-image/__size/620x412/__key/commentfiles/f7d226abd59f475c9d224a79e3f0ec07-fa69957c-e69a-4a24-9eca-3202883e7956/3554.contentimage_5F00_183343.jpg:620:412]

Looking at the other side, you'd think it could be the original artwork.

The artwork was supplied by Dynamic Perception and it is a motorised camera controller based on Arduino.

Brilliant that a firm that designed and supplied these, did it as truly Open Source along with the software.

Just for interest sake these were done via Hackvana and if I recall were USD$3.60 per board plus shipping (total was USD$42 and they supplied 12)

Mark

RE: Low Cost PCBs - What Can They Look Like?

balearicdynamics — Mon, 16 Jan 2017 19:05:53 GMT

Shabaz, it's also a great guide to make a serious checkup of the PCB. As I am back in the Netherlands I have a digital microscope that I will use with some boards I have done at Eurocircuits, then I submit the images to your attention [View:/resized-image/__size/16x16/__key/commentfiles/f7d226abd59f475c9d224a79e3f0ec07-fa69957c-e69a-4a24-9eca-3202883e7956/contentimage_5F00_2516.png:16:16]

Enrico

RE: Low Cost PCBs - What Can They Look Like?

mcb1 — Mon, 16 Jan 2017 03:08:03 GMT

Nice post [mention:b0bc65b9ecdc4307bd967592f00e340a:e9ed411860ed4f2ba0265705b8793d05]

You do get what you pay for, so price v quality might suffer.

However since they are working from proper files, you shouldn;t be seeing solder mask misalignment issues.

re Silkscreen

I used Hackvana to do some boards and he has a great guide that linked to here.

Eagle: Text Silkscreen Width | Words on a Webpage

Mark

RE: Low Cost PCBs - What Can They Look Like?

Problemchild — Mon, 16 Jan 2017 00:59:17 GMT

Good one Shabaz, demonstrates some of the things to be aware of when ordering PCBs from cheaper suppliers.

None of these seemed to be too critical but could effect yield if you were making 100's or 1000's of these boards.

Either way you got appropriate quality for an appropriate price so you can consider the deal fair.

It's a pitty you cant buy PCBs of a similar quality in this country for even a similar price as for many things this is good enough especially as a quick prototype.

We shouldn't be looking to Western manufacture only for specialised production ....never mind this is how it is these days !