Turtlerock Forum

Anyone got any tips on diy pcbs?

Do you just etch your own?

Have you got small runs done somewhere, say less than 10?

Do you just use perf board?

you can get test run PCB's done very affordably.
google around PCB production china and you'll get something, a few people i've known have done stuff in the past, no longer in contact with them but i know they've done it affordably.

Thanks Jamil.


I have been googling my ass off. 8)

Express pcb is an option. Especially if you also need easy to learn and use layout software

thanks Rob

I will go check it out...

Wiz wrote:thanks Rob

I will go check it out...

damn PC only I am on Mac nowadays...


I have been trying Eagle all afternoon... at this stage I might just wire it point to point... it would be faster

8)

Wiz

Best PCB layout software for the Mac that I have is Osmond: see http://www.osmondpcb.com/

I've done heaps of PCB's using it and it exports Gerber files which are pretty much stock standard for PCB makers. It does not do circuit emulation though.

I have also etched by own, but I tend to do this only on simple circuits with wide traces. Getting a PCB professionally made it much more expensive but also is much more robust as circuit complexity increases.

Good luck. Whatchabildin?

Hi Chris

Thanks for replying will check it out.

I am building a mic preamp(s)

If you have the schematic and go with Osmond, I'd be happy to walk the road with you. With Osmond, you create a "Part and Net" text file from the schematic, which you then read into Osmond to do the actual layout. It took me a little while to get the hand of the syntax for the text file, so that's one thing I could do to reduce the learning curve.

Call me perverted, but I enjoy the challenge of PCB design, getting the parts laid out and connected aesthetically. I've boarded out heaps of schematics that I will never build, just for the sake of seeing what I can do - all the way up to full console input channels and so forth. Joe Malone is an absolute guru at this, on top of his design cred. His PCB's are just pretty.

Drop me a PM if I can help.

chris p wrote:If you have the schematic and go with Osmond, I'd be happy to walk the road with you. With Osmond, you create a "Part and Net" text file from the schematic, which you then read into Osmond to do the actual layout. It took me a little while to get the hand of the syntax for the text file, so that's one thing I could do to reduce the learning curve.

Call me perverted, but I enjoy the challenge of PCB design, getting the parts laid out and connected aesthetically. I've boarded out heaps of schematics that I will never build, just for the sake of seeing what I can do - all the way up to full console input channels and so forth. Joe Malone is an absolute guru at this, on top of his design cred. His PCB's are just pretty.

Drop me a PM if I can help.

Thats really kind of you Chris... I may just take you up on this... 8)

Let me get to the point that I have decided what I want.. thanks again.