Found a place for cheap pcb manufacturing

Hello folks
I'm starting making my own pcb and today I finished my board on eagle.I had choose the ITEAD to get my first pcb but now I need to generate the gerber files to seendto then.
They need this:
Top layer: pcbname.GTL
Bottom layer: pcbname.GBL
Solder Stop Mask top: pcbname.GTS
Solder Stop Mask Bottom pcbname.GBS
Silk Top: pcbname.GTO
Silk Bottom pcbname.GBO
NC Drill: pcbname.TXT

Any help you can I generate this files from eagle to this specific manufacter?
My board have 2 layers

Go to itead studio,
http://imall.iteadstudio.com/open-pcb/pcb-prototyping/im120418001.html?options=cart

Select Download and download the eagle files
2Layer CAM for Eagle 5.x ITEADstudio_CAM for Eagle5.x.
2 Layer CAM for Eagle 6.x ITEADstudio_CAM for Eagle6.x.zip
2Layer DRC for Eagle ITEADstudio_DRC.zip2

Put the .drc file in the eagle DRC folder.
Put the .cam file in the eagle CAM folder.

With the schematic open, run the DRU check (tools:DRU I think, don't have it on this computer)
Address all the errors, make sure you understand the warning.

With the board open, run the DRC check - load the iteadstudio file and let it run, it will tell you about overlapping signals, signals too close, pins too close to the edge, pins not connected. Address all those. Some you may just approve, like unconnected pins if they are not actually used.
You will likely get a lot of warnings that are silkscreen related. If your component names are where you want them, those can be ignored.

To create the gerbers it's a 2-step process.
Select File:CAM processor, shoud bring up another screen.
On that screen, select File:Open Job, browse to the iteadstudio .cam file.
Then select Process Job. Close the CAM processor screen when done.

Now you will have all the files itead needs.
You can review them with a free viewer from www.viewplot.com

Zip all the files except .sch & .brd and send them to the address itead will send you after you make the board purchase.

I'm not looking at the eagle screens as I type this, so it may not be 100% correct, but close enough that you can find what's needed.

Thanks it really simplify my problem.
In your opinion, when run the DRC check I get a lot of warnings about "stop mask".Can I ignore this warning?

If you are happy with your reference designator placements (R1, R2, C1, etc) and anything else you have on the Names layers (25 & 26), then you can ignore them. I try and place all names so they don't overlap vias, pads, holes, and also the place markings for parts. You can right-click a part, SMASH it, and then move names, change their properties for size, font, etc.

Review the gerber files, you see can see what will end up the top & bottom for stenciling.

Is that what all my "stop mask" errors are? Silk screen that overlaps something?

0miker0:
After a bit of digging I found a place for super cheap PCB manufacturing.

http://www.oshpark.com/

I just checked their site, and one thing worth pointing out is that their boards are all ENIG, which means gold immersion. I order all my boards ENIG because I believe its well worth the extra expense. So if you compare prices to this place be sure the place you're comparing to also is quoting ENIG.

I have been happy with International Circuits, but that does not mean I won't at least look :wink:

"Is that what all my "stop mask" errors are? Silk screen that overlaps something? "
Yep. Large qty of them will be the outlines around connectors for instance.

CrossRoads:
"Is that what all my "stop mask" errors are? Silk screen that overlaps something? "
Yep. Large qty of them will be the outlines around connectors for instance.

So then all the slik screen is going to make an error, since its all on the stop mask.

I wouldn't worry about it as long as your Ref Des #s are clear and not intefering with connector markings or parts placement markings.

My first post mentioned that I ordered my boards from: http://www.oshpark.com/ It's been a while and since then the boards came in, have been populated and my layout is up and running. Manufacturing them and delivery took around 30 days but if you are in no rush then do recommend them. The quality is great for prototype boards. The drill hole alignment on the pads was well centered but the silkscreen was off a bit only on the backside. No worries there as long as the drill holes are good.

This was my first custom board so dropping the bootloader on was interesting. It turned out to be easier then what I was expecting. In my world, that never happens.

Check it out at:

skyjumper:

CrossRoads:
"Is that what all my "stop mask" errors are? Silk screen that overlaps something? "
Yep. Large qty of them will be the outlines around connectors for instance.

So then all the slik screen is going to make an error, since its all on the stop mask.

Not exactly. The stop mask layer is a negative layer. IOW, it indicates where the solder mask will not be. Ideally, there wouldn't be any overlap between the silkscreen and the solder mask layers.

I found that using vector instead of proportional text dramatically reduced the number of spurious stop mask error reports
my guess is that proportional defines a rectangle to hold the text
if that rectangle crosses a stop mask - ALARM ALARM the world is falling in
by converting the text to vector is just moans where there's a real problem

basically you don't want the silk screen printing on top of where you're trying to solder
IMHO YMMV

Like I said: "I wouldn't worry about it as long as your Ref Des #s are clear and not intefering with connector markings or parts placement markings."
I personally think proportional ends up looking better.

One debugging step I have learned the hard way is to view only layer 19 the unrouted layer. In a complex board you may not be able to see short unrouted air traces, by only showing the unrouted layer you of course can see them clearly if they are there.

Unrouted traces can occur if you route by hand or auto so I think this is a good debugging step.

wade

wwbrown:
One debugging step I have learned the hard way is to view only layer 19 the unrouted layer. In a complex board you may not be able to see short unrouted air traces, by only showing the unrouted layer you of course can see them clearly if they are there.

Unrouted traces can occur if you route by hand or auto so I think this is a good debugging step.

wade

I so wish there were a way to include a test for airwires in the DFU rules. I accidentally sent a board off with an unrouted trace... d'oh! Though in the end it was an excuse to add a bit more functionality to the project with another revision, it was still an aggravating mistake.

Using the Rats Nest reports on the number of unrouted traces.
I change the color to yellow to make them easier to see.
The really little short traces right on top of pad are the hardest to find.

I order my boards at http://imall.iteadstudio.com/ but it almost passed 2 months and I'm still waiting.Does anyone already order boards on them and how did it take to deliver the boards?
I have more boards to send to fabrication but with this delay I need to find another pcb house.
My hope is to find a good one in Europe 8)

itead delivers to me in eastern US in about 3 weeks. 2 weeks of that seems to be clearing customs, shipping, and clearing customs.
Total time to Australia has been reported as 2 weeks.

I have usually gotten my boards back from Itead in a month

Normal shipping from iTead to me has been roughly 3 weeks-ish. Expedited shipping came back in a week.