Cheap PCB fab?

I was wondering if anyone knows if it's possible to order custom PCB for under $50 from anywhere? It's 3.4"x2" single layer. It'll be my first PCB so just wanted to make sure it's good before getting large qty. I searched online and there's nothing cheaper than $100 out there :frowning:
Well ExpressPCB have this $50 deal, but they use proprietary software, and I wanted someone who'll take Eagle files...

Have you looked at iTead Studios, 10 boards, 10x10cm, 2 layers for $24.90.

http://imall.iteadstudio.com/open-pcb/pcb-prototyping.html


Rob

Similar service at seeedstudio.com as well. If you do $50 or more, they give you free shipping.

Graynomad:
Have you looked at iTead Studios, 10 boards, 10x10cm, 2 layers for $24.90.

http://imall.iteadstudio.com/open-pcb/pcb-prototyping.html


Rob

Wow, that's pretty amazing deal! Thank you! I will give them a try.

i used this lot a few weeks ago, this is a direct contact, theres lots of middlemen taking cuts, 7 day turnaround and very good quality.

http://arduino.cc/forum/index.php/topic,134516.0.html

jonisonvespa:
i used this lot a few weeks ago, this is a direct contact, theres lots of middlemen taking cuts, 7 day turnaround and very good quality.

http://arduino.cc/forum/index.php/topic,134516.0.html

Cool! Thanks for the info!

As mentioned..

iteadStudio -
*(currently merged into iMall) *
http://imall.iteadstudio.com/open-pcb/pcb-prototyping.html

*(I have used these guy..love them,..but I only get really small boards usually)

SeeedStudio -
(very similar to iTeadStudio)
http://www.seeedstudio.com/depot/fusion-pcb-service-p-835.html

Sitopway (Technology Limited) -
(new, but has bigger pcb size for their smallelst package/cost compared to the two above)

OSH Park, Very good prices and superb quality. And purple boards on top of that. Did I mention that their quality is the best?

I have used OSH Park for the last 6 months and never had any flaws with the boards.

codlink:
OSH Park, Very good prices and superb quality. And purple boards on top of that. Did I mention that their quality is the best?

I have used OSH Park for the last 6 months and never had any flaws with the boards.

Nice! How much do they charge for shipping to US?

I believe it turns out to be MORE:

http://oshpark.com/pricing

Pricing
There are currently three types of orders:
The standard 2 layer order

$5 per square inch for three copies of your design. For example, a 2 square inch board would cost $10 and you’d get three copies of your board. You can order as many copies as you want, as long as they’re in multiples of three.

Orders are generally 2 to 3 times a week, and have a turn time of about 12 days. They can be ordered on OSH Park.
The 4 layer order

$10 per square inch for three copies of your design. For example, a 2 square inch board would cost $20 and you’d get three copies of your board. You can order as many copies as you want, as long as they’re in multiples of three.

Orders are generally every 3 or 4 weeks and have a turn time of about two weeks. They can be ordered on OSH Park.
The medium run order

$1 per square inch, 150 square inch minimum. You can have as many different designs as you want, as long as each is ordered in a multiple of 10 boards.

These boards cannot be ordered directly through the site. You should send your designs directly to pcb@laen.org to be included.

So far OSH Park sounds like a winner! I did some digging around, they also have free shipping to US. And the best part I can just send them Eagle .brd file, no need to mess with anything else. To a noob like me, that's incredible!

xl97:
I believe it turns out to be MORE:

OSH Park Docs ~ Services ~ Fabrication Services

90% of the people have small boards. Yes the bigger boards are more expensive.

It looks like OSH Park would cost $34 for 3 boards, more if they round up, iTead is < $25 for 10 boards. Often of course for the first run you only need 3 boards, and likewise for the first run who cares about $9.

I admit it's a nice feature to accept the original design file rather then Gerbers, that's actually one reason I use iTead because they will take an Altium file, and I will use 10 boards because it's a networked project and each person testing needs at least 2 probably 3.


Rob

That's why didn't use Itead in the past is because I only need 1 of the boards. The extra 2 were only back ups. Figured 10 was way overkill. Plus I liked the quality of their boards.

I did order my last PCB with Itead because of the posts on here. But it's been 2 weeks and haven't heard anything from them. OSH Park would email at every step of the process.

I hear back from itead on my orders.
I order with payment via paypal.
I get an autoreply back with an order #.
I send in the gerber files with the order #
I get a replly back the files are being sent to the factory and they'll advise if any issues.
I get a follow on reply back when the boards are shipped.
A couple of weeks later they arrive, after going thru China & US customs.

If you haven't heard, send a message to wendy @ iteadstudio . com with your order # & ask what's up.

I second what CR said. I've always had excellent communications from iTead, step by step through the process. Send them an e-mail.

Same here, with ITead. I've placed three orders with them and am very happy with their service. They provide plenty of feedback.

[quote author=Leon Heller link=topic=135354.msg1019379#msg1019379 date=1354610052]
Same here, with ITead. I've placed three orders with them and am very happy with their service. They provide plenty of feedback.
[/quote]How long for shipping to the Uk?

Yea, I got the email for the order number and sent them the files. That was on the 24th of last month.

I'll send her an email now..

I ordered boards from Itead and OSH Park within an hour on the same day to see who would be the fastest.

I have already got an email back from OSH Park advising that my board has arrived from fab and getting ready to be shipped..

codlink:
Yea, I got the email for the order number and sent them the files. That was on the 24th of last month.

I'll send her an email now..

I ordered boards from Itead and OSH Park within an hour on the same day to see who would be the fastest.

I have already got an email back from OSH Park advising that my board has arrived from fab and getting ready to be shipped..

I suspect Itead has a high uncertainty on delivery date due to shipping time to USA and OSH has high uncertainty due to smaller amount of orders for manufacturing.