I have previously made PCBs, even double sided, by printing to film, exposing a pre-treated positive board with UV, etching it and sometimes chemically tinning it. It's worked many times. This process usually takes less than an hour.
Unfortunately, I am now in a situation where some of my "tools" aren't available and I've ruined three boards attempting this latest project.
The task is not to convince me that I should be able to deliver an Eagle file. The task is to create a double sided PCB, approximately 4 x 4 inches (actually 10 x 10.6cm) from a PDF which I will provide.
If multiple offers are received, I will prioritize who I give the order to: by location (Germany, EU, rest of world - simply due to simpler shipping and no customs worries) by language (native english or german Speaker preferred to facilitate communications). Of course, I am hoping for someone with experience at the task.
While not required, if you can tinplate to prevent corrosion, that would be a plus, especially if the final board will require more than a few days to arrive.
Thanks for the Suggestion but as I understand that tool it translates PDF commands to Gerber commands. My PDF contains an Image only. The traces aren't constructed with individual PDF commands and therefore I don't think there is anything to translate.
PCB fabs want Gerber files, not Eagle (Eagle can almost certainly export them) or pdf. And yes you'll have to provide Gerbers or risk things get messed up in translation.
cedarlakeinstruments:
and send the resulting gerbers here: www.oshpark.com. They have excellent quality and amazing prices.
OP is from Germany - can order cheaper from China than from the US, and both are far away.
It shouldn't be hard to find German companies that can produce such PCBs.
What I have is not compatible with sending it off to PCB manufacturing companies. I understand that they want certain file types. I cannot provide those file types. What I have is a PDF. I could generate any given Image file (JPG, TIFF, PNG, whatever) but I cannot generate the files most PCB companies use.
I don't know of any tool that converts fom a PDF or Image file to any Format supported by PCB manufacturers.
I also don't know of a PCB manufacturer who accepts PDF or Images.
I usually make my own boards as a Hobbyist. I can't do that right now or in the foreseeable future.
I was hoping to pay some other Hobbyist who has used similar techniques (print to transparent foil, expose with UV, etch, possibly tin).
wvmarle:
Makes me wonder: how did you make those pdfs in the first place? Hand drawn?
Nope, most PCB cad software has this option to print a PCB out in pdf, and that's exact replica of the original PCB size wise.
It's just a quick way to measure that all the components will fit on the final PCB.
Even eagle CAD has this feature.
Anshu_Raj:
Nope, most PCB cad software has this option to print a PCB out in pdf, and that's exact replica of the original PCB size wise.
It's just a quick way to measure that all the components will fit on the final PCB.
Even eagle CAD has this feature.
Of course.
But OP doesn't have the option to export to Gerber, which means it's not made by any regular PCB CAD software.