PCB prototyping supplier recommendations?

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seoras

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#303037 11-Jan-2023 16:27

I've got a project that I've had bread boarded for a while and I'm ready to make a PCB for it.

I used EasyEDA to design PCB, tried Eagle but found it not as easy to use.

EasyEDA wants me to use jlcpcb.com who seems reasonable until you getting to the shipping part when it costs $25 to ship to NZ selecting their cheapest option.

I've seen some youtube vloggers promoting PCBWay as an alternative and they offer AliExpress Standard at just under $5.

Has anyone tried, and would recommend, PCBWay or can recommend one that doesn't charge a small fortune for shipping here?

Thanks!

richms

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#3020179 11-Jan-2023 16:40

I have uploaded pre done zips of gerbers to pcbway and got the boards very quickly with their normal shipping option. This was before they offered the aliexpress one. Was supposed to get 10 boards and ended up with 12 so that was a bonus too.

Richard rich.ms

Talkiet

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#3020183 11-Jan-2023 16:56

I've only ever used JLPCB and over 4 projects and probably 4 PCB revisions per project I have to say that they are exceptional. I happily pay the $25 extra for shipping to save me weeks of waiting.

That said, I haven't heard anything bad about the quality of PCBway - it's just that for me, a couple of weeks extra for delivery is well worth the $25.

Cheers - N

Please note all comments are from my own brain and don't necessarily represent the position or opinions of my employer, previous employers, colleagues, friends or pets.

seoras

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#3020203 11-Jan-2023 17:46

Talkiet:

I've only ever used JLPCB and over 4 projects and probably 4 PCB revisions per project I have to say that they are exceptional. I happily pay the $25 extra for shipping to save me weeks of waiting.

That said, I haven't heard anything bad about the quality of PCBway - it's just that for me, a couple of weeks extra for delivery is well worth the $25.

Cheers - N

I was about to push the button on JLC but I found myself wondering why, if this is a China based biz, I can't get rates similar to AliX.

If you do a search in the forums here someone posted in May last year a discount code and said that they'd got shipping for ~$5 from JLC.

I'm always buying stuff from AliX and in the last 6 months their AliX Standard Shipping option has been very quick. Got 2 items this week that took 7-8days from ordering. It used to be 2-3 months.

Since I'm waiting for parts for the PCB from AliX why pay to expedite the PCBs shipping? 😊

The JLC website looks simpler and slicker, PCBway looks a bit rougher round the edges but with more options in spec-ing the pcbs.

So far it sounds like both are recommendable. Thanks guys!

Gordy7

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#3020234 11-Jan-2023 19:54

I have used elecrow many times for prototyping.... Don't know how they compare with others....

https://www.elecrow.com/pcb-manufacturing.html

Gordy

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dolsen

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#3020288 11-Jan-2023 20:32

Have been very happy with jlcpcb for the couple of things I've had made. First one was in 2021, $2 production plus $1.74 for air mail. Didn't take long to arrive (1-2 weeks).

Second order was late 2022. $2 for the order, $3.87 for global standard direct line shipping. Order was picked up from there on 21st November 22 and delivered to me on the third of December. Edit - it was in Auckland, cleared customs on the 25th November, the rest of the time "your parcel is currently in transit between our auckland and wel depots.,Auckland".

seoras

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#3020778 13-Jan-2023 10:33

For the record, for anyone who finds this thread in future, I ended up going with JLCPCB.

The high shipping costs, on any of these websites, seems to be related to ordering a stencil screen in addition to the PCBs themselves. I didn't think they'd add that much extra weight but apparently they do.

I decided to ditch the stencil and just try my luck without it for now. I may regret that yet, but at the price I paid it seems worth the risk!

I couldn't make up my mind about the layout (specifically where I positioned a switch and push button) so i created 2 designs.

Order 5 PCBs of each design in different colours and, including shipping, it all came to US$10 which seems like a great deal!

Thanks to those who took the time to respond to this thread.

George