Where to get PCBs printed ?

[Mark Smith]

Does anyone know of a good company that can print me some PCBs ?  Preferably in New Zealand or Australia, but failing that one that doesn;t cost the earth to ship.

Thanks!

Mark

[Andrew Sutton]

Why not make your own? I'm thinking of making one with one of those Radio Shack kits. It should be rather simple, based on a schematic in Jeff Ledger's PDF file. The project is an RS-232 interface using a MAX 233 chip.

[StyleCHM]

I wouldnt mind one of those. Even the bare PCB

While youre etching one, feel like etching 2?

Ill swap ya for some userport connectors if you like

[Mangelore]

Does anyone know of a good company that can print me some PCBs ?  Preferably in New Zealand or Australia, but failing that one that doesn;t cost the earth to ship.

Thanks!

Mark

I've only dealt with PCB manufacturers in China and Bulgaria. I couldn't find any affordable manufacturers in Australia.
What's the size of your PCB and how many do you need printed?

[airship]

Check out this place. They've gotten good reviews online, and they ship internationally.

[Andrew Sutton]

Express PCB even has software you can use to do your layout. From what I understand, you just need a laser printer to make an "iron on" transfer. I have an old HesModem that I'm going to use for the user port connector and the case to make my rs232 interface. A MAX 233 chip is used, and I got two samples free from Dallas/Maxim. I suppose I should make a prototype with one chip before making the board, and test it out!

[StyleCHM]

Andrew: pm your snail mail address and Ill post you some connectors. Save that poor modem!

[BigDumbDinosaur]

Express PCB even has software you can use to do your layout. From what I understand, you just need a laser printer to make an "iron on" transfer. I have an old HesModem that I'm going to use for the user port connector and the case to make my rs232 interface. A MAX 233 chip is used, and I got two samples free from Dallas/Maxim. I suppose I should make a prototype with one chip before making the board, and test it out!

The ExpressPCB software generates plots that only their board manufacturing system can read.  I have yet to be able to produce an "iron on" transfer from EPCB software and I've been using their services for a long time.  In any case, you can get three high quality miniboards made (3.8 inches x 2.5 inches) for 51USD plus shipping.  Dunno what it would cost to send boards to DownUnder, though.

[Mangelore]

I've been thinking about creating and ordering some generic PCB boards similar to the 8 Bit Baby
www.protovision-online.de/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=97
but specific to Commodore computers only.

They would have a cartridge edge connector like the 8 Bit Baby but also a second connector to solder a User Port plug.

The track pattern is yet to be decided.
What do you guys think?

[BigDumbDinosaur]

I've been thinking about creating and ordering some generic PCB boards similar to the 8 Bit Baby
www.protovision-online.de/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=97
but specific to Commodore computers only.

They would have a cartridge edge connector like the 8 Bit Baby but also a second connector to solder a User Port plug.

The track pattern is yet to be decided.
What do you guys think?

I developed a generic expansion port board many years ago and updated it a few years ago using EPCB's software.  It is almost identical to a Jameco part that was available in the past, except it is silkscreened with numbers and grids for parts placement, and has a 24 x 35 hole pattern, with plated through holes to which parts may be soldered.  There are no traces, so it can be wired any way that's needed.

This sort of layout is more generic that the Proto-Vision Online part, is not subject to the ridiculous EU taxes that a German company has to charge, and is more adaptable to the sorts of projects that routinely get kicked around here.  They work out to about 12 USD each if I get 50 made.

[brain]

I use www.silvercircuits.com, but I've never done a true production run.  Their boards are awesome, looks like glass finish, and as the name denotes, are silvered, not HASL.

Jim

[brain]

Mangalore, I might be interested.  I thought about laying one out here (no biggie, but lots of other irons in the fire.  It would be nice if it had a pinout for a 16kB ROM, as a way to make a quick cartridge (so folks could buy them for cart use if needed, but the userport/cart port woud be included as well.

I was interested in the 8 bit baby, but it was rather expensive for the value. 

Jim

[smf]

Andrew: pm your snail mail address and Ill post you some connectors. Save that poor modem!

You've got user port connectors?

[StyleCHM]

indeed, I bought 50 of em so I wouldnt run out.

Id be interested in the 8 bit baby knockoff as well. I want to design some cartridges so it would be cool to have a pcb I can use and jumper over to a breadboard.

have fun!

[Mangelore]

Mangalore, I might be interested.  I thought about laying one out here (no biggie, but lots of other irons in the fire.  It would be nice if it had a pinout for a 16kB ROM, as a way to make a quick cartridge (so folks could buy them for cart use if needed, but the userport/cart port woud be included as well.

I was interested in the 8 bit baby, but it was rather expensive for the value. 

Jim

Hi Jim,

I was thinking of keeping the PCB very simple. One side with a cartridge edge connector and the other with tracks to solder a user port connector. Then just a bunch of holes 

The plan was to make it as affordable as possible... not more than a few $$ a board.

Any preference as to how big should the board be?

I'll try to find some time to draw something up and post it online for feedback within a couple of days.

Cheers
Fotios

[Mangelore]

indeed, I bought 50 of em so I wouldnt run out.

Id be interested in the 8 bit baby knockoff as well. I want to design some cartridges so it would be cool to have a pcb I can use and jumper over to a breadboard.

have fun!

50 of em? That'll keep you busy for some time
Those connectors are hard to find in Australia.

[StyleCHM]

yup, I got them from the USA.

If anyone in Oz is chasing a couple, let me know Damn those yanks are spoiled

[StyleCHM]

I was thinking of keeping the PCB very simple. One side with a cartridge edge connector and the other with tracks to solder a user port connector. Then just a bunch of holes 

That would suit me perfectly Although the guys are probably right, you should probably include holes for at least 1 EPROM. Would make for easy custom carts

[brain]

Hi Jim,

I was thinking of keeping the PCB very simple. One side with a cartridge edge connector and the other with tracks to solder a user port connector. Then just a bunch of holes 

The plan was to make it as affordable as possible... not more than a few $$ a board.

Any preference as to how big should the board be?

Well, it'd be nice if it fit in Jen's cart case.  It appears the Solokian cart supplier in the US is no longer, but I think people would like a board that fits in a cart case, if they wanted to make a test run of a product and make it look nice.

2.2" (.1x22 fingers) and a bit seems a good width, and then whatever length would fit in the case.  As noted on the DIGIMax Universal (http://www.jbrain.com/vicug/gallery/digimax) They would nicely fit on each end at 2.2". 

If you use EAGLE, I can send something I started on.

If you don't want to wire up the EPROM directly with traces, if you at least put a double row .6 apart for the EPROM, so people have an easy path to wire up an EPROM.

[Mangelore]

OK, so let's go with a board that fits in a standard or Jen's cart case with provision for one EPROM.

Jim, I use Rimu PCB but have Eagle as well so feel free to send me what you've started.

[StyleCHM]

can we preorder?

EDIT: BTW, where can I find "Jen's cart case"?

[airship]

*bump*

Any progress to report?

[BigDumbDinosaur]

How about an expansion port board like this?  If enough people are interested I could have them produced and then shipped as required.  It won't be very cheap, unfortunately for those outside the USA.

[airship]

How about an expansion port board like this?  If enough people are interested I could have them produced and then shipped as required.  It won't be very cheap, unfortunately for those outside the USA.

Are the pads double-sided with plated-thru holes?

I'd like to see Vcc and Ground busses go up each side, where two rows of dots are currently just abandoned.

Other than that, it looks cool.

[BigDumbDinosaur]

Are the pads double-sided with plated-thru holes?

Of course.  Otherwise, the board would be kind of useless, eh?  BTW, the big holes at the right-hand end of the board are mounting holes that clear a 6-32 machine screw.

I'd like to see Vcc and Ground busses go up each side, where two rows of dots are currently just abandoned.

Ground isn't much of a problem, as it is available at pin 22, which is at the left end of the expansion port when facing the back of the computer.  I can tie that onto the row of "abandoned" holes at the bottom (as viewed in the image) of the board.

Vcc is a problem, as it is available only at pins 2 and 3, both of which are "land-locked."  I could get around it by increasing the board length and relocating the main grid to open up space near the finger pads.  That would produce enough room to get a trace across to the row of "abandoned" holes at the top.  A longer board will increase the cost, of course.

Other than that, it looks cool.

Thanks!