Post by thread:[ot]: PCB express...

Hello, This question is about the service PCB Express, I think this is the name, I don't have the program on this computer... Anyway, I want to have a printed circuit made, and I have a few questions... first, will PCB express drill the holes? second, can you have several small circuit boards within the allotted space? thanks... -- http://www.piclist.com hint: PICList Posts must start with ONE topic: [PIC]:,[SX]:,[AVR]: ->uP ONLY! [EE]:,[OT]: ->Other [BUY]:,[AD]: ->Ads

Yes and yes. But you would be well served to avoid using them and their very proprietary software... ...the time you spend learning a standard PCB Cad package like Eagle and learning to work with a regular card house will serve you well in the future. Express can't save files in anything other than their own format... and they change formats, which invalidates your existing design. You have no ability to transfer your design to another CAD package and no other card houses can accept Express PCB's file format. Don't ask my how I know... <GRIN> --- James Newton (PICList Admin #3) spam_OUTjamesnewtonTakeThisOuTpiclist.com 1-619-652-0593 PIC/PICList FAQ: http://www.piclist.com or .org {Original Message removed}

But they're also dirt cheap and pretty quick (and do nice work), which makes all of the above factors to consider but not always show-stoppers. I've used them a couple of times for one-offs... you just have to be aware of what you're getting into. Dale On Tue, 22 May 2001, James Newton. Admin 3 wrote: {Quote hidden}> Yes and yes. But you would be well served to avoid using them and their very > proprietary software... > > ...the time you spend learning a standard PCB Cad package like Eagle and > learning to work with a regular card house will serve you well in the > future. > > Express can't save files in anything other than their own format... and they > change formats, which invalidates your existing design. You have no ability > to transfer your design to another CAD package and no other card houses can > accept Express PCB's file format. > > Don't ask my how I know... <GRIN> > > --- > James Newton (PICList Admin #3) > .....jamesnewtonKILLspam@spam@piclist.com 1-619-652-0593 > PIC/PICList FAQ: http://www.piclist.com or .org > > > {Original Message removed}

I also use them and have had no problem. but I think that it's time to use a real layout software . so here is a question ,does anyone know of a software program that's as easy to use as the express pcboard???? I did get caught in it's ease of use I have tried others but everything I try I compare it to express pcb and go back. but if there is commercial product out there that closely resembles express then the learning curve would be minimal. thanks victor ----- Original Message ----- From: "Dale Botkin" <daleKILLspamBOTKIN.ORG> To: <.....PICLISTKILLspam.....MITVMA.MIT.EDU> Sent: Tuesday, May 22, 2001 5:10 PM Subject: Re: [ot]: PCB express... > But they're also dirt cheap and pretty quick (and do nice work), which > makes all of the above factors to consider but not always show-stoppers. > I've used them a couple of times for one-offs... you just have to be > aware of what you're getting into. > > Dale > > On Tue, 22 May 2001, James Newton. Admin 3 wrote: > > > Yes and yes. But you would be well served to avoid using them and their very > > proprietary software... > > > > ...the time you spend learning a standard PCB Cad package like Eagle and > > learning to work with a regular card house will serve you well in the > > future. > > > > Express can't save files in anything other than their own format... and they > > change formats, which invalidates your existing design. You have no ability > > to transfer your design to another CAD package and no other card houses can > > accept Express PCB's file format. > > > > Don't ask my how I know... <GRIN> > > > > --- > > James Newton (PICList Admin #3) > > EraseMEjamesnewtonspam_OUTTakeThisOuTpiclist.com 1-619-652-0593 > > PIC/PICList FAQ: http://www.piclist.com or .org > > > > > > {Original Message removed}

I've done at least five or six PC proto boards with PCB express and they have created nice boards for me. Two days from my submission of the gerber files, I have finished boards in hand for under a couple of hundred dollars! What a country! I used to use the special laser paper laminated to blank copper boards followed by dropping them in my etching tank. Worked fine for single sided boards, but when you want plated through holes, it gets to be a pain. Takes more time than it's worth, in my opinion. So my system sits waiting for simple boards... but the complicated ones go to PCB express. Note that there is no solder mask or silk screen on the 1 day turn boards, so I usually put the silk screen "in copper". Ron Dale Botkin wrote: {Quote hidden}> But they're also dirt cheap and pretty quick (and do nice work), which > makes all of the above factors to consider but not always show-stoppers. > I've used them a couple of times for one-offs... you just have to be > aware of what you're getting into. > > Dale > > On Tue, 22 May 2001, James Newton. Admin 3 wrote: > > > Yes and yes. But you would be well served to avoid using them and their very > > proprietary software... > > > > ...the time you spend learning a standard PCB Cad package like Eagle and > > learning to work with a regular card house will serve you well in the > > future. > > > > Express can't save files in anything other than their own format... and they > > change formats, which invalidates your existing design. You have no ability > > to transfer your design to another CAD package and no other card houses can > > accept Express PCB's file format. > > > > Don't ask my how I know... <GRIN> > > > > --- > > James Newton (PICList Admin #3) > > jamesnewtonspam_OUTpiclist.com 1-619-652-0593 > > PIC/PICList FAQ: http://www.piclist.com or .org > > > > > > {Original Message removed}

For you information, the service I used was PCB Express, not Express PCB.... The company I dealt with is in Oregon. Ron victor Faria wrote: {Quote hidden}> I also use them and have had no problem. > but I think that it's time to use a real layout software . > so here is a question ,does anyone know of a software program > that's as easy to use as the express pcboard???? > I did get caught in it's ease of use I have tried others but everything I > try I compare it to express pcb and go back. > but if there is commercial product out there that closely resembles express > then the learning curve would be minimal. > thanks > victor > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Dale Botkin" <@spam@daleKILLspamBOTKIN.ORG> > To: <KILLspamPICLISTKILLspamMITVMA.MIT.EDU> > Sent: Tuesday, May 22, 2001 5:10 PM > Subject: Re: [ot]: PCB express... > > > But they're also dirt cheap and pretty quick (and do nice work), which > > makes all of the above factors to consider but not always show-stoppers. > > I've used them a couple of times for one-offs... you just have to be > > aware of what you're getting into. > > > > Dale > > > > On Tue, 22 May 2001, James Newton. Admin 3 wrote: > > > > > Yes and yes. But you would be well served to avoid using them and their > very > > > proprietary software... > > > > > > ...the time you spend learning a standard PCB Cad package like Eagle and > > > learning to work with a regular card house will serve you well in the > > > future. > > > > > > Express can't save files in anything other than their own format... and > they > > > change formats, which invalidates your existing design. You have no > ability > > > to transfer your design to another CAD package and no other card houses > can > > > accept Express PCB's file format. > > > > > > Don't ask my how I know... <GRIN> > > > > > > --- > > > James Newton (PICList Admin #3) > > > RemoveMEjamesnewtonTakeThisOuTpiclist.com 1-619-652-0593 > > > PIC/PICList FAQ: http://www.piclist.com or .org > > > > > > > > > {Original Message removed}