Can anyone do PCB design ?? and small batch manufacture ??

[g8ina]

I have a small hifi linked product that needs a 30x50mm single sided PCB making.

Ive used one of the free softwares and made a layout but I cant export it to the file type that the cheapie Chinese PCB makers use.

Anyone better at this than me ?? (not difficult )
Ta

[watercooled]

Is it Gerber files the service is asking for? Perhaps there is some sort of converter for the file format your software uses?

[g8ina]

Ive looked everywhere but cvant find anything and yes, I need the Gerber

[watercooled]

What sort of file is it you have now, or what program?

[g8ina]

PCB Artist, uses .pcb format. I can send it to you if its any help.

[DanceswithUnix]

Ooh, that's good sneakyness making a free PCB CAD package that only the PCB manufacturing company that wrote it can take orders from

There are quite a few companies out there that do prototype PCB manufacture. If this is for one of your ebay projects I would be tempted to re-draw the schematic in something gerber friendly and get PCBs professionally made. I used to do home PCBs and was never happy with the results. I knew people with photo resist systems which were way better than anything I was doing, but the setup cost was too high for me. I think these days you are better off just sending the files off and waiting a couple of weeks for PCBs to come back.

[ik9000]

logging into thread as this is of interest for a guitar pedal I'm designing

[g8ina]

Yep agreed, I have a maker in China sorted : https://www.pcbway.com/orderonline.aspx

Prices are VERY good for say, 50 pcs, it comes out at 50p each or so at the size Im using.

[ik9000]

Yep agreed, I have a maker in China sorted : https://www.pcbway.com/orderonline.aspx

Prices are VERY good for say, 50 pcs, it comes out at 50p each or so at the size Im using.

Have you asked them to confirm their factory location, worker conditions and working hours?

[TAKTAK]

What sort of board are we talking? Thru-hole or SMT?
Either way, have a look at redrawing in KiCAD. Will give you far more flexibility than it sounds like you need but with an interface which isn't too onerous

Price up on PCBTrain (Newbury Electronics) against PCB Way too.

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If you get stuck on KiCAD or don't fancy it, drop me a message; I might have some time to spin it through Altium or Mentor for you

[g8ina]

Thanks all, ik9000, these guys came on the recommendation of three different folk in FB audio groups. I must be honest I havent checked them ethically, sorry !

TAKTAK, single layer discrete components, 2x CMOS 4000 series, a crystal, 2 caps and a resistor thanks, Ill try that but may take u up on the offer if I fail.

[watercooled]

PCB Artist, uses .pcb format. I can send it to you if its any help.

That's not one I'm familiar with sorry. I'll post back if I can find a solution besides what people have already suggested though.

[DanceswithUnix]

TAKTAK, single layer discrete components, 2x CMOS 4000 series, a crystal, 2 caps and a resistor thanks, Ill try that but may take u up on the offer if I fail.

4000 series, blimey that takes me back. Though I was more of a 74HC chap myself
Now I'm wondering what you are doing with a couple of 4000 series, I'm assuming one is a ring oscillator if there are two caps and a crystal involved. Strobe LED for a turntable perhaps?

[g8ina]

Spot on Dances well thought out sir

[DanceswithUnix]

Spot on Dances well thought out sir

lol, given your turntable posts it made sense.

Nice to see someone using raw gates. Most people these days just reach straight for an Arduino even just to flash an LED. Though to be fair, an Arduino with crystal is under a tenner and would give good control over things like duty cycle

[g8ina]

yeah, I guess Im an easy read I didnt even give the Aduino a thought, nor a Pi, its a 2 chip design, it drives the LED directly from the 4017 and it runs off a 9v battery, Just need the PCB to be 30x50mm to fit in the ABS case and Im sorted.

Started on KiCad yesterday, wow, what a package !!!! Its a very VERY steep learning curve but I think I have the hang of it