Oshpark Projects

Is there a different place that offers a service similar to Oshpark (low prices, low minimum order), but can do a thinner pcb? Osh works great for drivers, but for the lighted tailcaps sometimes space is very tight.

Beautiful!!!

Not in the USA that I know of. Places like seeedstudio.com do them overseas in small runs of 10 or more for about $1 a piece, but much less if you buy larger quantities.

Bummer. Have you used that place? are they decently fast?

edit: That price isn’t terrible, and they list a shipping date of 11/16, so it might even be faster than osh. Do you think 0.8mm would be strong enough for a switch pcb?

Seeedstudio is one of the most popular overseas hobbyist PCB services.

Here is a comparison link.

0.8mm is pretty thin, but it depends on the switch design and how much backing it has. I'd maybe go 1mm.

I really like gojgo.com I can get boards from them faster than OSHPARK (using their DHL shipping option) and at around 1/10th the cost for larger quantities of larger boards. Also check out dirtypcbs.com

I think we used Smart prototyping to do the .8mm tiny10’s. 10 boards for $9.90. Shipping is extra. Several colors for a tad more. .6mm adds $35

I think .8mm is stiff enough for a 17 mm board.

I’d suggest testing the transistor prototype then do a gb. Tape the boards to an index card and use small photo mailers to keep postage costs under $1 per set. Over seas mailing 1st class letters(which photo mailers qualify as if kept flat) isn’t much more but delivery is suspect to certain places. Other shipping options are more secure overseas but price goes way up. You’ll see what I mean when they quote shipping on that $10 order.

A groupbuy is probably a good idea. I’m hoping to get two versions going, one with a pot and/or a slide switch, and then the version with the transistors. (although pyro and Djozz will probably beat me to it)

THanks for bringing up shipping costs

Texaspyro has much more experience with this so I suggest you check out his leads. GB’s are a pain but a big part of what makes this place special so I’m glad when someone steps up to get it done. Sort of a pay it forward thing.

I have also used gojgo.com and they do have pretty good service and excellent prices if you are doing bulk stuff. I perhaps incorrectly assumed that you were looking for ~10 boards, but if you are doing hundreds it is usually a better deal than seeedstudio or a lot of the others.

Be extra careful to make sure that your solder masks, etc., are correct because there is no preview and if there is something that is a bit off you may be surprised with what you get back. Check and double check your stuff before you send off a large order (I know this from experience).

I verify my files by downloading them to OSHPARK and then send the .BRD files to gojgo/dirtypcbs. Both places can work with .BRD files. dirtypcbs provides some basic preview images.

More good tips, thanks.

That would be my big worry about a large group-order, that it would come back wrong and it be my fault :~

So yes, Richard, I was orignally thinking about a small order.

Has anyone tried this board?
MTN-17DDm 85 v0.1 BETA
I am confident on RMM skills :bigsmile: , but as he labeled it as beta version, i would like to read any opinion.

Thanks!

I too have been working on a similar board.

Hi pyro1son,

i like a lot how you have connected atmel pin and 7135 vcc through a vias, this way would make RMM board traces neater.

But, aren´t some components in your desing too near of the board border? what is the max diameter?

From my recent experience, an EE advised me the cap (C1) should be after the diode. I think from looking at these 2 designs, The MtnE one has the cap before the diode, while the pyro1son design has it after.

Edit/Update: 2 technical BLFers said there is a good reason for having the cap before the diode, and there's history on specifically choosing to put it before the diode, so I am confused, but leaning more for it being before the diode like in RMM's design...

Seems like the 25/45/85's are more sensitive to noise issues, maybe on the v input. They are having troubles with multi-LED high amps with FET PWM's. On the 22mm wight FET+1 board, I used the zener pad instead of the C1 pad, and seems to work out better - the zener pad is after the diode and closer to the MCU pin.

I too though am concerned about the board edge clearance - fine for some mods, like piggybacking, but may be a problem for typical driver shelves.

Edit:

I posted this over in the 25/45/85 thread as well, maybe more exposure here?

I just did a little research on the D1 and C1 positioning. The original Nanjg 105C and Nanjg AK-101 have the cap after the diode. Also an old BLF DD driver I had was like that as well - cap after the diode. But with BLF DD 1.0, the cap is before D1 and from then on, seems like we kept it that way.

Anyone have any ideas on this? Maybe it didn't have any effect at the time, and was easier to layout?

It’s definitely easier to layout that way, for me at least. I didn’t know it would make any difference though.

Cajampa asked me to draw up a switch PCB for the sole purpose of having the least resistance possible. This is the result.

  • 16.8mm OD
  • 10mm Spring pad
  • (15) 0.7mm vias per pad
  • Large 1.15mm via in the center for easy soldering of spring-bypass wire
  • 2mm holes on either side in case you still decide to do a total pcb-bypass
  • Outline on board is an Omten 1288

Hopefully this makes Cajampa as happy as the PCB appears to be :slight_smile: