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Hi all,
This may of particular interest to US members, but I am wondering how others are handling the effect of tariffs (in particular with China) on your PCB fabrication needs. Though I should say, recommendations on reliable, good fabricators is likely information that everyone could use.?
?
I have two raiser cards I designed (for Fluke instrumentation/calibrating equipment), and maybe I should just wait for all this to blow over (assuming it settles somewhere different than where we are), but I'd rather plan for tough times. I used to use JLCPCB, but with the additional costs triggered by the tariffs, I may be looking at about two or three times the cost (rather closer to the latter than the former), and that just makes is unfeasible to offer this product. At what hobbyists are willing to pay for something like this (which, myself being one, I fully understand), I'd be losing money on each one I'd make.?
?
Are there some good options others have figured out where tariffs are not quite so onerous??
?
I looked, for instance, at a place in India, which looks decent enough and not crazy expensive - though distinctly more expensive than JLCPCB - but they don't seem to have some of the capabilities I want, such as beveled card edge and so on. Their features seem to be about half as many as a place like JLCPCB offers.?
?
There are some places in the US - and OSH Park need not apply, as these are large and really need volume discounts - but they seem to be very low tech in terms of getting online quotes (=0 capabilities for such at what likely is the most affordable ones) and so it's very hard and time intensive to investigate. But if any of you knows a good, affordable and reliable place, I'd love to hear about it. From what I gather, at this point, offshoring this kind of thing is by far the most affordable and ultimately lucrative option. particularly at hobbyist level.?
?
With some places that can price me upon uploading my gerbers, I'm a bit antsy about giving them away. I heard stories where once uploaded, you essentially are giving away your IP and the design may pop up in mass production somewhere.
?
Thank you,
Radu.?
|
Still hoping for some good input. Or maybe everyone's hunkering down waiting for this to blow over? Or maybe everyone stacked up for a smooth transition through some months of turbulence?? Thank you, Radu.?
On Thu, May 8, 2025 at 12:04?PM Radu Bogdan Dicher via <vondicher= [email protected]> wrote: Hi all,
This may of particular interest to US members, but I am wondering how others are handling the effect of tariffs (in particular with China) on your PCB fabrication needs. Though I should say, recommendations on reliable, good fabricators is likely information that everyone could use.?
?
I have two raiser cards I designed (for Fluke instrumentation/calibrating equipment), and maybe I should just wait for all this to blow over (assuming it settles somewhere different than where we are), but I'd rather plan for tough times. I used to use JLCPCB, but with the additional costs triggered by the tariffs, I may be looking at about two or three times the cost (rather closer to the latter than the former), and that just makes is unfeasible to offer this product. At what hobbyists are willing to pay for something like this (which, myself being one, I fully understand), I'd be losing money on each one I'd make.?
?
Are there some good options others have figured out where tariffs are not quite so onerous??
?
I looked, for instance, at a place in India, which looks decent enough and not crazy expensive - though distinctly more expensive than JLCPCB - but they don't seem to have some of the capabilities I want, such as beveled card edge and so on. Their features seem to be about half as many as a place like JLCPCB offers.?
?
There are some places in the US - and OSH Park need not apply, as these are large and really need volume discounts - but they seem to be very low tech in terms of getting online quotes (=0 capabilities for such at what likely is the most affordable ones) and so it's very hard and time intensive to investigate. But if any of you knows a good, affordable and reliable place, I'd love to hear about it. From what I gather, at this point, offshoring this kind of thing is by far the most affordable and ultimately lucrative option. particularly at hobbyist level.?
?
With some places that can price me upon uploading my gerbers, I'm a bit antsy about giving them away. I heard stories where once uploaded, you essentially are giving away your IP and the design may pop up in mass production somewhere.
?
Thank you,
Radu.?
|
I've checked the non-chinese suppliers.
4 layer PC boards, 100 mm square, (right at the price point inflexion), black, HASL.? $7.00 for the board, $4.50 or so for the color.? Shippping (DHL) roughly 20 dollars,? total cost about 6.00 per board.
OshPark would be a higher quality board (perhaps), at about $160 total.? I've found similar places that are perhaps $50 to $70 per order (I think of 5).? Other places (domestic USA) seem to be about $50.00 per board or more.
Unfortunately, and for whatever reason, the USA does not seem to have low cost PC board manufacturing.? I used to (and no longer) do double sided PC boards, no plated through holes, about 10 mil traces, toner transfer.? My designs are too complex for home production.
RIght now, I'm working through a backlog of projects and designing around existing boards.? I was fortunate enough to have put in a large order (different designs) to work with around the end of January.? I have revisions of boards that have yet to be made, so I'm waiting for now.
Apparently most of the suppliers are geared to people who make 1 inch by 2 inch boards for hobby use, and the pricing is geared mostly for corporate budgets for anything else.? $250 for a board?? Charge it to the multi-million dollar contract.
Harvey
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On 5/11/2025 2:14 PM, Radu Bogdan Dicher via groups.io wrote: Still hoping for some good input. Or maybe everyone's hunkering down waiting for this to blow over? Or maybe everyone stacked up for a smooth transition through some months of turbulence?
Thank you,
Radu.
On Thu, May 8, 2025 at 12:04?PM Radu Bogdan Dicher via groups.io <> <vondicher@...> wrote:
Hi all,
This may of particular interest to US members, but I am wondering
how others are handling the effect of tariffs (in particular with
China) on your PCB fabrication needs. Though I should say,
recommendations on reliable, good fabricators is likely
information that everyone could use.
I have two raiser cards I designed (for Fluke
instrumentation/calibrating equipment), and maybe I should just
wait for all this to blow over (assuming it settles somewhere
different than where we are), but I'd rather plan for tough times.
I used to use JLCPCB, but with the additional costs triggered by
the tariffs, I may be looking at about two or three times the cost
(rather closer to the latter than the former), and that just makes
is unfeasible to offer this product. At what hobbyists are willing
to pay for something like this (which, myself being one, I fully
understand), I'd be losing money on each one I'd make.
Are there some good options others have figured out where tariffs
are not quite so onerous?
I looked, for instance, at a place in India, which looks decent
enough and not crazy expensive - though distinctly more expensive
than JLCPCB - but they don't seem to have some of the capabilities
I want, such as beveled card edge and so on. Their features seem
to be about half as many as a place like JLCPCB offers.
There are some places in the US - and OSH Park need not apply, as
these are large and really need volume discounts - but they seem
to be very low tech in terms of getting online quotes (=0
capabilities for such at what likely is the most affordable ones)
and so it's very hard and time intensive to investigate. But if
any of you knows a good, affordable and reliable place, I'd love
to hear about it. From what I gather, at this point, offshoring
this kind of thing is by far the most affordable and ultimately
lucrative option. particularly at hobbyist level.
With some places that can price me upon uploading my gerbers, I'm
a bit antsy about giving them away. I heard stories where once
uploaded, you essentially are giving away your IP and the design
may pop up in mass production somewhere.
Thank you,
Radu.
|
I never send PCB orders offshore. For "work work", my customer requirements nearly always involve domestic production. For prototypes, personal projects, or other low-volume stuff I usually use OSH Park.
-Dave
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On 5/11/25 14:14, Radu Bogdan Dicher via groups.io wrote: Still hoping for some good input. Or maybe everyone's hunkering down waiting for this to blow over? Or maybe everyone stacked up for a smooth transition through some months of turbulence?
Thank you,
Radu.
On Thu, May 8, 2025 at 12:04?PM Radu Bogdan Dicher via groups.io <> <vondicher@... <mailto:[email protected]>> wrote:
Hi all,
This may of particular interest to US members, but I am wondering
how others are handling the effect of tariffs (in particular with
China) on your PCB fabrication needs. Though I should say,
recommendations on reliable, good fabricators is likely information
that everyone could use.
I have two raiser cards I designed (for Fluke
instrumentation/calibrating equipment), and maybe I should just wait
for all this to blow over (assuming it settles somewhere different
than where we are), but I'd rather plan for tough times. I used to
use JLCPCB, but with the additional costs triggered by the tariffs,
I may be looking at about two or three times the cost (rather closer
to the latter than the former), and that just makes is unfeasible to
offer this product. At what hobbyists are willing to pay for
something like this (which, myself being one, I fully understand),
I'd be losing money on each one I'd make.
Are there some good options others have figured out where tariffs
are not quite so onerous?
I looked, for instance, at a place in India, which looks decent
enough and not crazy expensive - though distinctly more expensive
than JLCPCB - but they don't seem to have some of the capabilities I
want, such as beveled card edge and so on. Their features seem to be
about half as many as a place like JLCPCB offers.
There are some places in the US - and OSH Park need not apply, as
these are large and really need volume discounts - but they seem to
be very low tech in terms of getting online quotes (=0 capabilities
for such at what likely is the most affordable ones) and so it's
very hard and time intensive to investigate. But if any of you knows
a good, affordable and reliable place, I'd love to hear about it.
From what I gather, at this point, offshoring this kind of thing is
by far the most affordable and ultimately lucrative option.
particularly at hobbyist level.
With some places that can price me upon uploading my gerbers, I'm a
bit antsy about giving them away. I heard stories where once
uploaded, you essentially are giving away your IP and the design may
pop up in mass production somewhere.
Thank you,
Radu.
--
Dave McGuire, AK4HZ
New Kensington, PA
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My boards are about 150x150mm and about 100x200mm or so, and so OSH Park is out of the question (price would be prohibitive, and worse, no volume discount...). For small projects, though - small sized prototyping boards - OSH Park is great and I always use them.?
But what I'm looking for is a place with good options (ENIG, 2oz Cu, fingers, 30deg beveling, etc.) and good pricing for low volume production. Low volume meaning 10-20 boards?at a time, not three...?
If anyone's reluctant to share?their?fabricator on the forum, please feel?free to do so offline to me directly. I'm always choosing local/domestic products and manufacturing (when possible), but in this case every place I could find that's domestic makes those riser cards simply impossible to make.? Radu.?
? ?I never send PCB orders offshore.? For "work work", my customer
requirements nearly always involve domestic production.? For prototypes,
personal projects, or other low-volume stuff I usually use OSH Park.
? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?-Dave
On 5/11/25 14:14, Radu Bogdan Dicher via wrote:
> Still hoping for some good input. Or maybe everyone's hunkering down
> waiting for this to blow over? Or maybe everyone stacked up for a smooth
> transition through some months of turbulence?
> Thank you,
> Radu.
>
> On Thu, May 8, 2025 at 12:04?PM Radu Bogdan Dicher via
> <> <vondicher=[email protected]
> <mailto:[email protected]>> wrote:
>
>? ? ?Hi all,
>? ? ?This may of particular interest to US members, but I am wondering
>? ? ?how others are handling the effect of tariffs (in particular with
>? ? ?China) on your PCB fabrication needs. Though I should say,
>? ? ?recommendations on reliable, good fabricators is likely information
>? ? ?that everyone could use.
>? ? ?I have two raiser cards I designed (for Fluke
>? ? ?instrumentation/calibrating equipment), and maybe I should just wait
>? ? ?for all this to blow over (assuming it settles somewhere different
>? ? ?than where we are), but I'd rather plan for tough times. I used to
>? ? ?use JLCPCB, but with the additional costs triggered by the tariffs,
>? ? ?I may be looking at about two or three times the cost (rather closer
>? ? ?to the latter than the former), and that just makes is unfeasible to
>? ? ?offer this product. At what hobbyists are willing to pay for
>? ? ?something like this (which, myself being one, I fully understand),
>? ? ?I'd be losing money on each one I'd make.
>? ? ?Are there some good options others have figured out where tariffs
>? ? ?are not quite so onerous?
>? ? ?I looked, for instance, at a place in India, which looks decent
>? ? ?enough and not crazy expensive - though distinctly more expensive
>? ? ?than JLCPCB - but they don't seem to have some of the capabilities I
>? ? ?want, such as beveled card edge and so on. Their features seem to be
>? ? ?about half as many as a place like JLCPCB offers.
>? ? ?There are some places in the US - and OSH Park need not apply, as
>? ? ?these are large and really need volume discounts - but they seem to
>? ? ?be very low tech in terms of getting online quotes (=0 capabilities
>? ? ?for such at what likely is the most affordable ones) and so it's
>? ? ?very hard and time intensive to investigate. But if any of you knows
>? ? ?a good, affordable and reliable place, I'd love to hear about it.
>? ? ? From what I gather, at this point, offshoring this kind of thing is
>? ? ?by far the most affordable and ultimately lucrative option.
>? ? ?particularly at hobbyist level.
>? ? ?With some places that can price me upon uploading my gerbers, I'm a
>? ? ?bit antsy about giving them away. I heard stories where once
>? ? ?uploaded, you essentially are giving away your IP and the design may
>? ? ?pop up in mass production somewhere.
>? ? ?Thank you,
>? ? ?Radu.
>
>
--
Dave McGuire, AK4HZ
New Kensington, PA
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I used to use PCBWay, but switched to Aisler since I am in Europe. They take KiCAD files directly and prices are reasonable. For me it is an ethical issue as well. Greater chance that EU suppliers pay their workers decent wages and that their processes are environmentally sound.
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Hi Anders,
That's a good point. I have noted Aisler. Thanks.
Renaud
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In the distant past,I used to do a lot of business with Bay Area Circuits. Ihave looked at their pricing in the last couple of years, and it seemed ok for larger than oshpark stuff and quantitys. BobH
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Dave McGuire
Anders