Most Economic Way to Get Daughter Boards Printed

[brokenwizard]

I'm thinking of getting some daughter boards printed for SMD Fets, Op-Amps, and other SMD stuff. What is the most economical way of getting them printed? Do you create your own pannel boards or do you send the small PCB and have JLC or PCBway do pannels for you?

 

[t1redhands]

Following this - I've been burned by JLCPCB's extra fees for not doing things correctly

 

[jimilee]

For smaller boards, panels are the way to go depending on how many you need. If it’s like 5 or 10, I wouldn’t bother with panels. I did about 50 or so stomp switch boards, which worked out a little better.

 

[Robert]

Mine are panelized in the layout, I just upload the Gerber like normal and ignore all of the panelization options.

I believe there is a fee when ordering small quantities but I usually avoid that by ordering 20 pcs or more.


The VCUT notation isn't necessary with JLCPCB.

 

[jimilee]

Mine are panelized in the layout, I just upload the Gerber like normal and ignore all of the panelization options.

I believe there is a fee when ordering small quantities but I usually avoid that by ordering 20 pcs or more.

View attachment 94323
The VCUT notation isn't necessary with JLCPCB.

How do they know where to put the cut if you don’t?

 

[Locrian99]

How do they know where to put the cut if you don’t?

When i do the footswitch ones i set it up in diptrace. When i tried the jfet one they wanted to charge me a ton as i recall.

 

[brokenwizard]

Mine are panelized in the layout, I just upload the Gerber like normal and ignore all of the panelization options.

I believe there is a fee when ordering small quantities but I usually avoid that by ordering 20 pcs or more.

View attachment 94323
The VCUT notation isn't necessary with JLCPCB.

Another question, do they break the boards apart for you or do they come in one big panel that you break apart yourself?

 

[Robert]

Another question, do they break the boards apart for you or do they come in one big panel that you break apart yourself?

You break them apart yourself. They snap apart easily by hand.

 

[brokenwizard]

That's actually what I wanted to hear. Will make it much easier to solder all the components on that way.