one-off pcb makers based in the uk?

tabbycat · Post by **tabbycat** » 04 Dec 2014, 02:13

hey all, am getting to the point where i am wanting to attempt bigger projects than it is at all reasonable to consider on vero. have finally realised that although smallish veros are more sensible for one-offs than the fuss of making single pcbs, as things get bigger veros start getting very confusing to follow and troubleshoot and pcbs are the only sane option.
on the other hand, i have watched a fair few yt vids re the ferric etching system and the process looks like...

a) a pretty complicated process to get right without a lot of practice (my concentration not so great atm, so burny chemicals and toxic fumes not tempting in present state)

b) not a good thing to get into messing around with in a rented flat for which i can't afford to lose my deposit on (when i inevitably spill or drop something and burn a huge hole in the carpet, lino, worksurface, etc).

consequently, have followed all the links i found here (within living memory) but they all seem to be 'batch' places for pro-makers considering small to medium runs.

which made me want to ask the question, does anyone know of any places in the uk that will do either one-off etching or laser etching, (whatever will get the job done), etc, from basic jpeg/bmp/pdf/etc masks (of the type members regularly post here for projects)?

failing that, does anyone know of any fsb members i could contact who might be up for etching or laser cutting pcbs on an occasional one-off basis? for example whatever will fit comfortably on an A5 or A4 page for £xx. that kind of deal?

sometimes i think it would be quite a good idea to have a kind of 'services offered board' here, to link up fsb members who are into offering these kinds of fsb-specific services (one-off pcbs, one-off enclosures, one-off enclosure artwork, etc) with those who are looking for them. 'stuff for sale' isn't quite the same i don't think.

anyway, many thanks if anyone can suggest a useful link or contact,

tabbycat.

tabbycat · Post by **tabbycat** » 06 Dec 2014, 04:38

ideas, ideas... maybe the tech isn't quite there yet, but...

becky going bare...

meanwhile, in the lab...

praxis makes perfect...

i really like this guy. am working my way through all his videos. a hugely inspiring garden-shed inventor-dreamer. as all the best inventors always have been.

marmaliser · Post by **marmaliser** » 08 Dec 2014, 11:54

Haberdasher on madbean forum does one off etching. I know he his in the states but is charges are VERY reasonable.

grrrunge · Post by **grrrunge** » 08 Dec 2014, 18:17

There's also OSH-park. I know that they're a three off rather than a one-off solution, but the price is fair, and the quality is stellar.

tabbycat · Post by **tabbycat** » 08 Dec 2014, 22:14

marmaliser wrote:Haberdasher on madbean forum does one off etching. I know he his in the states but is charges are VERY reasonable.

thanks for the tip marmaliser, will see if i can make contact. not a member of madbean but maybe time to have a look.

grrrunge wrote:There's also OSH-park. I know that they're a three off rather than a one-off solution, but the price is fair, and the quality is stellar.

thanks for the heads up grrrunge. unfortunately osh is a bit more pro than i'm up to as it seems to need me to be able to understand eagle. i'm just after basic jpeg, bmp, pdf, monotone print stuff.

like this: http://www.yusynth.net/Modular/Commun/M ... er-PCB.jpg

vero has been good for me up to a certain level of complication, and then there are too many ways to screw it up. at least with basic pcbs there are only holes to put parts where parts are needed. imagine the above pcb jpg with all the gaps between the holes shown as holes instead of just blank space. that's my problem in a single nightmare image.

i understand the ferric system and have watched lots of yt vids for that (and alternate ways of doing it) but it all comes down to ferric stains anything it touches like hell. i've got a white plastic bath, white worktops, no outside space, and a deposit hanging on my flat not looking like a club urinal (ferric stains a particularly 'unfortunate' shade of yellow ) when i move out.

that's why i was interested in those conductive inks. but it seems the tech is a few years off due to the conductivity margins of the inks.

i will try haberdasher and maybe ask around some other forums too. thanks for the advice.

one-off pcb makers based in the uk? [found/sold]