This post concerns my published article "8-Digit Numeric LED Display" which can be viewed at:
https://www.electro-tech-online.com/articles/8-digit-numeric-led-display.741/
PCB Manufacturing Experience
In order to complete the code for this project, I had to construct the printed circuit boards for actual hardware testing. It is always a challenge for individual experimenters to obtain quality prototype boards. The costs involved can be greater than personal budgets allow for a hobby. Also, current trends in surface mount components make a stencil mandatory which stretch the pocketbook further. Some vendors do not offer making a stencil and one has to go to a separate vendor for making that item.
After getting a quote from a local PCB manufacturing plant and deciding that the price was exceedingly high, I decided to try PCBWay in Hangzhou, China. https://www.pcbway.com/x
The website was well made and I was able to get an instant quote by filling in the required text boxes. The reasonable prices I received encouraged me to place an order. I was also able to request that a stencil be made and shipped to me together with the PCBs. After a preliminary audit of my Gerber files, I was instructed to send payment by PayPal. Since I did not have a PayPal account it took me several days to get my Visa card tied in to PayPal service. After that, the payment went through and my order was on its way to me. I tracked it on DHL using the number supplied. I was expecting a lengthy delivery. Surprisingly, the shipment arrived 3 days later. I immediately used the stencil and applied solder paste to 2 boards and placed the components. I heated the boards in a toaster oven until a meat thermometer reached the required temperature and the solder visibly melted all around the component leads. The circuit boards worked without any problems and I was able to publish the project quickly.
My overall impression of the boards was that they were well made with silkscreen on both sides. I went for the gold immersion option and that made the soldering so much easier. The shipment with the stencil was well protected in hard pressboard so that it would not bend. Shipping time was exceptional considering the distance involved. They assigned a personal contact to me so that I could communicate any issues in English.
Conclusion
I intend to continue to use PVBWay for all my future designs.
Attached is the shipping track:
https://www.electro-tech-online.com/articles/8-digit-numeric-led-display.741/
PCB Manufacturing Experience
In order to complete the code for this project, I had to construct the printed circuit boards for actual hardware testing. It is always a challenge for individual experimenters to obtain quality prototype boards. The costs involved can be greater than personal budgets allow for a hobby. Also, current trends in surface mount components make a stencil mandatory which stretch the pocketbook further. Some vendors do not offer making a stencil and one has to go to a separate vendor for making that item.
After getting a quote from a local PCB manufacturing plant and deciding that the price was exceedingly high, I decided to try PCBWay in Hangzhou, China. https://www.pcbway.com/x
The website was well made and I was able to get an instant quote by filling in the required text boxes. The reasonable prices I received encouraged me to place an order. I was also able to request that a stencil be made and shipped to me together with the PCBs. After a preliminary audit of my Gerber files, I was instructed to send payment by PayPal. Since I did not have a PayPal account it took me several days to get my Visa card tied in to PayPal service. After that, the payment went through and my order was on its way to me. I tracked it on DHL using the number supplied. I was expecting a lengthy delivery. Surprisingly, the shipment arrived 3 days later. I immediately used the stencil and applied solder paste to 2 boards and placed the components. I heated the boards in a toaster oven until a meat thermometer reached the required temperature and the solder visibly melted all around the component leads. The circuit boards worked without any problems and I was able to publish the project quickly.
My overall impression of the boards was that they were well made with silkscreen on both sides. I went for the gold immersion option and that made the soldering so much easier. The shipment with the stencil was well protected in hard pressboard so that it would not bend. Shipping time was exceptional considering the distance involved. They assigned a personal contact to me so that I could communicate any issues in English.
Conclusion
I intend to continue to use PVBWay for all my future designs.
Attached is the shipping track: