Constantin
Well-known member
Hi guys,
Just a quick note from the field, and I wonder if we can all share happy experiences with PCB fabrication houses/vendors we like. I know Laen is held in high regard with his Dorkbot PDX service, one that Paul has used a lot. For different reasons, I have stuck with iTeadStudio, and I thought I'd mention why I am happy with them.
For one, the boards work as expected. When they don't, it's my fault. Anyone need a shoebox full of bad PCB layouts?
Recently, iTead switched to a new submission system whereby you upload the zipped Gerber file(s) directly to the site. This is a neat feature since it allows you to easily order different PCB thicknesses, finishes, etc. as needs dictate and no longer need lengthy letters to the PCB folk to explain what set of Gerbers goes with what board purchase. Stencil uploads are coming later this year.
Iteadstudio is nice enough to assemble multiple pad files for the stencil for you. I'd love to do this myself so if someone knows of a good stencil program with a good GUI, I would be much obliged! I tried a number and most failed miserably, either to install or use. Anyhow, I usually send iTeadStudio 6+ different boards to fab up and stencil. Thankfully, they are very nice in assembling the gerbers into the Stencil, then send a PDF to for me for approval.
Most vendor experiences re: fab are pretty faceless (ok, with the exception of the epic collaboration between Laen and Bill Porter re: his wedding ring proposal). So, imagine how pleased I was about iTeads resolution when something went wrong.
My latest purchase was for about $300 worth of boards and the stencil. One of the PCB boards sets was meant for a GPRS modem, which requires a thinner PCB thickness than the other boards to allow the micro-stripline antenna to work as intended. Imagine my surprise when I got two sets of power measurement boards from iTead (one thicker than the other) instead of a set of thick power measurement boards accompanied a skinnier set of GPRS boards.
Of course it was the national flag holiday in China, so I didn't get an answer for a week. But as soon as those guys came back, they replied, investigated, apologized and agreed to send me a new set of GPRS PCBs. The easy thing would have been to issue me a refund for the boards. Instead, they ate the cost of fabricating the replacement set of boards and the cost of shipping it to me via DHL from Shenzen. Color me happy that this supplier stepped up to do the right thing.
Just a quick note from the field, and I wonder if we can all share happy experiences with PCB fabrication houses/vendors we like. I know Laen is held in high regard with his Dorkbot PDX service, one that Paul has used a lot. For different reasons, I have stuck with iTeadStudio, and I thought I'd mention why I am happy with them.
For one, the boards work as expected. When they don't, it's my fault. Anyone need a shoebox full of bad PCB layouts?
Recently, iTead switched to a new submission system whereby you upload the zipped Gerber file(s) directly to the site. This is a neat feature since it allows you to easily order different PCB thicknesses, finishes, etc. as needs dictate and no longer need lengthy letters to the PCB folk to explain what set of Gerbers goes with what board purchase. Stencil uploads are coming later this year.
Iteadstudio is nice enough to assemble multiple pad files for the stencil for you. I'd love to do this myself so if someone knows of a good stencil program with a good GUI, I would be much obliged! I tried a number and most failed miserably, either to install or use. Anyhow, I usually send iTeadStudio 6+ different boards to fab up and stencil. Thankfully, they are very nice in assembling the gerbers into the Stencil, then send a PDF to for me for approval.
Most vendor experiences re: fab are pretty faceless (ok, with the exception of the epic collaboration between Laen and Bill Porter re: his wedding ring proposal). So, imagine how pleased I was about iTeads resolution when something went wrong.
My latest purchase was for about $300 worth of boards and the stencil. One of the PCB boards sets was meant for a GPRS modem, which requires a thinner PCB thickness than the other boards to allow the micro-stripline antenna to work as intended. Imagine my surprise when I got two sets of power measurement boards from iTead (one thicker than the other) instead of a set of thick power measurement boards accompanied a skinnier set of GPRS boards.
Of course it was the national flag holiday in China, so I didn't get an answer for a week. But as soon as those guys came back, they replied, investigated, apologized and agreed to send me a new set of GPRS PCBs. The easy thing would have been to issue me a refund for the boards. Instead, they ate the cost of fabricating the replacement set of boards and the cost of shipping it to me via DHL from Shenzen. Color me happy that this supplier stepped up to do the right thing.
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