Path: utzoo!utgpu!watmath!clyde!att!osu-cis!tut.cis.ohio-state.edu!mailrus!ames!killer!texbell!merch!cpe!hal6000!trsvax!jim
From: jim@trsvax.UUCP
Newsgroups: sci.electronics
Subject: Re: getting my board printed
Message-ID: <190700019@trsvax>
Date: 27 Dec 88 18:08:00 GMT
References: <6855@netnews.upenn.edu>
Lines: 23
Nf-ID: #R:netnews.upenn.edu:6855:trsvax:190700019:000:1126
Nf-From: trsvax.UUCP!jim    Dec 27 12:08:00 1988


Last time I did PC-board fab estimation stuff for design, the shops wanted
lots of stuff I didn't realize mattered until I thought about it.

How many holes will need to be drilled OF EACH SIZE HOLE - since different
diameter holes are used for resistors, terminals, and potentiometers.

Have you already done an optimized layout? If not, SmartWARE(tm) (by Wintek
I think) is a nice little package. If you are only doing a board or two
I think it is BADLY overpriced - 'borrow' a copy if you can. For really
small boards, hand layout can be faster than automated routing.

Double sided (or single sided with 'jumpers') makes a BIG difference! If
they don't have to line-up both negatives and through-plate the holes
they don't charge as much, obviously. I have seen several boards with 
little wires soldered into EACH hole used to pass a trace from one side
to the other - not a good idea if you are using lotsa IC sockets!
It is very difficult to solder under the socket to attach the component-
side traces to the chips.

Hope this rambling helps!     '73

James T. Wyatt   UUCP:decvax!microsoft!trsvax!rwsys!jim   KA5VJL