Just placed my first OSH Park PCB order

[JazzGuitarGimp]

Hey Everyone,

I just placed my first two orders for PC Boards from OSH Park. I had been using 4pcb.com's Bare Bones (no solder mask and no silkscreen) for the last several years for prototype pcb runs. OSH Park does solder masks and silkscreens (both sides) as well as gold plated pads for about the same money as the Bare Bones Service. Here's a comparison of my two boards - pricing is for 3 boards:

Board #1 (5.2" by 4.8")
Bare Bones: $114.27 ($38.09 per board)
OSH Park: $125.10 ($41.70 per board)

Board #2 (4.6" by 2.1")
Bare Bones: $87.09 ($29.03 per board)
OSH Park: $48.30 ($16.10 per board)

OSH Park requires you to buy three boards, whereas Bare Bones will sell you just one, though pricing for one board isn't much less than buying three. For instance, for my 4.6" by 2.1" board, the price for one is $75.70, while the price for three is $87.09.

I'll post back here when I get them and let you know how they look.

Lou

[vibratoking]

Good to know. Do you have a choice of board thickness or just 0.062?

[JazzGuitarGimp]

Good to know. Do you have a choice of board thickness or just 0.062?

0.063 and 1oz copper for both services.

[Colossal]

Whoops sorry...was posting while you were replying. Answered!

Thanks Gimp!

[JazzGuitarGimp]

LOL, I was replying while you were editing!

[Structo]

Are these for amps or pedals?

If so what amp or what pedal?

[JazzGuitarGimp]

Hi Tom,

One of each, actually.

The larger board is for the second generation Brimstone Audio Crossover Distortion pedal. Here's a link to the current product: www.BrimstoneAudio.com

The smaller board is for a D-#102-inspired 50W amp build for a client. Nothing that's really off the beaten path, except I'll be using a mix of either six or seven boards, all of which will be FR-4 pc board material. There will be boards for the following sub-circuits:

1. Digital Reverb Board (this is the one that just went to fab)
2. Preamp Board
3. Phase Inverter Board
4. Effects Loop Board (D-Lator)
5. Main Power Supply Board (HT and Bias)
6. Reverb & Relay Power Supply Board
7. And, possibly, a VVR board with tracking bias VVR

The boards that pass the guitar's signal (#'s 2, 3 and 4 above) will have traces on the bottom for just the B+ runs, the trim pots, and the relays. The top side will feature GND Plane, but otherwise no traces. It will be laid-out "eyelet-style", and the component holes will be 0.125" plated with a generous pad on both sides. With 0.125" holes, I can always swage-in eyelets or turrets, if desired.

[JazzGuitarGimp]

Well, the boards finally arrived yesterday. I have posted a pic of the OSH Park boards which I just got, as well as a pic of a Bare Bones board (assembled) for comparison. The Bare Bones board is just that: no solder masks and no silk screens. All exposed copper is solder plated. Makes it a bit difficult to assemble without a silk screen. The OSH Park boards look beautiful by comparison: I especially like the purple solder mask and how it contrasts with the gold-plated pads

In terms of quality and appearance, OSH Park wins hands-down. HOWEVER, the good stuff always comes at a price, I suppose, and here it is:

I ordered the OSH Park boards on April 17th, and took delivery on May 6th. That's 19 calendar days, or 13 business days. In all the Bare Bones orders I've placed over the years, it has never taken more than 3 business days to get my order. So, if you're in a hurry, Bare Bones is the hands-down winner!

I am glad I waited...

[VacuumVoodoo]

Looking good. I wonder why gold plated pads? Gold plated edge connector fingers - of course.
I'm confused. NASA (link somewhere on TAG, can't find it right now) and other hi-rel specs require gold to be removed from component leads etc prior to soldering.

[JazzGuitarGimp]

Looking good. I wonder why gold plated pads? Gold plated edge connector fingers - of course.
I'm confused. NASA (link somewhere on TAG, can't find it right now) and other hi-rel specs require gold to be removed from component leads etc prior to soldering.

It's my understanding that gold accepts solder much better than tin. A few of my pcb layout clients use gold plate finish for all of their boards.

[chief mushroom cloud]

Lou
Did you have to rename your gerber plots or did you use Eagle? 274X or?
thx

[vibratoking]

It is my understanding that some of the benefits of gold plating are:

- much less corrosion over time so longer shelf life
- increased reliability for BGA attachment
- allows for smaller spacing due to reduced chance of shorting due to corrosion growth
- more reliable for edge connectors as already stated

I am sure there are other advantages. Not sure any of these make a difference for a guitar amp PCB. Gold should be driving the cost way up? Did you get a quote for tin?

[JazzGuitarGimp]

Lou
Did you have to rename your gerber plots or did you use Eagle? 274X or?
thx

Hi Chief,

274X, from PADS Layout and yes, I had to rename the file extensions in accordance with OSH Park's data file requirements.

Cheers,
Lou