Whittie
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Registered: 11th Aug 06
Location: North Wales Drives: BMW, Corsa & Fiat
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I can't find a company that will design, print and make a PCB from scratch going on a description of what I want.
The way all pcb companies seem to operate... Designer - Company #1 - Printer - Company #2 - Mass production - Company #3..... Makes it far too expensive because you're paying everybody separately.
If I could do it under one umbrella, fantastic. If not - Anybody have any contacts that can help? Would even take it to India / China if needbe!
Thought I'd ask ole CS 
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Brett
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Registered: 16th Dec 02
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Another million pound idea mate? Jesus 
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Sam
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Brett
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Sam
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To answer your questions (sort of) anyway Whittie, yes you will need to get a company to design the board for you, and yes far east companies are cheaper for mass production (you can take Apple as an example of this!) - however I would advise getting someone in the UK to make you up a prototype first to make sure it works properly and does what it's meant to do before going into production.
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Whittie
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Registered: 11th Aug 06
Location: North Wales Drives: BMW, Corsa & Fiat
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That's the plan Sam! Just finding somebody that will do it all from scratch. Got quite far down the road with somebody Gary knew of, but they're no longer operating.
Brett - Hope so.
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pow
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Registered: 11th Sep 06
Location: Hazlemere, Buckinghamshire
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Theres one in Windsor called Speedboard I think
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Whittie
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quote:
Originally posted by pow
Theres one in Windsor called Speedboard I think
Phoned them, same story. Only manufacture and have friends that design
Phoned his mate anyway - "Reeset Electronics" Spoke to him, and can't start anything for another 4 months minimum.
No wonder these people are so hard to find, the ones that have work have a massive backlog of work to complete...!
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Dom
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Registered: 13th Sep 03
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Wouldn't worry about the mass production of it, that the 'easiest' (in quotes as there will likely be issues with component delays/issues, tooling up, needing test gear etc) stage. Worry about the design and prototyping. And as said get it designed and prototyped (usually this is a two company process - boards knocked up at one, boards populated at another) over here, will save you the headaches although on the downside it'll cost you more.
Also if it's <100 units then it'll probably be easier to getting it produced over here; companies in china the old man deals with only really start taking note when you're talking of 500 units+. And realise if it's anything decent they'll happily rip it off (especially as you've given them layout designs, source code ).
I'll ask the old man though as he got a design/prototype company in Cambridge to do some audio (DSP, Noise cancellation etc) work and remember he saying they were pretty decent; will pass on the details when i speak to him later.
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Whittie
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That would be perfect mate, thank you.
Every intention of getting the design and prototype in this country - if it gets to the point of mass production, then far east would be cheaper for sure.
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ed
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Registered: 10th Sep 03
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Do you just need a prototype or are you looking for production? I make single layer boards at a 'hobby' level for projects and things and have all the kit to do it.
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adiohead
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Registered: 28th Sep 01
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I made a circuit board once in Electronics at school.
It was a small keyboard but it never worked 
The teacher still gave me a good mark because he could see no reason as to why it shouldn't of worked.
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ed
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Registered: 10th Sep 03
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Just had a little look around into this, the development stuff I'm using has such a slow data rate it would take 11 days to complete the kind of task you want doing. Not so good 
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Neo
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Registered: 20th Feb 07
Location: Essex
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We used these guys -
http://www.waltersgroup.co.uk/
Might be able to help
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Gary
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Registered: 22nd Nov 06
Location: West Yorkshire
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quote:
Originally posted by Whittie
Got quite far down the road with somebody Gary knew of, but they're no longer operating
What happened with them?
Shame that, they seemed quite good!
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pow
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Registered: 11th Sep 06
Location: Hazlemere, Buckinghamshire
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quote:
Originally posted by Whittie
quote:
Originally posted by pow
Theres one in Windsor called Speedboard I think
Phoned them, same story. Only manufacture and have friends that design
Phoned his mate anyway - "Reeset Electronics" Spoke to him, and can't start anything for another 4 months minimum.
No wonder these people are so hard to find, the ones that have work have a massive backlog of work to complete...!
Surely you could design it yourself.
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Stu_22
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Im selling an etching tank kit on ebay
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Steve
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im selling some stub axles on ebay
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Gary
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Registered: 22nd Nov 06
Location: West Yorkshire
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Doubt most folk on here could design it POW it's not that simple tbh
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Brett
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Registered: 16th Dec 02
Location: Manchester
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You two love having your little secrets
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Whittie
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Registered: 11th Aug 06
Location: North Wales Drives: BMW, Corsa & Fiat
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quote:
Originally posted by Gary
quote:
Originally posted by Whittie
Got quite far down the road with somebody Gary knew of, but they're no longer operating
What happened with them?
Shame that, they seemed quite good!
Spoke to Colin Henley there the other day, and a few have left the company, its all in the air atm whether to employ people to replace him or close the business. Cba getting so far with the project then them turning round to say they're no longer operating. Did you ever ask anybody else about the pcbs??
quote:
Originally posted by pow
quote:
Originally posted by Whittie
quote:
Originally posted by pow
Theres one in Windsor called Speedboard I think
Phoned them, same story. Only manufacture and have friends that design
Phoned his mate anyway - "Reeset Electronics" Spoke to him, and can't start anything for another 4 months minimum.
No wonder these people are so hard to find, the ones that have work have a massive backlog of work to complete...!
Surely you could design it yourself.
Its harder than you think;
Wouldn't know where to start mate, and havn't got the time to learn what resistor should go where, and what components are needed etc...
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John
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Registered: 30th Jun 03
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I'm not sure you'll find anybody who'll do it for a decent price in general.
Do you have an idea and you want somebody to design and manufacture it?
The designing of it is obviously the hard bit, then it needs tested, just to begin with.
It's either that easy it's not worth their time or it's something good and difficult which they'll obviously want a piece of for doing the hard bit.
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Gary
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Registered: 22nd Nov 06
Location: West Yorkshire
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quote:
Originally posted by Whittie
Did you ever ask anybody else about the pcbs??
Try...
claudio@customDesignTechnologies.com
They replied to my email but i'd already got in talks with Colin so didn't follow it up. Sound OK though.
FWD'd you the email from them.
Brap.
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Chris
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Registered: 21st Sep 99
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you spoke to China?
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Whittie
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Registered: 11th Aug 06
Location: North Wales Drives: BMW, Corsa & Fiat
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"118 118"
"China Please"
"I'll put you through"
No Chris, not spoke to anybody out of the UK yet. Rather have it designed and have prototypes done here, and if it goes into mass production get it done in the far East. Have you got any contacts in China?
Gaz - Got it yesterday mate, cheers - will give them a bell today.
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Whittie
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Registered: 11th Aug 06
Location: North Wales Drives: BMW, Corsa & Fiat
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Ed - Since you've been getting more into this. Are you able to assist in any way now?
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