Custom PCB for mods?

I use this technique for custom PCBs...
http://pinball-mods.com/blogs/?p=437
but I think your asking about a custom PCB design; not necessarily a shape.

I use OSHPark for prototypes of 3 units. They can be pricy; but not really for prototyping. I've seen much more prototype prices at other vendors. That's what I've done for several designs including the Klingon BOP mod: http://pinball-mods.com/blogs/?p=452

Once you have the design debugged; I usually outsource to overseas companies. For example; http://www.Smart-ProtoTyping.com has larger volumes for cheapish and they'll send you a metal stencil (for like 20bucks).

OSHPark for prototypes and I used Advanced circuits for production in Colorado.

I agree with Zitt, I use OSH Park for small proto runs then go overseas for larger runs.

The best somewhat unrestricted proto deal I have found was also Advance Circuits (4pcb.com) with the $33 deal. While it used to be a min. of 3 boards but now it is 4. They don't restrict you on drill sizes and provide a pretty decent size limit on the board dims. If you are fairly confident in your design, it sure beats point to point or wire wrapping.

They also have a bare bones deal which gives you another really cheap option in less than a week.

TBH; Maybe I'm just getting lazier in my older ages... but I find Homebrew boards to be frustrating. I did it when I was younger... and money was tight. But now; I find my time is better spent working on something else while I wait for a "production"-quality board to come back from OSHPark.

If my designs were single sided; yeah - I might still do it. But more often or not... I need a complex board with two layers; so I opt for the easier route. I have some maker buddies at work; and they seem to be gravitating to the same modusoperandi .

Anyway; glad I could help... if I did.

how many are you making? if it's <10 then you are better off just trying to find a protoboard that fits your need... doing a run of PCBs is pretty pricey

I also use Advanced Circuits out of colorado. Their $33 full-spec deal is pretty good for prototyping, and is good for up to 60 square inch boards, minimum of 4.

If you don't mind being stuck into their proprietary software, and only need a one-time order, express PCB is another choice. They have a 3 for $51 'miniboard' deal, but their dimensional limit is more strict in that they have to be 2.5" x 3.8"... no bigger, no smaller.

-Hans

$132 for 4 boards I would consider to be pretty pricey...

I do all my prototypes on protoboard with wire... when it's finalized if I feel it's something I need a lot of I send them off to china to be printed... cost me a couple dollars per board but I have to order a ton of them

My 1x2in Klingon Bird of prey mod was only $19 for 3 boards from oshpark.

Is $2 is really that big of a barrier?

OSHPark:
"$5 per square inch, which includes three copies of your design. For example, a 2 square inch board would cost $10"

So. 4.5 * 2 = 9sq inches * $5 = $45 for three boards. $45/3 = $15 minus a target of $13 = $2
Is $2 really worth the pain at this point?

http://smart-prototyping.com/PCB-Prototyping.html:
10boards @ 15cmX 10cmY = $43.60 + S&H ... so ~4.36 / board

Glad I was of help.

i like oshpark for small bards, elecrow for larger boards..

I use futurlec for large runs of smaller boards. Takes a while to receive since they come from asia, but I've always been happy with them.

I've used Seeed Studio for 50-100 boards. They seem like good guys for a Chinese company, to the extent I can tell anything from here. OSHPark for the initial tests, just like many others have already endorsed.