Art-ology

Prior to the Internet, finding cheap PCBs was basically out of the question. Nowadays, there is a large group of manufacturers declaring that they develop the highest amount of PCBs for the lowest price. This has made it very easy for hobbyists to create prototype circuit boards quickly and cheaply, but the board quality has decreased significantly. However, there are several companies that work to find the happy medium between cost and quality.

The decrease in price of printed circuit boards can be directly attributed to the invention of computer aided manufacturing, and free PCB layout software. These developments have provided manufacturers with a streamlined assembly process. That assembly process has opened the door for Quickturn PCB which offers incredibly fast turnaround on PCB orders. Keep in mind, adding layers and making the board more elaborate will also increase the price.

In mid-2001 a company named Advanced Circuits started to offer PCBs for 33 dollars per board which was the catalyst for a boom in low cost PCBs. Prototype PCBs were then available to everybody especially those who invent, students studying robotics, and hobbyists. Another thing Advanced Circuits devised was online ordering and tracking of PCBs. Since that time, costs of PCB fabrication have decreased dramatically due the increased availability of these less expensive boards.

Considering free PCB layout software programs like PCB Artist are available to everybody, anybody can now design their very own printed circuit board. Costs associated with this are fees for the fabrication of the PCB and also for any circuit board components. Another great resource for PCB designers is a calculator that will provide estimates from different manufacturers. For those wishing to locate a low-cost circuit board manufacturer , the challenge has become how to ensure the quality of the finished product while continuing to minimize costs.