Dangerous Prototypes Open Source Hardware

Production codes

April 10, 2016, 05:00:43 am

I am OK with production codes, as far as I can choose on what board side they will be printed. Sometimes I use boards as front panels and I definitely don't want to see them there. Can I specify the board side?. thanks

Re: Production codes

Reply #1 – April 10, 2016, 10:13:17 am

AFAIK you can't specify the side but I _think_ they always printed on the top side.

Re: Production codes

Reply #2 – April 10, 2016, 05:57:42 pm

They've been super nice to my boards and so far always placed production codes inside a large footprint for things like modules. So when I solder the modules on, they're not visible. If you just have small, discrete components on the front though (or none at all?), I guess it could be annoying to see them. Oh well, look how much you're paying compared to every other board service on the planet.

Re: Production codes

Reply #3 – April 11, 2016, 02:20:20 am

Thanks guys, for replying. The top side is the worst. Yes, I agree they are dirt cheap, but there are other manufacturers also very cheap where you can specify the side (adding a comment), I am just trying to find anternatives. If the board is not a panel, no problem at all, but otherwise I would have to invert the sides, but only knowing they would print ALWAYS at the same side (top, in the case).

Re: Production codes

Reply #4 – April 11, 2016, 07:44:35 pm

On the boards that I have received until now, the production codes were always printed on the top side.

Re: Production codes

Reply #5 – April 27, 2016, 11:23:09 pm

knowing that the production code is "always"  on the top side,  (guessing this might change on the new site if there are multiple board houses used)  I have been doing layouts knowing that I will use the board upside down.  That way the production code while being printed on the Top silk screen,  will be facing down when used.

Re: Production codes

Reply #6 – April 29, 2016, 07:05:09 am

Yeah its a protoboard service fab, they don't want to do two silk sides if they don't have to. You really shouldn't use it for front panels.

I don't know how to get this point across, but there are cheap proto board houses in china that nobody would use for stuff where appearance matters. They don't advertise quality, they sell cheap and disposable. Its no different than the cheap CNC mills, laser cutters, reflow ovens, and stuff that's OK but really not pro level.

Compare it to 3d prints. You can get cheap from a low end abs extruder, or you can pay much more and get professional sintering in metal. You wouldn't expect quality and longevity from the abs print, but its cheap. The sintered metallic print will be near production quality and last forever, but it's ungodly expensive.

Dirtypcbs resells cheap low end low volume PCBs from a local proto board house. There are cases where  it just isn't the right service for your project, and never will be. The new site, should I ever finish it, will have more expensive board houses that offer these options.

Re: Production codes

Reply #7 – April 30, 2016, 12:22:17 am

[quote author="Sjaak"]AFAIK you can't specify the side but I _think_ they always printed on the top side.[/quote]

I just received a board that had the production code printed on the bottom layer. The number was mirrored and looks like it was intended for the top, but the board didn't have any other good locations for the code to be placed. Production code mirroring pictured below.
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Re: Production codes

Reply #8 – April 30, 2016, 11:14:30 am

Funny!

I noticed some flaws on the soldermask and drill offsets. Where the boards ok?

Re: Production codes

Reply #9 – April 30, 2016, 07:22:23 pm

I haven't had a chance to assemble any of them yet. All of the boards in the batch vary a lot with some significantly better than others, and the top layer is consistently worse than the bottom layer too. Issues like this are to be expected though, since it's really small (about 0.99cm x 1.47cm).

 I ordered 50 when I only wanted 25 for the project so I should be able to go through and test the boards and make sure they all work.

I'm probably going to assemble one on Tuesday so we'll find out how well the boards came out then.

Re: Production codes

Reply #10 – May 04, 2016, 07:48:42 pm

Are you sure that you followed dirty pcb's design rules? When the restring is too small a possible offset of the drill position of up to 2mil might really look bad.