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On Sat, 4 Jan 2014 04:44:47 -0800, David Fry wrote:
... >I would welcome feedback on this posting from other S-100 builders out there as to what the
general consensus is on smaller >batches/higher cost for the lower demand PCB’s,
of course the final decision is yours
but it would help out and encourage the newbies J Hi David, You have the right idea of how pcb manufacturers require a minimum quantity. I've toured two local manufacturers and I can say that there is a lot of set up or a lot of expense. One plant uses relatively inexpensive equipment but the boards are put through one panel at a time. The other plant uses some high tech automated equipment that must have cost in the millions. Don't even waste your time going to plant B for a small order. Plant A are more likely to welcome any business. But they have limitations too. They will get tired and annoyed if you request a lot of little jobs and you will see the price creep up. For example, requesting 5 boards every 6 months is worse than requesting 10 boards every 12 months. I am more into the old computers, as such I have learned to just be patient for the right deals to come along. What I think would help is to get more customers. I think John said it recently that most new comers are pleased to have found this group. I'm guessing there are a lot of people out there that would enjoy playing on the S-100 bus, but they just don't know about it. I have been meaning to make a visit to my local colleges and talk with the electronics teachers there. I'm sure there's at least a couple of bright students in each school that would like to go beyond the text book. I wonder if they still teach Digital Electronics with 74xxx series? Or do the students learn about 74xxx in their Electronics History class? Cheers, Josh |