Posts: 1,734 Threads: 60 Likes Received: 1,010 in 731 posts Likes Given: 96 Joined: Jan 2023 Reputation: 52 I think the main attraction of going with JLCPCB was 1) they have a fully integrated design app that allows direct ordering and 2) they do the assembly for you. My original intention was to find an easy soldering solution for these plugs, and having to solder/bake the SMD plugs myself probably would have defeated the purpose.
Of course the price was very attractive too. Final all in price - boards, components, assembly and DHL shipping came out to $11 per big board (one big board has 14 smaller boards - 1x LDO board, 2x mosfet boards, 2x LED boards, and 9x breakout boards - so it works out to less than a $1 per small board).
I went with the 1.6mm PCB as that was the default option, they also have 0.8 and probably would have been wiser to go with that (should have just measured an AIO for pcb/pad size instead of being lazy). They also have the 2oz option, but that costs quite a bit more and I didn't think it was needed (it added more than $30 to the order).
@Lemony if you still want to help test some, just send me a pm. Posts: 12,099 Threads: 125 Likes Received: 3,739 in 2,836 posts Likes Given: 99 Joined: Feb 2017 Reputation: 388 A band saw probably would have cut theses pretty well. ![[-]](https://intofpv.com/images/collapse.png) • Posts: 1,734 Threads: 60 Likes Received: 1,010 in 731 posts Likes Given: 96 Joined: Jan 2023 Reputation: 52 (15-Jul-2023, 02:54 AM)voodoo614 Wrote: A band saw probably would have cut theses pretty well. Yup that was the first tool of choice that came to mind, but too bad I don't have access to one anymore. It probably would have been easy scoring/snapping if it was an 0.8mm board. • Posts: 12,099 Threads: 125 Likes Received: 3,739 in 2,836 posts Likes Given: 99 Joined: Feb 2017 Reputation: 388 (15-Jul-2023, 03:14 AM)mstc Wrote: Yup that was the first tool of choice that came to mind, but too bad I don't have access to one anymore.
It probably would have been easy scoring/snapping if it was an 0.8mm board. So they wanted to charge you more to add slots. How much was the difference in price? • Posts: 1,734 Threads: 60 Likes Received: 1,010 in 731 posts Likes Given: 96 Joined: Jan 2023 Reputation: 52 My first few submissions was with slots, but because it had to go through the components assembly there were certain requirements to make sure the board was strong enough and I had to revise the slot placement several times. But on the last revision they mentioned that it was multiple designs and would have a surcharge (I think it depends on the tech reviewing the design). I forget exactly, but probably added more than $40? which was nearly double) and at that point I just wanted to get the order done so removed all the slots to pass as one design. • Posts: 5,862 Threads: 47 Likes Received: 2,778 in 2,240 posts Likes Given: 7,622 Joined: Jul 2019 Reputation: 97 • Posts: 1,734 Threads: 60 Likes Received: 1,010 in 731 posts Likes Given: 96 Joined: Jan 2023 Reputation: 52 I purchased some 2.7mm wide 5v COB LED strips which draw around 600ma per meter. I wanted a switch to turn them on/off, very similar to what Betafpv provides with their COB LED set, but didn't find any that compact. I decided to just have them made instead as the price of a custom assembled PCB is relatively reasonable. The total cost to print the boards, purchase the components, have them soldered on, and shipped came to $27 for 5 sets of boards. On each board, I had two switches and two breakout boards, so that works out to $2.70 for one switch and one breakout board. I guess if you are comfortable baking on your own SMD components, you could save $20. I probably should have prototyped the circuit, but I did not have a spare mosfet on hand, so hopefully the design works. If not at least I'll still have the breakout boards. I went with a board thickness of 0.8mm this time, last time the 1.6mm was too thick, this should make them easier to cut apart as well. ![[Image: EHtnzSul.png]](https://i.imgur.com/EHtnzSul.png) After I submitted the order, I found my Betafpv switch. It actually has the plug installed on the back side, and uses much smaller resistors so overall is more compact. I guess I was worried to go with the smaller resistors as they had such low mw ratings, and probably didn't need to space out components so much. ![[Image: aSYjsV6l.jpeg]](https://i.imgur.com/aSYjsV6l.jpeg) Anyways, the boards have been made. JLCPCB gives you a blow-by-blow update of the progress. The production took 2 days to complete. I was cheap and went with the $2 shipping option, so hopefully the boards will arrive in two weeks. ![[Image: 2vDGVgEl.png]](https://i.imgur.com/2vDGVgEl.png) ![[Image: NXewnRll.png]](https://i.imgur.com/NXewnRll.png) • Posts: 278 Threads: 25 Likes Received: 138 in 108 posts Likes Given: 91 Joined: May 2023 Reputation: 3 (24-Apr-2024, 03:38 PM)mstc Wrote: I purchased some 2.7mm wide 5v COB LED strips...
Those COB LEDs are amazing huh! What color are you using? Honestly hadn't thought of using them on kwardkarpters but how are you using them here, curious? • Posts: 1,734 Threads: 60 Likes Received: 1,010 in 731 posts Likes Given: 96 Joined: Jan 2023 Reputation: 52 The strips themselves are quite inexpensive, around $3/m, so I grabbed some to play with (white, ice blue, purple, and rainbow - but they also come in red, pink, green, yellow, orange, deep blue, etc...). Was thinking to start on the 2.5" cinewhoop as the ducts make a nice mounting surface (that seems to be the fad), but want to wrap one of the larger open prop setups too. The rainbow strip does require a controller (like the one Speedybee sells), I was thinking just to add on a ESP32 or maybe a simple ATTiny85 for some custom effects. • |
Especially the Mosfet switch, very cool 
