Custom PCB Design & Fabrication
Budget: $250 – $750 CAD
I am an Electrical Engineer and have designed a solution to resolve an issue at home, using a micro-controller. I'm thinking others may have the same issue, though it may be an uncommon issue, so want to make a few units and advertise for sale as a test of the market/demand.
I have a working prototype on vector board and I printed a case with my hobby-grade 3D printer. I want to make it smaller on a custom PCB and ideally within a professional quality case. It's basically a P8X32A controller with two opto-isolators feeding with transistor driver that connects to a secondary board (no PCB required on secondary board). The microcontroller solution uses an LCD1602 and small 4x4 keypad and interfaces to the secondary board via an RJ45 or other common connector. The primary board is mini-fused for safety.
I recently took training on OrCAD and Altium using free trial but the fee for their app is too high for a hobbyist like myself. Do you have access to PCB layout SW that I could utilize for a reasonable fee ? In that way I could just do the PCB layout myself and get my boards fabricated - maybe more cost effective for me, as a hobbyist.
Key Requirements:
- PCB Dimensions: ideally Small (up to 5x5 cm)
- Component Types: Primarily Surface-Mount Components (SMT), with potential use of Through-Hole Components for power jack plug, screw terminal, RJ45, USB, fuse
- Small quantity: 1-10 pieces depending on price to test the market/demand.
- make a professional enclosure.
Ideal Skills:
- PCB design and layout
- Proficiency in using PCB design software
- Knowledge and experience with SMT and through-hole component design
- Cost-effective, small-scale PCB production
- mold fabrication and/or professional grade 3D printing service for the enclosure.
- online marketing suggestions (i.e. how do I get it on Amazon and Alibaba, etc. ?)
My goal is to make the item as small as possible and try and sell them to a niche audience.
Basically I am a hobbyist trying to turn a prototype into a product and try and sell them, if it is feasible. I am open to collaboration if that is of interest.
I have a working prototype on vector board and I printed a case with my hobby-grade 3D printer. I want to make it smaller on a custom PCB and ideally within a professional quality case. It's basically a P8X32A controller with two opto-isolators feeding with transistor driver that connects to a secondary board (no PCB required on secondary board). The microcontroller solution uses an LCD1602 and small 4x4 keypad and interfaces to the secondary board via an RJ45 or other common connector. The primary board is mini-fused for safety.
I recently took training on OrCAD and Altium using free trial but the fee for their app is too high for a hobbyist like myself. Do you have access to PCB layout SW that I could utilize for a reasonable fee ? In that way I could just do the PCB layout myself and get my boards fabricated - maybe more cost effective for me, as a hobbyist.
Key Requirements:
- PCB Dimensions: ideally Small (up to 5x5 cm)
- Component Types: Primarily Surface-Mount Components (SMT), with potential use of Through-Hole Components for power jack plug, screw terminal, RJ45, USB, fuse
- Small quantity: 1-10 pieces depending on price to test the market/demand.
- make a professional enclosure.
Ideal Skills:
- PCB design and layout
- Proficiency in using PCB design software
- Knowledge and experience with SMT and through-hole component design
- Cost-effective, small-scale PCB production
- mold fabrication and/or professional grade 3D printing service for the enclosure.
- online marketing suggestions (i.e. how do I get it on Amazon and Alibaba, etc. ?)
My goal is to make the item as small as possible and try and sell them to a niche audience.
Basically I am a hobbyist trying to turn a prototype into a product and try and sell them, if it is feasible. I am open to collaboration if that is of interest.