This doesn't really deserve a "top level thread" and should probably end up as part of a larger PCB manufacturers thing, but the
DIY Resources thread seems a little stale and I'm not entirely sure where else it would go. So anyway, here's a mini-review of ...
DirtyPCBs.com
Here's what it says on the site (if you didn't click through the link)
10 pieces, 2 layers, 100% e-test, any color, worldwide shipping included. No Bull...10 each 5x5cm PCBs $14 (choose 'Protopack' in the quantity dropdown)10 each 10x10cm PCBs $25 (choose 'Protopack' in the quantity dropdown)So, I ordered a protopack of 10x10cm boards, leaving all of the options at default, except I changed the board color to white, and USA shipping... it defaults to Afghanistan
Yup,
Hongkong Airmail 1-8 weeks. I went for cheap, but hey, free worldwide shipping - even to Australia
I submitted my gerbers on 6 March 2015, and the package arrived on 1 April 2015. Yes, it's a long wait, but I wasn't really in a hurry.
Here's what I got - 12 boards total, so I got the + side of the +/-10. You can panelize (<-- you have to do this yourself) whatever you want in the 5 or 10 cm square, so I put two of these things in there. It broke apart pretty easily, though needs some cleanup.
Everything tests fine electrically (though I only checked 3 pair), the silkscreen looks readable, even the tiny text on the back. My only complaint would be that these vias are only semi-tented (if that's the right term).
The soldermask is nice, edge cuts are nice. The solder mask around the pads is a bit off center, but hey... it's cheap. I ordered 10, received 12, and because I fit 2 in each 10x10 piece, I have 24 of these things for $25, which works out to $1.04 each. All in all I'd say it's a win.
Now, to try having something made that isn't a cheap protopack. But for that, I needed these prototypes