divide and pcb making in general

fog

I'm looking to get the 100nf caps for the divide , but not 100% what ones to get as I couldn't find an actual divide part list.. except the obvious pictures.

the ones I have on a made one are like space invaders.. but others I've seen have the disc type.


as for part 2 of the question.

I want to get 3 small pcb's made up (each, just over the size of a usb pen drive) , so is it possible to just place them side by side?. and include a load of drill holes and cut them down? reason I ask it due to the setting up cost of the machine etc. figure it might be cheaper to do it that way.

thought I'd post it here as I know a few here make up pcb's etc / would be better informed than me.

Winston

Are you going to make the PCBs yourself (i.e. do toner transfer to copper clad board, or via UV exposure, then etch with ferric chloride) or are you going to use some PCB fabricating company?

If the former then you can do whatever you like. Just print the three PCBs out side by side, leaving enough space between them for whatever cutting method you'll use. Be aware that FR4 blunts things like saws and drills very quickly.

If it's a PCB fabricating house, that'll depend on the company you use. Many have the facility to panelize a design. For example, iTead Studio have some standard sizes they do (e.g. 5cm x 5cm) and you can panelize multiple boards within that space and they will score the PCB so you can snap the boards at the score line. But there's no one answer because it entirely depends on the PCB house. At worst you can repeat your PCB pattern then cut the boards down yourself. The PCB fabricator doesn't particularly care what's in your gerber files so long as they meet the design rule minimums.

Most PCB fabricators will have a FAQ telling you what files they need (you'll need at least gerber files for the actual circuit, possibly a gerber for a silk screen layer if you need one, and possibly an outline gerber which basically shows the outline of your board, and an XY drill file)

fog

I'm getting some divide pcb's made properly in a factory. as I waited about 10-20 for myself = thought sod it, might as well get a batch made up. I've got most of the parts for it now, even the GAL's.

as setting up the machine for a job.. noticed it's a big cost.. so thought I might be able to cut that down if I did em all in one lot. it's smaller projects, maybe about 50 of each of the 3 things :)

the scoring thing sounds the most viable thing really :) . I guess I will have to wait a few weeks to find out a reply.

it's been interesting to source parts due to their age, the edge connector currently is on my "to do" list :)