Where can I get one-off electronic circuitboards built, given a
circuit design, cheaply?

A number of companies produce low-quantity (or prototype) circuit
boards.
A good source for these manufacturers is Yahoo's directory of circuit
board manufacturers:
http://dir.yahoo.com/business_and_economy/business_to_business/electronics/circuit_boards/general_manufacturing_services/fabrication/

Or try Google's directory:
http://directory.google.com/Top/Business/Industries/Electronics_and_Electrical/Contract_Manufacturers/Printed_Circuit_Boards/

Your cost is going to depend on the size and complexity of your
circuit board. As such, you'll need to contact these manufacturers and
get an individualized quote based upon the nature of the circuit board
you want to build.
With this in mind, you might look at a few of the following companies
that specialize in building prototype boards in small quantities.
Again, this is just to give you ideas.

A company called Sierra Proto Express builds prototype circuit boards
for $34 each (2 piece minimum). Visit their web site for more
information:
https://www.2justforyou.com/NASApp/sierraproject/jsp/tabs_welcome_home_.jsp

Advanced Circuits [ http://www.4pcb.com/ ] currently offers a $33 per
board special (minimum quantity: 2), but there are certain
restrictions on that price (size 10"x15",  and NO: arrays,
multi-parts, step and repeats, slots, internal routing or gold).

A company called PCBexpress.com will build two boards for $80. To see
whether their offer will meet your needs, visit:
http://www.pcbexpress.com/index.php

A company called AP Circuits specicializes in prototype boards in
small quantities. Again, there's a 2 board minimum.
http://www.apcircuits.com/html/proto_1.html

A company called E-teknet makes boards starting a $24.99 each, but
they have a four piece minimum. For more information, visit:
http://e-teknet.com/PCB%20Promotion.htm

Search terms: prototype "circuit boards" low-cost
://www.google.com/search?q=prototype+%22circuit+boards%22+low-cost&btnG=Google+Search&hl=en&lr=&client=googlet
 
I hope this helps. Good luck.

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Request for Answer Clarification by scott42-ga on 20 May 2002 14:37 PDT

I don't just want a PCB...I want a PCB with the circuit components
installed and tested.  The companies you listed need a circuit layout
to produce a circuit board.  I don't have the expertise to layout the
circuit correct and am looking for someone/company to layout the
circuit, print a cicuit board, install the components, test it, and
ship it to me.

---

Clarification of Answer by juggler-ga on 20 May 2002 15:03 PDT

If you want someone else to mount the components, you're going to be
looking at a much more specialized market.
I've found a company called Clarydon Electronics in the UK which
specializes in complete manufacture of prototype boards. On their web
site, they say that they will produce a final product. For more
information:
http://www.clarydon.com/printed_circuit_board_assembly_uk.html

Another company called Boardtech says that they build finished
products:
http://www.boardtech-inc.com/contract.html

Here's a list of circuit board makers many of which assemble finished
boards:
http://dmoz.org/Business/Industries/Electronics_and_Electrical/Contract_Manufacturers/Printed_Circuit_Boards/

Search terms: prototype circuit boards mount components
://www.google.com/search?hl=en&lr=&client=googlet&q=prototype+circuit+boards+mount+components&btnG=Google+Search

Let me know if this is helpful. I'll be glad to keep workinng on this
question until you're satisfied.

---

Request for Answer Clarification by scott42-ga on 20 May 2002 15:56 PDT

None of these companies seem inexpensive!  I'm looking for something
like elance.com for circuit board assembly.  For example, I thought it
would be cool to build the following circuit board:

  http://www.seanadams.com/pge/schematic.jpeg
  http://www.seanadams.com/pge/

Thanks

---

Clarification of Answer by juggler-ga on 20 May 2002 16:52 PDT

Okay, here's a list of companies that offer complete circuit board
assembly.
http://www.everythingpcb.com/p4685.htm

I notice that one company listed, Crimp Circuits, says that their
clients include "small-scale hobbyists."
http://www.crimpcircuits.com/

None of these contract manufacturers are probably going to be
super-cheap, though. If cost is your chief concern, you might consider
hiring another hobbyist or electrical engineering student to do the
assembly for you. Of course, the quality of work might not be on the
same level as a regular contract manufacturer.
Usenet groups such as alt.engineering.electrical or
sci.electronics.misc or sci.electronics.basics would be good resources
in this regard.
http://groups.google.com/groups?hl=en&lr=&client=googlet&group=alt.engineering.electrical
http://groups.google.com/groups?hl=en&lr=&client=googlet&group=sci.electronics.misc
http://groups.google.com/groups?hl=en&lr=&client=googlet&group=sci.electronics.basics

Again, let me know if this helps. I'll keep trying as long as you
want.

Your local community college may be worth checking.  Students are
frequently required to design and build circuit boards from a paper
spec, and testing the board for function is part of the process.  Most
community/vocational colleges are chronically underfunded, so you
might be able to work something out for relatively little.

I've known community colleges to do this sort of work.  Very often the
results you get are of very high quality.  The drawback is that you
won't get anything back very quickly.  I'd expect to have to wait
months.