Considerations for outsourcing PCB manufacturing

[VinzC]

Hi all.

I'm planning to have my boards assembled outside. Since gEDA is my current development suite are there any considerations I need to follow? My first thought is about footprints and the reference point — I have created most of my footprints and not all do have the reference point in the middle of the case but on a pin, for instance, which I suspect it matters. Also, what about the use of attributes in the schematics? Are there any recommendations, guidelines...?

Thanks for any hint/suggestion.

[ScribblesOnNapkins]

The reference point should be design be in the "centroid" of the part for the pick and place to best grab it. Sometimes the manufactures specify an alternative spot. For more info on this try the geda mailing list.

[VinzC]

The reference point should be design be in the "centroid" of the part for the pick and place to best grab it. Sometimes the manufactures specify an alternative spot. For more info on this try the geda mailing list.

Thanks ScribblesOnNapkins. This means I need to pay a visit to all of my custom footprints, as I expected. So my assumption was right then?

I also found a pick and place helper script by Russ Dill — haven't tried it yet though. Do you think it also works with pcb-rnd? Do you think it's still useful at all?

[ScribblesOnNapkins]

As with any random code you find on the internet: Ask the author.