UK PCBTrain introduce next-day PCB service

[mikeselectricstuff]

I've usually found PCBtrain pretty expensive for PCBs on short leadtimes, (but not bad for stainless stencils), however their new express service looks pretty good, though no resist or silkscreen.
In by 9AM to ship same day for 2 layer, next day for 4-layer
e.g.
2 layer 100x100mm £30 1x
4 layer dispatched next day 100x100mm £60

Delivery £10 guaranteed next day £5 non-guaranteed (but has always been next day when I've ordered stencils from them ) 

[rea5245]

I've heard of PCBTrain before. I investigated adding them to my PCB price comparison at PCBShopper.com, but PCBShopper works by querying manufacturers' web sites for prices and PCBTrain's site has a very bizarre way of getting price quotes.

If they ever make a nice, simple way to get PCB prices, I'd add them to PCBShopper. I'd love to have a UK manufacturer on the list.

- Bob Alexander
 

[Wilksey]

PCB Train is Newbury Electronics essentially.

I have ordered from them before, £40 I think (including postage) for the board I ordered, probably back in 2009 / 2010, 2 layer, can't remember the size.

Very good for a no frills quick board, as you say, no silk or mask.

They don't compare to the cheap Chinese manufacturers, but they offer a different service, so I am not sure it would be useful adding them to the PCB quote service?

[deephaven]

As I am based in Newbury I could get SAME day service by just going round and picking it up. That really does solve being impatient about trying out a design 

[rea5245]

They don't compare to the cheap Chinese manufacturers, but they offer a different service, so I am not sure it would be useful adding them to the PCB quote service?

They don't compete on price, but they might have faster delivery, higher quality, better English (I'm an American, so I wouldn't know...) or something else that isn't captured by the PCBShopper.com price comparison. Heck, some people would just rather buy from a UK company than a Chinese company for various reasons. That's why PCBShopper's price results include the country of the manufacturer - because some people care about that a lot.

I could spend huge amounts of time adding Chinese manufacturers to PCBShopper, but they all start to look the same after a while. I like to add companies in different countries or with different price structures, even if they're rarely (or never) the cheapest.

- Bob Alexander

[wreeve]

I think they've been doing it for several years, used to be much better value as you could panelise little boards and they would cut them out for you! If you are cheeky (I am) you can still submit your own panels which is technically against their rules, and then cut them with a PCB guillotine yourself. I actually really like there immersion silver finish; much nicer than the hot air leveled ones; trouble is it doesn't last long so you have to make boards quickly otherwise they are a pain to tin.

[wreeve]

They also have a "train" stencil service which is next day as well. What I've noticed is that if you select "Royal Mail" delivery for a fiver with a stencil it always get's sent via a courier anyway....same can't be said for the PCBs. I suspect the stencils come from their assembly division which is separate from the PCB division (invoices seem to confirm this as well).