About to embark on this amazing build. -PCB question

[fd3typer2-art]

Hi I'm based in the UK and am excited to start on this build. I've never ordered manufactured PCBs before and was wondering if someone could check if I have got it right? Or if someone has spare boards which they would sell to me that would also be great.

[206cc]

The PCB settings look fine to me, and I don’t see any obvious issues.
This is the main board PCB. There is also a button board PCB that needs to be ordered separately.

If there is anything wrong with the PCB files, the manufacturer will usually contact you before production, so there’s no need to worry too much.

Before ordering the PCBs, I’d recommend going through EP1, EP2, and EP3 and making sure everything works first.
In particular, EP3 is the one that needs a bit more attention. The other parts are generally not too difficult.

[CarlosOnline]

Here is my order details from https://jlcpcb.com/. Basically I filled in a bunch of information, and they just used the gerber file after checking to make sure that is what I wanted.

Note: the following is for version 1.7 of the pcb board rather than the latest 1.8 version.

Gerber_PicoBETH_PCB_2024-10-31 (1)_Y2 Order Number: Y2-10307228A

Gerber file:
Gerber_PicoBETH_PCB_2024-10-31 (1)_Y2

Build Time: 2 days

Base Material: FR-4

Layers: 2

Dimension: 171.3 mm* 61.4 mm 171.3mm* 61.4mm

PCB Qty: 5

Product Type: Industrial/Consumer electronics

Different Design: 2

Delivery Format: Panel by Customer

PCB Thickness: 1.6mm

Specify Stackup: no

PCB Color: Green

Silkscreen: White

Material Type:

Via Covering: Tented

Surface Finish: HASL(with lead)

Deburring/Edge rounding: No

Outer Copper Weight: 1 oz

Gold Fingers: No

Electrical Test: Flying Probe Fully Test

Castellated Holes: no

Edge Plating: No

Mark on PCB: Order Number

Blind Slot: No

Min via hole size/diameter: 0.3mm/(0.4/0.45mm)

4-Wire Kelvin Test: No

Paper between PCBs: No

Appearance Quality: IPC Class 2 Standard

Confirm Production file: No

Silkscreen Technology: Ink-jet/Screen Printing Silkscreen

X-out board: Accept

Package Box: With JLCPCB logo

Inspection Report: No

Board Outline Tolerance: ±0.2mm(Regular)

UL Marking: No

Remark: Desire - double-sided solder pads - single-layer - double-sided - 1.6mm PCB

[fd3typer2-art]

Thanks all for your time and information.

I've just ordered from PCBWay. Will update with the outcome once they arrive.

For reference, the cost was $5 per board and $5 shipping. There was a first order coupon so the final total was $10.

[herbyderby]

I am trying to reproduce this quote. PCBWay won't let me set a "Quantity (sets)" less than 5. Do you have any tips?

[herbyderby]

Also, it seems like the auto-detected size from the panelized Gerber upload is incorrect--it is only for the main panel, not including the button panel. I see the same thing in your screenshot (99.5mm x 61.4mm is not wide enough). Did that cause any issues for you when ordering? Thanks.

[herbyderby]

In my order they corrected the size as part of the review process. They also reached out with an engineering question: "The space between the stamp holes is a bit small. If we make them as per file, the board may break off the panel.
We suggest to reduce the drill holes size for 0.15mm to keep enough space." I accepted their suggestion. FYI @206cc in case there is a future board revision.

[206cc]

Hi, thanks a lot for the detailed feedback — really appreciate it!
Sorry for the slow reply too. I’ve been busy recently working on another project (PicoTag), so I haven’t been checking comments as often.

1. Stamp holes spacing
   Thanks for sharing the PCBWay engineer note. I’ll adjust the stamp holes design/spacing in the next PCB revision to avoid the risk of the panel breaking off during manufacturing.

2. Minimum quantity (sets)
   Yeah, for PCB fabrication, 5 pcs is usually the minimum at most fabs.
   For people who already finished the build, they often end up with extra boards — so finding someone who has spare PCBs to sell/share is usually the best (and cheapest) option.

3. Panelized size / auto-detected dimensions
   The correct panelized size should be ~170.6 mm × 61.5 mm. I’ll try to mark/label it more clearly in the files/instructions when I get a moment.

Again, thanks for taking the time to report this and share the DFM feedback — it genuinely helps make future revisions better.
Hope your build goes smoothly.

[CarlosOnline]

I wasn't too experienced with building this device. So I found ordering multiple of each component when cheap was very helpful. It gave me a chance to practice.

…

On Sun, Feb 15, 2026, 3:58 AM fd3typer2-art ***@***.***> wrote: Thanks all for your time and information. I've just ordered from PCBWay. Will update with the outcome once they arrive. For reference, the cost was $5 per board and $5 shipping. There was a first order coupon so the final total was $10. — Reply to this email directly, view it on GitHub <#51 (comment)>, or unsubscribe <https://github.com/notifications/unsubscribe-auth/AA4FK54YGJATOIPOKV354534MBNMZAVCNFSM6AAAAACUMT7HN2VHI2DSMVQWIX3LMV43URDJONRXK43TNFXW4Q3PNVWWK3TUHMYTKOBRGEZDMNY> . You are receiving this because you commented.Message ID: ***@***.***>

[CarlosOnline]

I found it wasn't so expensive to order five. So I ordered five. Having multiple boards is very helpful. I made a few mistakes.

…

On Wed, Feb 25, 2026, 8:17 AM Chris Nokleberg ***@***.***> wrote: I am trying to reproduce this quote. PCBWay won't let me set a "Quantity (sets)" less than 5. Do you have any tips? — Reply to this email directly, view it on GitHub <#51 (reply in thread)>, or unsubscribe <https://github.com/notifications/unsubscribe-auth/AA4FK5Z3OIMK2XXWNIAU64L4NXDJDAVCNFSM6AAAAACUMT7HN2VHI2DSMVQWIX3LMV43URDJONRXK43TNFXW4Q3PNVWWK3TUHMYTKOJSGUYDMOA> . You are receiving this because you commented.Message ID: ***@***.***>

[CarlosOnline]

It is supposed to break off there. There are two separate boards printed together. If you watch the video you can see where he breaks it off and sends it a little bit to make it smooth.

…

On Thu, Feb 26, 2026, 7:19 AM Chris Nokleberg ***@***.***> wrote: In my order they corrected the size as part of the review process. They also reached out with an engineering question: "The space between the stamp holes is a bit small. If we make them as per file, the board may break off the panel. We suggest to reduce the drill holes size for 0.15mm to keep enough space." I accepted their suggestion. FYI @206cc <https://github.com/206cc> in case there is a future board revision. pcbway.question.png (view on web) <https://github.com/user-attachments/assets/0018f864-7c5d-49c0-84e6-c0d6bebc3974> — Reply to this email directly, view it on GitHub <#51 (reply in thread)>, or unsubscribe <https://github.com/notifications/unsubscribe-auth/AA4FK52GMOPSBY3ML5EK7CT4N4FGLAVCNFSM6AAAAACUMT7HN2VHI2DSMVQWIX3LMV43URDJONRXK43TNFXW4Q3PNVWWK3TUHMYTKOJTGYYDINQ> . You are receiving this because you commented.Message ID: ***@***.***>

[herbyderby]

I understand that, but I believe they were concerned that it would break off during manufacturing or shipping, rather than by the customer.

[fd3typer2-art]

Just an update, I received the PCBs ok. It was indeed quite cheap as mentioned above.