JLCPCB ordering tip

[Demon]

(Just a head's up to the next guy.)

I thought that ordering in panels was cheaper than single PCBs. Turns out I was wrong; I suppose they spread out our single panels wherever they have empty slots in their production run.

At least, that's the observation I made using a 6" x 9" (15cm x 20cm) layout I uploaded (I wanted to see the price difference between 2 layers and 4 layers). It might be different with small circuits, I didn't try it.

Also, I get a "large panel" surcharge when I use panels of this dimension, even when choosing 2 x 2.

20 PCBs, 2 layers:
- single, $ 3.73 ea.
- 2 x 2, $ 7.70 ea.

20 PCBs, 4 layers:
- single, $ 6.24 ea.
- 2 x 2, $ 10.27 ea.

100 PCBs, 2 layers:
- single, $ 2.24
- 2 x 2, $ 5.09

100 PCBs, 4 layers:
- single, $ 3.96
- 2 x 2, $ 6.54

Nothing fancy, just two 14-pin headers and a 28 pin smd PIC spread out across the surface.


EDIT: I think I know where the savings from panels comes from, it's probably when you use their assembling service and you don't use basic parts (they're preloaded on the machine). A technician has to go to inventory and load reels of "extended parts" on the machine.