If I need double-sided boards I'll usually farm them out because it's an absolute faff. But if I need an really thin adapter to go from Wide SOP to Thin SOP (typically for replacing blown Flash chips), I'll make a board. When you ask a large PCB fab for anything that isn't 1.6mm thick FR4 white-on-green and standard stackup, the prices rocket. (because they have to stop the line, set up for your custom run, then switch back)
If I just need one board to fix one radio, I'll coat a piece of Pyralux laminate or paper-thin FR4 in photoresist, expose it, etch it and cut it out with scissors.
For quick-run -- I was involved with a theming/prop building group a few years ago. Last-minute unforeseen issues weren't uncommon, and you just had to roll with it. Being able to spin a bodge-board in a couple of hours can be all that's needed to snatch success from the jaws of failure.
>When you ask a large PCB fab for anything that isn't 1.6mm thick FR4 white-on-green and standard stackup
actually most of the china fabs (PCBWAY, JLC, elecrow, allpcb etc) include most of these options in their "prototyping" offers now.
some even have MATTE BLACK and controlled impedance at no extra cost. competition is fierce right now so it always pays to shop around (and not just using PCB shopper)
If I need double-sided boards I'll usually farm them out because it's an absolute faff. But if I need an really thin adapter to go from Wide SOP to Thin SOP (typically for replacing blown Flash chips), I'll make a board. When you ask a large PCB fab for anything that isn't 1.6mm thick FR4 white-on-green and standard stackup, the prices rocket. (because they have to stop the line, set up for your custom run, then switch back)
If I just need one board to fix one radio, I'll coat a piece of Pyralux laminate or paper-thin FR4 in photoresist, expose it, etch it and cut it out with scissors.
For quick-run -- I was involved with a theming/prop building group a few years ago. Last-minute unforeseen issues weren't uncommon, and you just had to roll with it. Being able to spin a bodge-board in a couple of hours can be all that's needed to snatch success from the jaws of failure.